Plumbing Tools for Every Homeowner

As a homeowner, there are certain tools that will make your life a lot easier. We have put together a list of the must have plumbing tools for your home below.

Plungers

This is probably the first tool that comes to mind when thinking of plumbing tools, but you would be surprised how many home owners do not think to buy one until they need one. Plungers are a great inexpensive tool that can unclog not only your toilet, but also your shower drain! It’s your go-to tool for minor plumbing issues in your home.

Wrench Set

Adjustable wrenches are extremely helpful when it comes to solving plumbing issues in your home. Especially when you are dealing with hex-shaped nuts that are all different sizes. A pipe wrench is useful for loosening and tightening threaded pipes or fittings, while a basin wrench’s long handle allows you to access hard to reach areas. You can purchase a plumbing tool set like this one at Lowes that comes with the wrenches you’ll need as well as a PVC cable saw and more.

Plumbing Tape

Also referred to as Teflon tape, threaded tape, or what experts in the field call PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tape. Having a roll of this tape handy can save the day when it comes to leaking pipes, as it can prevent liquid or gas from leaking. Once wrapped 3-4 times around the leaking area, this tape will contain a leak until a professional plumber can come fix the problem. The best part is that this one type of tape works on numerous pipe materials such as copper, PVC, steel, CPVC, etc.

Drain Snake

For all those tough clogs that the plunger cannot fix, a drain snake will be your best friend. A drain snake is like a flexible auger that is able to bend with the pipes and using the jagged teeth on it’s sides – pull out the cause of the clog in your shower, toilet, or sink drain. For instance, if your shower is not draining properly – it may be a simple manner of snaking your drain to fix the issue.

Pliers

There are of course many different types of pliers and you probably already have some on hand. Needle nose pliers can be very useful for small fittings and can also help remove hair clumps from the shower drain without getting your drain snake out. This tool may also come in handy if you’ve dropped a ring down the drain and need to retrieve it.

Heavy Duty Rubber Gloves

You don’t want to skip out on a nice pair of heavy duty rubber gloves. While working on household plumbing issues, they will keep your hands and forearms clean and protected from sharp objects. Found at most hardware stores, these gloves also offer heat resistance if you are working on your hot water heater.

& More…

These tools will get you off to a good start and help you solve minor plumbing issues throughout your home. If you are interested in solving more complex plumbing problems you may want to invest in a few more tools such as plumbers putty to seal leaks, a hack saw to cut PVC pipe, or a hand auger for removing serious drain clogs. If you would like to have a professional plumber take a look at your plumbing, click here or give us a call today!