Whether you like it or not, you are going to experience plumbing problems in your home. Most of the time, it’s going to be something simple like a clogged drain. You can fix this on your own, but provided you have the necessary tools. If you don’t, you either make a call to a plumber or head straight to the nearest hardware store. Regardless, it is a hassle you don’t want to be doing when you just got on the toilet or in the shower.
So, it helps to have the most basic plumbing tools at home. When the need arises, you can easily pick one up and give an easy fix to your plumbing problems. So, what are the tools you should always have prepared?
1. Plunger
If there is one common problem you will be facing with your plumbing, it will be clogged. A clogged toilet is something that can happen so easily, the same goes for blocked drains. Regardless of where the clog is happening, a plunger is the only thing you are going to need. It only takes a couple of pumps to get everything through the pipes.
2. Drain Snake
If you think that a clog is caused by a much tougher blockage like hair buildup, the solution would no longer be a plunger, but a drain snake. It is a tool that allows you to dislodge everything a few inches from the opening of the drain.
3. Wrenches
When talking about plumbing, you are going to be mostly dealing with wrenches. You need to have two types readily available. The first would be a pipe wrench for gripping and turning pipes. The other is a basin wrench for tightening and removing the faucet or handling valve lock nuts.
Wrenches are going to be your best friends when you are dealing with leaks. You are going to want to hold them close when you need to remove a few pipes to get something that is stuck inside.
4. Thread Seal Tape
If you really want to stop leaks, thread seal tape is a necessity. It is what goes in between the connections of two pipes to make it waterproof. So, if you are fixing a leak, you are going to want to have a thread seal tape to replace the old one. You can also use it by itself to wrap a leaking pipe as a makeshift solution as you make an appointment with a plumber.
5. Slip-Joint Pliers
This one is more of a general tool. Sometimes you find yourself in extraordinary situations and there are tools that can help you come up with a solution. One of them is a slip-joint plier which is great at pinching, coiling, and twisting small items.
So, if you dropped a ring down the drain, grab these pliers to make the right hook using tire wire. Need something ripped? Use these pliers. It can be your go-to when you don’t know what else to do.
6. Heavy-Duty Rubber Gloves
It is easy to overlook a tool when it doesn’t aim to serve a clear plumbing purpose. However, the right rubber gloves are as important as everything on this list.
Remember, you are dealing with steel pipes. The smallest sharp edge can result in a deep cut. Not to mention handling rough surfaces and heavy steel tools can easily cause you to have blisters. When your hands are aching from all the injuries you are getting, do you think you can still go on with your repairs?
7. Tape Measure
Sometimes, you need to have the right measurements. Otherwise, you are looking at a pipe that doesn’t fit. If you want to get everything right, you need to have a tape measure readily available.
8. Duct Tape
Duct tape doesn’t necessarily solve specific plumbing problems. Instead, it can be the general tool that can help you come up with makeshift solutions. Need a pipe to stay in place? How about a leak that just won’t stop? You can always rely on duct tape to do those jobs.
You just can’t anticipate when a plumbing problem could happen. It can catch you in the most vulnerable position and you have to make a fix as soon as possible. When that happens, these 8 tools are going to be your best friends. Pull them out of where they are stored and start getting to work.
Tanya Wilson
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