Issues with the plumbing system in your home happen all the time. Every month, you may find yourself dealing with one plumbing malfunction or the other in your home. Luckily, most of the time, these are minor issues you can fix yourself. That is if you have the right tools for the job.
As Westside Property Management explains, most homeowners don’t have the crucial tools to fix slight issues with their home’s plumbing. For some of them, it is because they don’t know which tools to buy. But for others, it is because they don’t want to spend money on tools they will only use occasionally.
However, most tools for tackling plumbing issues in the home can also fix other problems. The only thing is when buying tools, make sure you buy quality tools and ensure you only use the right tools for the job.
What are the most valuable tools to have in your home during a plumbing emergency? Apart from sink and toilet plungers –must-haves for every house – below is a list of those tools, plus explanations on why you need them.
Basic plumbing tools every homeowner should have
Hand auger and plumbing snake
Snakes and hand augers are for clearing clogs. There are different types of snakes; mini snakes and larger ones. Hand augers do pretty much the same thing as snakes. When using snakes and augers have separate sets for the toilet and kitchen.
Flathead screwdriver
The flathead screwdriver has a blade shaped like a minus sign. It is an essential tool for loosening/tightening screws. When dismantling plumbing fixtures, you will find at least one connection – mostly fasteners – that requires this tool.
Philips head screwdriver
This is for tightening/loosening screws with an X-shaped slot on top. These screws are ubiquitous in plumbing systems and come in different sizes. When buying this screwdriver, buy one with interchangeable bits.
Pliers
Pliers are indispensable for holding items steady while you work on them. You can use them to bend and twist stuff or even loosen/tighten them. Pliers are available in different sizes; a pair of medium and small-sized pliers should be enough for your plumbing problems.
Needle nose pliers
These are useful for working with fittings that may be too small for a plier. Needle nose pliers are also helpful when you need to get into narrow openings, such as when holding a sink drain steady so you can remove the connecting pipes under the sink.
Channellock pliers
Channellock pliers are for grabbing and holding fittings. Unlike standard pliers, channel lock pliers have a sliding jaw that locks in place and can be adjusted to fit any pipe. You can use them to turn or hold large pipes without straining.
Adjustable wrench
These do almost the same thing as Channellock pliers; they are for grabbing and holding things, keeping them steady while you work, or turning them. The difference is that while Channellock pliers are mostly for round objects, wrenches also work with flat ones.
Allen wrench or Hex keys
Allen wrench or Hex keys are for tightening or releasing hexagonal bolts and compatible fasteners, such as the one found at the bottom of your kitchen garbage disposal. These come as a complete set with different sizes to fit the head of the particular bolt.
Utility knife and hacksaw
A utility knife with a removable razor blade is an essential item for your toolbox. You will often need to cut things when working with the plumbing. This tool makes it easy to do that. A hacksaw is for cutting larger and heavier items, such as PVC pipes.
Caulk gun and caulk
Caulking helps you achieve permanent watertight connections. This is particularly important when working in the toilet. Having a caulk gun at hand will make short work of applying caulk to tiles and other surfaces. It would be best to have different types of caulk available in the home at all times.
Duct tape and plumbers putty
A roll of duct tape is the one supply that should never be missing from your plumbing arsenal. You can use duct tape in a variety of situations. Along with duct tape, you need plumbers’ putty. This is handy for sealing joints when coupling plumbing fittings.
Gloves and safety goggles
Always remember to stay safe when working on your home’s plumbing. Most plumbing jobs will require you to at least use gloves and safety goggles. Having these two items in your home is highly recommended.
This is just a short list of the plumbing tools we think you should have at home. For lack of space, a host of items have been left out. If you would like to learn more about these tools and how to use them, or for more plumbing tips visit Chicago Plumbing Experts.