If you have been living in a home for several years now, you are bound to face plumbing issues like dripping faucets, clogged sinks, leaky pipes, and clogged toilets. As much as you try, you never find a way around these problems, and your plumber will have to make frequent rounds in a year to fix those problems. Often, the problem is not big enough to disturb your plumber; you can always find a way around yourself and save some money. However, you need to have the right plumbing tools in your house to get the job done.
A lot of times, people attempt on their plumbing problems with the incorrect ‘tools’, like a butter knife, a roll of duct tape, and a straightened cloth hanger made of wire. Compared to other tools in the market, plumbing tools are luckily more affordable, and there is no need to stock up on them all at once. Even though some necessary tools are not included in the list below, you can always purchase the essential ones before and then move on to buying the others. You will need basic home maintenance tools such as a tape measure, hammer, drill driver, screwdrivers, safety goggles, utility knife, some safe work gloves, and not to forget, a toolbox. The rest of the plumbing tools you need are as follows:
● Propane torch: A propane torch is required during fittings and sweating copper pipes. A better option is to spend some extra bucks on a torch head that lights up on its own by the squeeze of a trigger. This option is more suitable than matches or a striker.
● Groove and tongue pliers: In order to pull, grab, twist, hold, lose, or tighten anything, the first tool that plumbers go for is a tongue and groove pliers, which are usually called by the brand Channellock. Make sure you get them in two sizes, 12 inches and 10 inches.
● Hacksaw: Hacksaw is a versatile saw, that is generally used to cut across hardware, metal pipes, nuts, screws, and plastic and bolts pipes. If you are working in a tight spot, you can wrap the cloth around one end of the clade, which will create a handle that can be used to slip in the blade and make the cut.
● Metal file: Metal file is used to smoothen out the edges of metal pipes or remove burrs after cutting it.
● Basin wrench: Basin wrench is considered to be an invaluable tool that fits best to loosen or tighten nuts that are attached to sink faucets to keep them in place. You will need two wrenches to work efficiently, one to turn and one for holding and gripping purposes. Serrated teeth can help with holding the grip with the wrench, but it can damage the finish of the fixture. If you need to protect your fixture, better wrap the jaw of the wrench in a piece of cloth. Make sure to buy a 14 in, and a 10 in.
● Pipe wrench: Pipe wrenches are heavy and large tools that help with loosening and tightening nuts, fittings, and threaded pipes. Make sure to use a pipe wrench with the same precautions you use a basin wrench.
● Plunger: A plunger is known as a plumber’s best friend, and that has a logical reason behind it. A plunger is needed to dislodge a clog from toilets, floor and shower drain, sinks, and tubs. The proper way to use a plunger is to press it down, seal around the drain, and pull upwards. The core purpose is to vacuum the clog, not to push it in deeper.
