These days we can encounter many different Plumbing Tools available.

Each one of these tools is used for a specific niche.

Actually, it is the wide choice of different Plumbing tools that makes the actual process of choosing a challenge.

Making the final choice on picking up the right suppliers that best match your needs is not as easy as it might seem at first glance.

In addition, learning how to choose the perfect plumbing tools is a serious matter that can make the difference between a flooded kitchen and a functional sink. You make the difference, don’t you?

Factors To Be Taken Into Consideration When Choosing The Perfect Plumbing Tools

The prime factors that one should take into consideration when choosing the perfect plumbing tools include the function of the tools, the type of tools, the quality of the tools, as well as the usage of the tools.

Each one of these factors is crucial for choosing the right plumbing tools.

To start with the function of the perfect plumbing tools. I’m starting with the function factor because on the one hand, it seems like it is the first and foremost priority.

The usefulness of your plumbing tools depends on your plumbing objectives.

Yet, who wants to make an investment in plumbing tools that are not useful for the job that you have to get done?

To continue with the type of plumbing tools. As previously mentioned, plumbing tools come in a wide variety of equipment and tools.

Thereupon plumbing tools do vary in sizes and shapes. Each one of these tools has its own purpose.

Moreover, on your way to buying plumbing tool, you will have to make sure that you buy the right one.

On the other hand, you are going to face the quality factor.

When choosing the perfect plumbing tools you are going to pay special attention to the quality of the tools. Yet, keep in mind that there are plumbing tools that do come at reasonable prices, and are at the same time quality ones.

In addition, all that you will have to do is a proper research in order to ensure that you have selected the best quality equipment. After all, there ain’t nobody that wants to face with a plunger breaking apart.

Last but not least, the usage of the plumbing tools is essential too. It is so because it will save you additional costs and at the same time can free up storage space.

So, follow these factors and stay prepared for whatever situation might come your way.

A Basic Plumbing Toolbox

What should your basic plumbing toolbox consist of?

Well, there are dozens of plumbing tools that one should buy. Yet you can make your own personalized plumbing toolbox that you will supply depending on what type of projects you might tackle.

On the other hand, I have few basic plumbing tools to suggest you.

There are the tools that are essential for any homeowner:

• Locking Pliers– They will do the same work as adjustable wrenches would;
• Plumbers Tape– The plumbers’ tape is also known as a Teflon tape. The purpose of the Teflon tape is to ensure a good seal on the threaded pipes;
• Plumbers Putty– This tool is used for creating a water-resistant seal on un-pressured joints;
• Basin Wrench– Designed to work in hard to reach spaces- most commonly under a sink;
• Needle-nose pliers– It is recommendable that everyone has a pair of needle nose pliers in their plumbing toolbox;
• Caulk and caulk gun– There are plenty of reasons why you should have this plumbing tool. It can help you with installing ceramic sinks up to repairing seams in showers;

In addition, there are few tools that you can use for copper piping:

• Propane torch;
• Tubing cutter;
• Flux (and brushes);
• Fitting brush or emery paper;
• Solder;
• Copper fittings;

Pipe Wrench

The pipe wrench is one of the most important and vital tools that everyone should have in their plumbing toolbox at home.

In general, pipe wrenches are used for gripping and turning. Usually, plumbers are using two pipe wrenches.

Moreover, this plumbing tool is used to tighten and loosens pipes as well as fittings.

Additionally, the pipe wrench can help you to keep a firm grasp on the fixture.

Usually, plumbers are wrapping up a cloth around the pipe wrench so that they are not going to damage the fixture’s finish.

All in all, it is important for you to have in mind not to use this type of tool for hardened steel hex nuts or other fittings since they can ruin the head.

Adjustable Wrench

On the other hand, we have the adjustable wrenches. The wrenches, in general, are extremely important when some type of plumbing job has to be done.

Moreover, the adjustable wrench is one of those plumbing tools that are versatile and highly effective at the same time.

Yet, the adjustable wrench if used usually for compression fittings, working on supply lines or other plumbing parts that come equipped with hex-shaped nuts.

When repairing with the adjustable wrench you should be able to hold a firm setting. That way you are not going to lose under heavy torque.

Nonetheless, you should get two types of adjustable wrenches, one small and one large.

To continue with the fact that there are many different forms of adjustable wrenches.

Nowadays you can even find some wrenches that can even be automatically adjusted to the size of the nut.

But, on the other hand, if you are buying adjustable wrenches for home use, make sure to choose a simpler model with a serrated edge to lock the movable jaw to size.

Basin Wrench

So, we’ve come to the basin wrench.

The basin wrench is usually ideal for tightening and loosening different types of nuts- sink faucets are often held in place by specific types of nuts.

