Many plumbing problems need a
professional solution, but there are some issues that can be solved by any person that has some basic DIY skills and a little plumbing know how. But, plumbing is not a regular DIY task for many people, and they may find that they don’t have the right tool on hand when they want to attempt a repair. It’s important to use the right tool for the job, and using the wrong tool can result in a botched repair job. In this article, we will look at five essential tools that every home should have in their plumbing toolbox.
- A Sink Augur
A sink augur is also referred to as a plumbing snake, and it’s often the best way to manually remove a tough clog in the drain. This tool is fed into the drain until it bumps up against the clog, and then the handle is cranked to drill into the clog and break it apart. Then you can run the water and flush the clog fragments into the drain and retract the augur. These devices are cheap and readily available, and they are an essential tool in any plumbing toolkit.
- Slip-joint Pliers
Many toolboxes have pliers, but they are often more suited to other DIY tasks. The best type of pliers to get for plumbing tasks are water pump or slip-joint pliers. These tools typically have longer handles, which is handy if you need to reach further in tight spaces. These types of pliers are also better at gripping a variety of different pipe shapes and circumferences.
- A Flange Plunger
A flange plunger looks like a regular plunger, but the circumference of the cup has an extra rubber flap. This allows this plunger to be used to achieve and maintain a seal on surfaces that are uneven. A regular plunger is great at clearing clogs in sinks and drains, but if you need to clear a toilet, a flange plunger is essential.
- Pipe Wrench
As the name would suggest, a pipe wrench is an essential tool that every plumber should have. Depending on the circumference of the pipe, this tool is usually interchangeable with the slip-joint pliers shown above. But, a pipe wrench becomes really useful if the plumber needs to grip softer steel or iron pipes.
- A Hacksaw
Many modern plumbing pipes and fixtures are made from UPVC materials that snap together. Older plumbing systems may use a variety of metals, but in both cases, it’s often necessary to cut a piece of pipe to a certain size. A hacksaw is also handy if the plumber needs to cut through a rusted metal screw or fitting that cannot be removed during a repair.
Having the right plumbing tools is useful, and minor repairs are a great way to save money. But, if you’re not sure about any type of plumbing task, it’s a better idea to contact a local plumber for expert help. Any botched plumbing repair can result in a great deal of water damage that’s expensive to fix, and the repair will cost more.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
