Six Essential Plumbing Tools to Have on Hand
We all encounter minor plumbing issues such as leaky pipes, slow or clogged drain, running toilets etc. in our homes and offices. These plumbing malfunctions can be disruptive to our day and interfere with work or family time. This article will discuss some essential tools to have on hand in the event you need to resolve an issue yourself. Have your DIY plumbing tool kit handy. Having the necessary equipment on hand will not only save your time but also avoid costly repairs and exorbitant service fees for emergency or after-hours local plumbing services.
Our plumbers have assembled a short list of essential affordable plumbing tools to save you from some minor plumbing miseries. It may be that you temporarily hold off a major issue or you repair a minor issue. Know that your local plumbers can take care of the rest.
Home Plumbing DIY Toolkit
- Plunger (or two)
Plungers are considered more of a safety net than an actual tool such as a snake. Plungers work for toilets and drains. There are two main varieties of plungers that should be around your home at all times; a cup plunger and a flange plunger.
The cup plunger works best for cleaning out drain clogs where the drain rests on a flat surface like skins, tubs, showers etc. whereas the flange plunger with the long handle is best for toilets.
- Hand Auger
If the plunger fails to clear any clog, you next best bet is a hand auger. Hand augers are designed to easily move through a drain to hook onto any potential clogs and pull out the impediments. This can be used for tubs, showers, sinks, toilets and drain lines. As opposed to a plunger which applies force with a thrusting motion, the hand auger is a tool you rotate to enter the clogged area.
- Basin Wrench
Having a wrench allows you to tighten a pipe or turn off the water main. It is a staple tool in any plumber’s tool kit. It has a long shaft and a swivel, claw-like head at the end. It is made to be able to access deep and narrow spaces behind sink faucets. It is a handy tool to help with leaks in such areas.
- Adjustable Wrench
Be sure to keep at least one adjustable wrench in your kit. This wrench is a multi-purpose and multi-functioning tool essential to a plumber’s tool kit. It has a jaw with adjustable width which can be used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts of compression fittings, supply lines, and other plumbing parts that have hexagonal-shaped nuts; you may find yourself reverting to it more often than you anticipate.
While shopping make sure you purchase an adjustable wrench with a good grip and the jaw that holds firm. You may want to include both a six-inch and a ten-inch adjustable jaw wrench for your tool box.
- Pipe Wrench
A pipe wrench is usually heavier than an adjustable wrench as it‘s intended to tighten or loosen parts that are difficult to grip with other tools. It has backwards facing teeth that help you better grip when water and waste are present on connecting pipes while tightening and loosening, removing or replacing them. This makes them an ideal home plumbing tool to have on hand for plumbing emergencies.
- Plumbing Tape
All licensed and DIY plumbers should have plumbing tape handy for leak emergencies quick fixes. Plumbing tape’s ability to withhold significant amount of pressure and resist water makes it a perfect rough and ready solution between finding a leak and a permanent fix for both gas and water leakages.
The 6 tools for your toolkit will help you be prepared for minor plumbing repairs that surface in your household from time to time.
Call or text our Nashville plumbers if there are plumbing issues you cannot fix immediately. Remember, with one call, we fix it all.
Fix It All Plumbing is committed to providing you with premium plumbing services at fair rates. We are glad to help you with any questions or issues.
Call or text our Nashville office at (615) 568-5051
Kevin Sipes, Master Plumber