The job can be easily done with the basin wrench because it is able to reach up and into the narrow space behind the sink and to grip onto the nuts.

Actually, it is the single plumbing tool that can accomplish what the basin wrench can do.

Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Although you may not think so, pliers are a truly essential part of a plumber’s tools.

These specific types of pliers are actually the most common tools that plumbers go to when they need to grab, pull, hold, tighten, loosen, or twist something.

They have serrated jaws generally 45 to 60 degrees from the handles, and the lower jaw can be moved to several positions by sliding along a tracking section under the upper jaw. Plumbers tend to like this tool because the pliers can adjust to quite a few different sizes without the distance of the handle growing wider, which often creates a hand-gripping problem.

Plunger

Wherever your plumber goes, the plunger ought to go right along with him.

Your plumber shouldn’t assume for a second that you have a plunger available for him to use, upon his arrival.

Arguably, the plunger is a plumber’s most important weapon in his artillery.

As you already know, plungers are necessary for dislodging clogs from toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, and floor drains.

It’s important to clarify the difference between a sink plunger and a toilet plunger, and that is the sink plunge looks like a ball cut in half, while the toilet plunger tend to take a shape more resembling a trash can cover, for instance.

When your plumber uses his plunger, he ought to firmly press down, creating a tight seal around the drain, and then quickly pull up. This will create a vacuum effect – unclogging the stubborn blockage.

Hacksaw

Contrary to popular belief, plumber doesn’t simply plunge drains, take piping apart, and put it back together – sometimes they actually have to cut through piping, hardware, screws, bolts, and nuts. For this, a hacksaw is implemented.

Plumbing hardware can be unusually sturdy, so it’s important that your plumber keep a spare blade on hand, just in case the current one breaks.

When dealing with tight spots, your plumber ought to wrap one end of a loose blade in a cloth to create a handle, to slip the blade in for the cut. If you don’t see him doing this, it wouldn’t hurt to recommend it!

Metal File

After cutting metal piping, it can be a little rough around the edges, to say the least.

So, a metal file is often used to smooth these edges.

Like we’ve been mentioning, a good plumber will have a couple of these in his collection – perhaps a rounded tapered one, and a rounded one with a flat surface.

Plumber’s Snake

Also called a hand auger, this drain-clearing tool is essentially a 25-foot long flexible steel cable that’s effective at clearing clogs from showers, tubs, sinks, drain lines, and toilets, but it seems to be most commonly used in shower/tub drains.

Your plumber should implement this tool when the plunger fails to work.

Tubing Cutter

The tubing cutter is pretty much similar to C-clamps.

Every time this plumbing tool offers clean and a quick way to cut a copper pipe.

On the other hand, you will have to get a standard-size tubing cutter, and to pay attention to the close quarter mini cutter- it is ideal for working in tight spaces.

Emergency Tips

Generally speaking, plumbing problems are never pleasant, and as such can often cut off your household or office. So, if you have at least faced a single major plumbing issue, then you will be able to understand how important it is to get the problem fixed as soon as possible. Thereupon, here are few emergency tips that you can take the use of in case you find yourself in an unpleasant situation:

• First and foremost, you will have to know where the location of the main water shut-off valve is;
• The second thing that you will have to do is to stay completely aware of the situation- by that, I want to emphasize the importance of getting the plumbing problem fixed as soon as possible.
• Next, you will have to stop the flow of the water in the isolation valves- these are located at each fixture,
• In case you have to unclog a toilet- you can use a forced cup plunger;
• On the other hand, if you have to unclog a kitchen sink- you can use a plunger with the aim to cover the other drain for the purpose of allowing the wrench to absorb the stress;
• Yet, there are the bathtub clogs too. If you face this type of situation, you will have to put the plunger on the drain, and use the second plunger to plug up the tub’s overflow;
• If it happens that you are experiencing a supply tube break off caused by a leak- then you will have to screw in a blind cap to seal off the leak until it can be fixed;
• Last, but not least, the easiest way to reduce the leak as a temporary solution is to use a duct tape or pipe sealing tape to pull together a crack in a pipe;

Conclusion

You can never predict what kind of emergency situation might pop up unexpectedly around your house or in the office. Therefore, it is always the best to build yourself a plumbing toolkit with the essentials, and keep it around if it happens that you have the need of it.

In addition to that, you will have to know few basic repairs to at least hold off the situation until a proper help comes your way.

All in all, in this article you had the chance to read and learn how to select your plumbing tool, and more importantly, you had the chance to learn which plumbing tools should be included in a perfect plumbing toolkit.

Never forget that the prime factors one should take into consideration when choosing the perfect plumbing tools should include: the type of tools- which we already determined in this article, the quality of the tools, the usage as well as the function of the tools.