The Plumbing Tools Every Home Needs

Regardless of whether you’re a DIY handyperson or if you hire a professional, most homeowners should always have some essential plumbing tools on hand. This ensures you can deal with minor plumbing issues yourself before they become disasters.

Plungers

A plunger is an essential part of any DIY plumbing tool kit. Plungers are cheap, effective, and easy to use. They’re one of the most versatile plumbing tools available. The two main types of plungers are the cup and the flat.

Cup plunger

A cup plunger is a device that fits inside the drain opening and creates suction with the help of water or air pressure. You press down on the plunger creating suction, pulling water through the drain opening, down into the pipe, and out of it again.

Flange plunger

Flange plungers are often used for clogged sinks and toilets. Its rubber face has ridges, allowing it to grip and unblock the toilet.

Pipe Wrench

Pipe wrenches are designed to fit over pipes and provide leverage to help you tighten or loosen any pipe. The wrench’s jaws are covered by a cushioned grip, meaning they won’t scratch the surface of the pipe. There are various kinds of pipe wrenches, including chain-type tools, adjustable jaw tools, and more. Your local hardware store will explain which wrench is suitable for your toolkit.

Basin Wrench

A basin wrench is a tool used to tighten and loosen faucet nuts. This tool comprises two circular jaws, one with a hole to fit over the faucet nut. The other side of the jaws has a screwdriver-style end that can be used to tighten or loosen the nut.

Basin wrenches are a great tool for plumbing maintenance because they allow them to do their job more quickly and easily. They also help prevent damage to pipes when tightening or loosening faucets because they stop you applying too much pressure.

Caulk Gun and Caulk

A caulking gun is a tool that you can use to apply sealants, adhesives, and other materials to surfaces. It’s usually operated by hand and consists of a handle, an air cylinder, and a plunger rod. The plunger rod has an adapter on one end that allows the user to attach different-sized tubes of caulk or adhesive.

Having a caulk gun handy in your DIY plumbing kit means you can quickly seal up any leaky gaps in your bathroom or kitchen.

Long-Nosed Pliers

Long-nosed pliers are an essential tool for any plumbing maintenance job. Whether you’re fixing a leaky faucet or installing a new sink, you’ll need long-nosed pliers to get the job done right.

These versatile tools bend, cut, and remove metal and plastic. The long nose on this type of plier allows you to reach into tight spaces or hard-to-access areas.

Long-nosed pliers come in different sizes and shapes, including straight, offset, and wire cutting. Each style has its own set of uses and benefits.

Hand Auger

A plumbing auger is a long, flexible metal cable with a screw tip on one end. The other end is attached to a crank or handle that you turn to feed the cable into a drain or pipe.

This handy plumbing tool is used to clear clogged drains. The cable’s fed into the drainpipe and rotated by turning the crank or handle. As it spins, it pushes through obstructions such as hair and soap scum. If a clog’s deeper than expected, you may need to use more than one cable section.

Plumber’s Tape

Thread seal tape is a flexible plastic tape used to seal threaded joints, such as those found on pipe fittings, valves, and other plumbing fixtures. It’s also commonly used as a gasket or sealant when installing pipes or other components in tight spaces.

Thread seal tape comes in many different sizes, materials, and colors. In addition, some tapes have a silicone coating that makes them more resistant to water and chemicals.

Thread seal tape is typically applied by wrapping it around the threaded connection several times until it’s fully covered. The tape should be wrapped tightly around each thread so that no air pockets remain between them.

Heavy Duty Rubber Gloves

Gloves offer protection from cuts and scrapes, which can be especially dangerous when you’re working with sharp edges or moving parts. They also protect against punctures from sharp objects like nails or screws.

Heavy duty gloves can help prevent burns caused by hot pipes, steam, and corrosive chemicals while also protecting from bacteria.

Find a pair of gloves that provide excellent grip, so you don’t drop plumbing tools or slip while handling them in wet conditions.

Struggling with household plumbing jobs? Give the California plumbing experts a call and let them do the hard work for you. Get in touch with Service Champions today for more information about plumbing repairs and maintenance.