9 Plumbing Tools Every Homeowner Needs To Have in his House

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There’s a legend saying that people tend to bring only the essential things with them when leaving their old house. Those things are different for everyone – what is important for one might not be for another. Despite this fact, you usually need to purchase most tools and home supplies from scratch.

Of course, buying a new lamp or coffee machine might be a bit more exciting in that process, but some other utensils that actually seem boring and not so necessary could make your life easier and save the days when you least expect it. So, even though nobody is really interested in the looks, colors, or appearance of the plumbing tools and you believe they are better off lying somewhere in the garage, they may occasionally turn out to be your best friends.

Many people don’t like the DIY attitude and simply prefer to have plumbers’ business cards at their fingertips reach, but it’s advisable that you still consider having the affordable tools that can fix a leaking pipe or something you can easily repair yourself. Your neighbors might be thankful if they can lean on you or your family member for this type of help and even if you can’t buy them all at once – take your time and collect them one by one whenever you can.

Whether you decide to orient yourself toward manual work improvement or rent some property and need to be of assistance to your tenants, here’s a list of very handy items to pack in your just-in-case plumber’s bag.

1. Plunger

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Even though it does sound as obvious as it can be, this is a basic item you can have at hand in case you need to unclog the toilet. There are some upgraded versions, such as a so-called flange plunger which has an extension that enables it to get more water than the regular old plunger.

Apart from this obvious usage, the plunger can also be used for a clogged shower drain and it’s quite an inexpensive tool to buy and keep nearby for the less serious problems of such kind. If you use it for shower drain, it’s best to use an old cup plunger and choose the size or style that best suits your needs the most. Its main goal is to stop the water from spilling out of the toilet.

2. Wrench set

Wrenches come in different forms and sizes and having a set of them isn’t only significant for your plumbing activities, but also in many other areas of household works.

  • Basin wrench – the thing that separates it from other types is a long handle to help you access faucets or pipes that are hard to reach
  • Pipe wrench – this is one of the most useful types of wrenches, as it can lock on to fit the pipe size and you can also use it to loosen something that has become too firm to unwrap
  • Adjustable wrench – it comes with the shape of the regular wrenches, with a small part in the middle-upper area which adjusts the reach of each end to the length you need. It’s more than useful for much more than plumbing works – other home repairs, for example
  • Strap wrench – an improved form of wrench that can be used for sensitive surfaces and those areas which require a big grasp. It’s enough to wrap the strap around the surface you want to unwrap, tighten it, and twist

3. Drain snake and auger

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In case your sink shower drain doesn’t drain as fast as it should, the so-called snake is used to unclog the debris. This tool consists of a metal cable with a handle that helps push and pull the cable in and out of the pipe. The sizes are various and there’s also a more modern version – an electric snake. Auger is a less complicated tool – it can be attached to the end of a drain snake, or you can find it as a separate component for the same purpose.

Having in mind that some incidents may be more serious than a slight clogging, you may need professional help. Anyone can read more about such services on Adelaide Plumbers’ website, for example, as they provide help in cases when a simple DIY procedure can’t resolve it all.

4. Pliers

Though there are various types of pliers, it might seem that everything they can do can be done by using the pipe wrenches or auger. Yet, think twice before you give up on this fantastic tool. A slip-joint plier is a piece that can bend and grip in tight spaces. Tongue-and-groove pliers are irreplaceable when you need to grip objects that have irregular shapes, while needle-nose pliers jump in when you need to reach tiny places such as a spot with hair clump debris that seems out of reach.

5. Caulk gun

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Silicone is a first aid material in the plumbing world, especially for bathroom-related works. To be able to use it properly you need to have a gun loaded with silicone – for example, when you need to install ceramic sinks or repair an old faucet. Caulking small gaps around the bathtub or between your sink and tiles, or helping any bathroom item attach better to the wall is simply unimaginable without this powerful tool.

6. Duct tape

This easy-to-use item is rather helpful in any job that requires a water-resistant first-aid tool. In the plumbing world, it can fix some minor leaks until and before they turn out to be serious plumbing problems. It’s a sort of band-aid for your home – something you can use to seal the leak until you obtain what you need and handle the issue from its root. Until then, this small friend will serve its purpose perfectly.

7. Sealants

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This item has a similar purpose to the duct tape, and it’s used on the long threads of pipes or other similar connections. To prevent leaking, you should ensure that all types of pipes are fully sealed. When there’s a small hole or any type of gap of such kind, a sealant can help you fix it and silicone is just another tool for a similar purpose.

8. Tubing cutter

A tubing cutter is a life-saver for any work where you need to cut the pipe or a metal tube. Using it requires precise cutting and smooth edges to make sure there are no injuries for the one doing the plumbing work as well as good adhesion to the other surface for which the pipe is aimed at. This is why it’s a much better solution than a hacksaw and it’s really good to have at hand at any time.

9. Rubber gloves

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You want to have your plumber work done, but you should also nurture your hands to make sure they’re protected from excessive water, dirty debris from pipes and that the tools you’re using can’t hurt you. This is why thick and firm rubber gloves like nitrile gloves are of the utmost importance when dealing with such issues.

Usually, the tools from above are quite easy to obtain at a nearby store and most of them can be bought at a reasonable price. Though your profession might not be in the plumbing area, it’s more than desirable to make sure you can be of assistance in most of such household works when needed.