5 Essential Tools for Your Next Plumbing Project
Do you want to prepare for your next plumbing project like a professional? While plumbers rely on some heavy-duty tools that we wouldn’t recommend to the average homeowner, there are a few basic and essential plumbing tools all experts keep on hand.
We’re going to let you in on the secret and share the top five tools our experienced plumbers keep in their toolboxes at all times. With these tools in your arsenal, you’ll be ready to tackle your next DIY plumbing project or handle any plumbing problems that come your way like a pro.
A Plunger
First up, one of the most common and important plumbing tools you can have is a plunger.
Believe it or not, a mistake a lot of residents and homeowners make is not purchasing a plunger until they absolutely need one. Having a solid and trusted plunger on hand will ensure that you’re prepared for the most common, and sometimes the most unpleasant, plumbing emergency there is as soon as it happens.
While there are a handful of different plunger styles on the market, most notably the cup plunger or the flange plunger, at the end of the day, it’s really up to you which type you prefer to clear up toilet clogs. You can also purchase a small, sink-specific plunger to get rid of any backups in the kitchen or other bathroom drains.
Thread-Sealing PTFE Plumber’s Tape
Next on our list of plumbing project must-haves is a good roll of thread-sealing PTFE tape, also referred to as plumber’s tape or plumbing tape.
Plumbers tape is a special type of tape used for, you guessed it, plumbing. You can use thread-sealing plumber’s tape on pipes with threaded joints that don’t have a rubber seal. Do NOT use thread sealing tape on gas lines, flex lines or flared fittings.
PFTE is short for polytetrafluoroethylene, the compound that allows plumber’s tape to lubricate and create a water-proof seal between the threads where two pipes connect.
To use plumber’s tape, first clean and dry the threads on the pipes. Next, wrap the tape on the threads starting at the second thread. Follow the direction of the thread and wrap the pipe 2-3 times.
Check out this helpful video all about plumber’s tape from Lowe’s DIY Basics and also learn more about plumber’s putty, another helpful tool specifically for sealing drains. You can find different varieties of plumber’s tape online or at your local hardware store.
A Basin Wrench and a Pipe Wrench
Most plumbing projects involve a pipe, a water line or a faucet that needs to be tightened, loosened or accessed in some way. We wouldn’t be able to tackle this basic plumbing need without one of the most important tools to plumbing: a wrench.
There are a handful of different types of wrenches, some common and some not so common. The two types of wrenches that we believe any plumber or DIYer should have are an adjustable wrench or a pipe wrench, and a basin wrench.
- Adjustable Pipe Wrench: also referred to as a Stillson wrench, this type of wrench has serrated, adjustable jaws that create a strong grip around any sort of pipe or circular bar you need to turn.
- Basin Wrench: basin wrenches are used to reach plumbing in tight spaces, like when you need to fix, install or remove a faucet. The basin wrench has an adjustable jaw that not only opens and closes but can also be rotated to fit into hard-to-reach places. You can buy a basin wrench with a light as well for easy visibility.
Faucet Key
You may find the need to open up the water lines outside of your home, too. That’s where a faucet key, also known as a sillcock key, comes in. A faucet key is a simple tool kept on hand by plumbers and contractors alike. It allows you to open any outdoor, tamper-resistant sillcocks, hose bibs or spigots.
While the faucets connected to the outer walls of houses usually have a knob or tap that’s easy to turn on and off, some older homes do not. In addition, most large-scale residential, commercial and industrial buildings also require a faucet key for external water tap access.
If you keep one of these small, convenient tools on hand, you’ll never find yourself unable to access a water tap in a time of need. You can order a faucet key online or pick one up at any hardware store.
Tubing and Pipe Cutters
Our final recommendation is for DIYers with a little more plumbing experience under their belts. If you plan to tackle any plumbing upgrades on your own, you know how to properly and safely move a plumbing appliance or you have a water line that needs replacing, you will definitely want to have a tube cutter and/or a pipe cutter.
These tools are exactly as they sound: tube cutters are made for cutting soft material that makes up plastic pipes like PVC, whereas pipe cutters allow you to cut hard material that makes up any kind of metal pipe such as copper, iron or steel.
Again, we don’t recommend using either of these tools if you’re just getting started on your DIY plumbing journey. However, they’re super helpful for anyone who regularly finds themselves tackling more difficult plumbing jobs and plumbing repairs.
Talk to the Plumbing Experts
With each of these essential plumbing tools at the ready, you’ll be able to handle many of the most common plumbing issues homeowners face, as well as start some simple plumbing projects yourself.
As always, if you’re interested in tackling a bigger plumbing project or you have a problem you’re unsure how to fix, it’s time to call in the experts. At Lenox Plumbing, our experienced plumbers have all of the tools you need to fix any plumbing problem. Give us a call or fill out a contact form on our website to get started today.
