Plumbing supplies you should own
Plumbers’ Necessary Plumbing Tools and Supplies You Need at Home
02/09/2019
One of the common home issues many people encounter every day are plumbing problems. Some of these problems are complicated and better handled by professionals, and for these, it’s crucial to find a plumbing company near you.
Some of these hiccups are simpler, though. Clogged sinks, leaky pipes or clogged toilets can be done by the homeowner in a DIY job. But before you can do even a simple plumbing job, you’d want to be prepared with the necessary plumbing tools. Here are some plumbing supplies that you should keep at home:
Flange and Cup Toilet Plungers
Clogged sinks and toilets are common plumbing issues at home. Plungers are a must in any household, and these two variations of cup and flange plungers should be present. A cup plunger is best used for unclogging tubs, sinks, and showers, while the flange plunger is used for clearing clogs in toilets.
Hand Auger
The first thing that you’d typically use for a clogged sink is a plunger. But when this doesn’t work, you’ve got to use a hand auger. This tool uses a hand crank that pushes a metal wire through the drains of showers, tubs, and sinks to unclog them. But if you’re dealing with a flush toilet, this tool shouldn’t be used. Instead, you can use a closet or toilet auger for this work.
Closet Auger
This manual unclogging tool is designed for toilets. It has a long steel cable that’s durable enough to grind stubborn clogs.
Hacksaw
Different materials, including nuts and bolts, plastic and metal pipes, screws, and various hardware can be cut using a hacksaw. When used to cut through tough materials, ensure that the blade is tense for ease of use. Extra blades in the toolbox will come in handy when the older blades go through wear and tear, making them dull or leading to breakage.
Tubing Cutter
A tubing cutter is an essential tool to have at home. This is used to cut copper pipes while ensuring an even and smooth cut each time. It’s recommended to get both a min-cutter and a standard tubing cutter. The smaller cutter is excellent for handling narrow, hard-to-reach places.
Basin Wrench
This type of wrench should be included in your toolbox. The wrench has a swivel and clamp-like part on one end and has a long shaft. Nuts on sink faucets can be tightened or loosened with the use of this tool. It is also used to access behind sinks where there are narrow, deep spaces, as well as to get to faucet bolts.
Tongue-and-Groove Pliers
This curved multipurpose tool comes with serrated jaws that are angled at 45 to 60 degrees with respect to the handles. It is used for twisting, grabbing, holding, pulling, or loosening something, so ensure that you have one in your toolbox at home.
Adjustable Wrench
This kind of wrench is used for supply lines, compression fittings, or other parts that involve nuts with a hexagonal shape. It’s highly recommended to have the short 6-inch, as well as the longer 10-inch adjustable wrenches inside your toolbox. Find a high-quality wrench that comes with a strong jaw that won’t easily slip while you’re using it.
Pipe Wrench
This wrench is usually bigger compared to the adjustable wrench. The pipe wrench helps in loosening or tightening nuts and fittings. This heavy wrench is used in pairs, wherein one grips and holds your project, and the other is used to turn the fitting or nut. To help prevent damage to your fixture’s surface when using the pipe wrench, wrap its jaws in cloth.
Plumber’s Tape
This tape comes in various names, including PTFE tape and thread seal tape. Preventing leaks at plumbing joint connections is one of the primary uses of a plumber’s tape. This handy tape is affordable and can also be used on water line pipes or shower heads.
Fire-Resistant Cloth
This is a thick cloth that’s specially made to protect flammable surfaces when soldering using an open-flame torch. If you’re constantly using a flame torch, ensure that you have a fire extinguisher at home, too.
Final Thoughts
Minor plumbing problems such as clogged drains can happen any day at home. With a toolbox filled with the necessary plumbing tools, you can immediately handle these problems on your own. Be prepared for any plumbing issues that may come your way. But for more complicated plumbing problems, it’s best to call plumbing experts to handle them.