Essential Home Plumbing Tools

At Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re here to help with all your plumbing needs, large and small. Whether it’s a major plumbing emergency or a simple piece of advice on a do-it-yourself project, our plumbers are always available to assist you.

When it comes to the DIY world of plumbing, there are several areas most handy homeowners can handle without calling our plumbers to the site. But to do this, you need a few of the right basic tools in your home – here are a few of these to make sure you have on hand in case any of these kinds of issues come up.

Plunger(s)

Whether you call them a safety precaution or an actual tool, plungers should be present in every building where there’s a toilet. In most cases, you actually want to keep two plunger types in your home:

• Cup plunger: A plunger that’s designed for sinks, tubs or other drains that rest on a flat, consistent surface.
• Flange plunger: A plunger that’s equipped with extra soft rubber coming from the cup, called a flange, which makes it able to seal on curved surfaces. For this reason, flange plungers are preferable for any toilet clogs.

Wrenches

In addition, there are also a couple wrenches you should keep on hand in case you need to tighten or loosen items:

• Pipe wrench: To tighten or loosen items that other tools might struggle to grip. Pipe wrenches come with a metal handle and serrated clamps that are adjustable, making them perfect for adjusting or replacing pipes.
• Adjustable wrench: These are multi-use wrenches that are great for nuts, bolts and other small items.

Auger and Snake

For drain clogs that the plunger isn’t able to handle fully, the auger or snake can be useful. Augers are for the toilet, where they move through the drain and hook onto clogs before pulling them out. Snakes work in a similar way, but with more versatility – they’re generally good for other appliances like sinks and tubs that become clogged.

Duct Tape

It’s not a tool per se, but a roll or two of duct tape should always be present in the home for several fixer reasons, plumbing high among them. It’s great for sealing in leaks temporarily, with a water-resistant nature that allows you to plug holes while waiting for a more permanent solution.

For more on essential plumbing tools to have in the home, or to learn about any of our plumbing repair services, speak to the pros at Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.