Seven Essential Plumbing Tools

By  //  March 6, 2020

Once in a while, you will have plumbing problems and it’s okay; because you can just call your plumber to come to help fix whatever the issue is.

There are so many benefits of hiring a plumber to get the job done for you immediately you notice leaks as the earlier the better.

One it saves you cost. A leak that is not immediately attended to could end up becoming bigger and ultimately cost you more money. Secondly, the plumber can do a better job than if you do it by yourself. And you may not even know how to fix the problem.

A good plumber or plumbing service should be able to provide you with the highest quality plumbing and drain cleaning services and at a very affordable price.

The plumber should also be able to get the job done in record time. However, there will be times the plumber is not reachable or they are too busy to come to your aid immediately. Such are the times you need to Do-It-Yourself. The tricky thing, however, is that you can’t do plumbing without essential plumbing tools, tools that you must have in order to fix your plumbing problems by yourself. 

Not only will these tools help you do the work of a plumber with ease, but they could also save you a lot of money. 7 of these tools are;

1. A Thread Seal Tape

For those unfamiliar with the term, a thread seal tape is also known as the “Plumber’s Tape”. According to the team at https://allserviceplumbers.com/, a thread seal tape is a must-have plumbing tool that everyone needs to have around their home. This does exactly what its name implies, which is to seal threads.

Threads are the curvy lines in between pipes which helps them to lock onto each other. It is the perfect plumbing tool to take care of minor leaks such as the type that usually occurs in kitchen sinks due to wear overtime or the seal becoming weaker. It is also perfect for fixing leaky showerheads and other exterior plumbing issues.

2. Plunger

This one is a miracle worker and I dare say no home should be without it. How many times have you gotten into sticky situations characterized by blockages in the toilet?

All you need is a plunger to force down whatever is causing the blockage in the toilet. In choosing a plunger, make sure you go for the right one, depending on the problem you hope to solve. There is a plunger for kitchen sinks and there is a plunger for the toilet. The flange plunger is the one specifically designed for dealing with toilet blockages.

3. Basin Wrench

The plunger and the seal tape may be what everyone has but when it comes basin wrenches, it is what really shows that you mean business as a DIY plumber.

The basin wrench is like a staple in every plumber’s toolkit. It is T-shaped and it is specifically designed for faucets since it can reach far into areas inside and around a faucet. It is good for loosening and tightening bolts that are hard to reach.

4. Hacksaw

In fixing pipes, sometimes you will need to cut out a weak or faulty part. Since you can’t break a pipe with your bare hands, you will need a tool to accurately cut out the faulty area and that’s where the hacksaw comes in. The hacksaw is perfect for cutting through hardware, plastic pipes, wayward metal and copper pipes alike. You should plan to have a few extra saw blades for your hacksaw because the blades wear with use and when this happens, it will not be effective.

5. Drain Snake

Unlike a plunger that everyone has, a drain snake, also known as the hand auger, is a more complex plumbing tool that is used to deal with tougher clogs in the pipes.

This tool is rather flexible, yet very firm in navigating through the pipes. It is the best tool to use for a shower and sink clogs that the plunger cannot handle.

It can reach deep and pull out clogs from grease, soap scum and hair. So if your plunger has failed you, it is time to invest in a drain snake. If the drain snake cannot solve your problem, you may need the help of your plumber.

6. Tongue and Groove Pliers

Pliers, though very common, remain one of those things you don’t get to find when you need them most. A tongue and groove pliers is designed to be adjustable so that it can be used on any kind of material. They have angled jaws designed to make grasping uncomfortable areas a lot easier to handle.

There are ridges on the blades which guarantee better grips. However, this could do damage to the finish on your faucet if used directly on it. A pro tip is to wrap a plumbers’ tape around the faucet before using the tongue and groove pliers on it.

7.  Your Plumbers Number

Every tool above forms a part of the essential plumbing tools as well as your plumber’s number. No matter how well you are good at doing it yourself, you will sometimes run into some very tough plumbing issues. Do well to keep your plumber’s number handy for such situations. 

If you have found a plumbing problem in your home or you are annoyed about what the plumber charged you the last time for something you think you can fix, and you are planning to arm yourself against a next occurrence, these 7 essential plumbing tools are plumbing you should consider investing in.

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