Essential Plumbing Tools For The Home

Whether you are a do-it-yourself (DIY) plumbing expert or you’re more of a newbie, having the right tools on hand is critical for preventing plumbing disasters and for making home repairs efficiently. Be prepared! You never want to be caught off guard in case of an emergency! Here are six plumbing tools every homeowner should have at their disposal, courtesy of our plumbing services. Contact us today to schedule plumbing repairs or to learn more about all the plumbing services.

Roll Of Duct Tape

It’s simple and yet so useful to help prevent plumbing disasters. A durable roll of duct tape is critical for homeowners because it’s water-resistant. Duct tape can fix small plumbing leaks before they grow into an unmanageable problem. The tape creates an airtight, waterproof seal — a band-aid for any tiny repairs. Duct tape is not a permanent solution to plumbing problems. Be sure to contact the plumbing experts at Sunshine Plumbing and Gas to get quick, reliable emergency plumbing repairs or answers to frequently asked plumbing questions.

Auger & Snake

These two tools go hand-in-hand when it comes to unclogging drains — ones that the plunger can’t handle. A plumbing auger is commonly used for toilet clogs, while a drain snake helps tackle clogs in a wide array of appliances, including bathtubs, sinks, and showers. Augurs are specially designed to easily move through the toilet drain, hook onto possible clogs, and remove them. A plumber’s snake is much more versatile — just snake the cord down the drain and slowly pull the small clog out using the attached hand crank. These two tools are excellent for minor clogs, but for more large-scale clogs in your bathroom or kitchen, contact our Ocala plumbers.

Pliers

Tongue-and-groove pliers, or water pump pliers, are a subset of slip knot pliers — the ones most homeowners are familiar with. Water pump pliers are typically used to hold nuts and bolts, grip irregular-shaped objects, and hold pipes in place. Another type of pliers to have close by are needle-nose pliers — perfect for reaching cramped and tiny spaces for a myriad of tasks in addition to plumbing, including clearing small clumps of hair or dirt out of the shower or tub drain without having to use a larger tool, such as a hand auger. For severely clogged sink drains or toilet drains, you’ll need the help of an experienced plumber.

Plunger

When a small plumbing issue arises, a plunger should be the first tool you use. There are three different types of plungers, and each one has a specific purpose. A cup plunger is what people think of when they first picture a plunger, and they are the best to use on bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, tubs, or anything with a flat surface since you can use them to create a vacuum and to dislodge a clog. For toilet clogs, a flange plunger is an ideal option because of its fold-out flap, which fits snugly over a curved toilet drain. The third type is an accordion plunger, and it’s less common than the other two because it’s harder to use and made of plastic.

Pipe Wrench

One of the more common types of wrenches, a pipe wrench is a must-have for any homeowners’ plumbing toolkit. These wrenches help tighten, loosen, remove, or replace pipes, which is handy in a time of crisis. Its jaws can be set to accommodate almost any size pipe and are designed to grip round objects firmly. Serrations on the grip allow the wrench to apply more pressure when tightening a pipe. A pipe wrench is often used with duct tape because homeowners can put the tape on the pipe in order to keep the wrench from leaving tooth marks or gouges.

Adjustable Wrench

When you think of a wrench, this is the one that comes to mind. An adjustable wrench is a go-to tool for any homeowner — it’s multi-functional and can help with a variety of fixes throughout the home, including those for plumbing repair and maintenance. The adjustable size makes the wrench perfect for tightening and loosening different types of nuts and bolts. These widely available wrenches can help homeowners unscrew and fasten plumbing fixtures such as pipes, elbows, and faucets. When using an adjustable wrench, ensure the jaw is secured snugly around the pipe or fixture and always place the jaw on the side you’ll be rotating toward to avoid breaking the tool.