No matter how much experience you have with home repair, there are a few plumbing tools every homeowner should have on hand to handle everyday plumbing problems. From clogs to minor leaks, your home’s plumbing can throw easy-to-fix problems that don’t require an expert plumber if you just have the right tools on hand. So, here are a few plumbing tools every home should have.
Plunger
This is definitely a plumbing tool every home should have on hand. These are essential tools that are cheap and can be bought at pretty much any grocery store. You are probably familiar with using a plunger to remove clogs from your toilet, but you may not know that they are also fantastic for removing clogs from the shower and sink drains as well. In order to keep things sanitary, it is a good idea to keep one dedicated for your bathroom drains and the other for your sinks.
Drain Snake
If your toilet, sink, or shower drains seem to be draining slowly or have a clog that you just can’t break with a plunger, then this is where a drain snake comes in. These incredible tools are an essential tool for homeowners that can dislodge partial or complete clogs. These tools are long enough to be shoved down your drain and help to physically reach, break up, and draw the clog up and out of your drain pipe.
Gloves
No matter what repair you are doing, whether it is replacing a busted pipe or plunging your toilet, it can be dangerous and unsanitary, so make sure you have a good pair of waterproof protective gloves. Unless you’re doing some intense repairs, you don’t need to go extravagant. A good pair or two of heavy-duty rubber gloves from your local grocery store will do the trick, and they can be great to have around for other household chores as well.
Wrenches
There are two kinds of wrenches that every homeowner needs to handle basic plumbing. The first is a pipe wrench. This multipurpose wrench has wide, sturdy, and adjustable jaws that allow it to grip around threaded pipes to tighten or loosen nuts.
The second type of wrench is a basin wrench. This long-handled tool is used to grip the fastening nuts that hold sink faucets in place. The typically soft nuts are awkwardly placed and often difficult to grip without damaging them. A basin wrench does the job perfectly and can save homeowners a quick call to the plumber because they damaged the fastener too badly to get it off.
Teflon Tape
Teflon tape, also known as thread seal tape or plumber’s tape, is used to wrap pipe threading before putting on fasteners to prevent leaks. However, this multipurpose plumbing tool can be used for sealing leaks in an emergency too. When a leak is too bad to handle on your own, some Teflon tape can help stop the leak until a plumber arrives.
Tape Measure
This basic tool can be a lifesaver for taking exact measurements and avoiding costly mistakes. If you don’t have one in your toolbox already, then this is a must.
Final Thoughts
Having the right tools on hand for the job can be a lifesaver in any home repair situation. This is particularly true with plumbing, where fixing a leak quickly can mean the difference between serious water damage to your home and a minor repair. So, make sure to invest in these plumbing tools before the next plumbing problem comes along.
Contact Us
For all the plumbing problems you can’t handle on your own, contact J Griffin Heating & Plumbing. Our professional team has more than 30 years of plumbing experience and is trained and licensed to take on any plumbing repair. Call us at 781-520-1212 and connect with us on Facebook.
