There’s a lot to worry about when it comes to maintaining your home. It can sometimes be difficult and overwhelming to consider all the maintenance you have to do. When it comes to the tools you need in your plumbing toolbox, for example, it can be hard to know where to start.
Fortunately, we’ve made it easy for you with this list of the seven crucial tools you should have in your plumbing toolbox and how to use them.
This is a staple tool found in most homes, and it can really help get you out of an embarrassing situation. A plunger is used to unclog drains and toilets. They work by creating pressure around a drain that forces blockages out. When buying a plunger, look for one with a sturdy handle.
Also, it might be a good idea to buy one that comes with its own storage case. That way, when you’re done using it, you have somewhere to put it, rather than having toilet water drip everywhere.
To use a plunger, simply place the rubber cup over the clogged drain and press down on the handle. It may require a few attempts to unclog the drain, and you may have to use a bit of force. This is a classic tool that you definitely need in your home plumbing toolbox.
This is another great tool to have in your toolkit. It is cheap, simple to use, and can save you from major headaches in the future.
Have you ever been in a shower that doesn’t drain? Well, that pool of water around your ankles can be fixed with a drain snake. This tool removes debris (such as hair) from a drain, preventing it from clogging or unblocking it once it’s already clogged.
A drain snake is a very simple tool. It’s essentially a hook at the end of a flexible rod or string. You feed it down into your drain, and the hook at the end collects the debris. Then, you simply pull it up and dispose of whatever was clogging your drain. This tool is excellent for homeowners because it’s affordable, simple to use, and doesn’t damage your pipes.
Water leaking through the places where two pipes are joined together is a common occurrence. Often, the reason for such a leak is because the threads around the end of a metal pipe are not lined up properly or are stripped away. When this threading is compromised, it can allow water to leak out.
Plumbers use thread seal tape (also called teflon tape, or, simply, plumber’s tape) to help with these leaks. This tape is put over the threads of a pipe before it is connected; this fills in the gaps, thus preventing leaks.
Plumber’s tape is also an excellent tool for temporary emergency repairs. If a pipe has cracked and is leaking, the plumber’s tape can be used to slow down the leak until a plumber can arrive. This will dramatically reduce the damage that is done, saving you money.
There are plenty of different wrenches you can add to your toolkit. Here, we’ll focus on the main three that you should have: a combination wrench, a crescent wrench, and a pipe wrench:
Always measure twice before cutting once! A tape measure is an excellent tool to keep around the house and not just for plumbing. This versatile tool is good for everything from roofing to redecorating. Buy a tape measure that you expect to be a good size for the work you will be doing, and get one with metric and imperial units.
You can’t work on your plumbing if you can’t see what you’re supposed to be working on. A flashlight is a great tool to keep in your toolbox. Consider having a dedicated flashlight in your toolbox so that you know the battery is always charged. Keep extra batteries in your toolbox, or think about buying a rechargeable flashlight.
A wind-up rechargeable flashlight is an excellent idea for your toolbox because you never have to worry about finding new batteries. This is great if you need to do a pressing emergency repair or are working in a power outage.
Pliers are a great little versatile tool to keep in your toolbox. They have many uses, such as getting into tight spaces, clamping, tightening, and loosening. They can also grab onto small objects that may have fallen down a drain!
These seven must-have tools are a great start to solving all the issues you’re likely to be able to fix yourself. However, there are many problems that are simply too complex or dangerous to attempt on your own. For these larger jobs, you need to find the help of a plumbing service.
At Advanced Plumbing, we do everything from repairs to renovations. Known for delivering high-quality service, we have a rating of 4.9 stars on Google Reviews from over 200 satisfied customers. For more information about our plumbing services, call Advanced Plumbing at 866-863-9539 or contact us here.