Among the most vital aspects of your home maintenance is the drainage system, and for it to function properly, you must ensure that you are devised with the right set of tools. Despite all of the finest upkeep, things might go wrong at times, and that is when your plumbing toolbox can save you from running around for help.
In such occurrences, it’s critical to have the necessary equipment on hand to make the repair procedure as simple as possible. So, we’ve gone through the top five things you should add to your toolbox to make your plumbing duties easier. From plumber’s tape to a toilet auger, this list below entails everything you’ll need for plumbing repairs at home.
Table of Contents
1. Plumber’s Tape
Polytetrafluoroethylene is the material commonly used to make plumber’s tape (PTFE). Plumbing professionals, handypersons, electricians, homeowners, and anyone dealing with pipes and homes utilize this tool for repairs.
A plumber’s tape is the way to go if a threaded connection doesn’t have a rubber gasket already installed. It also acts as a lubricant, easing the threading support system.
When you need to take apart a pipe connection, this helps ensure that the pipes don’t become stuck. Although a plumber’s tape requires little skill, you can use this guide to plumbers tape to identify its uses and application methods.
Plumber’s tape is an absolute must-have whether you’re a professional or a weekend warrior, a plumber’s tape is definitely one of the most useful multi-purpose tools that one can own. In addition to avoiding leaks and safeguarding your property from water damage, it is cheap, and simple to install.
2. Adjustable Wrench
An open-ended wrench with a pivoting jaw is called an adjustable spanner. It serves the same purpose as a standard spanner—to secure nuts and bolts—but only an adjustable spanner’s jaw can be adjusted to fit fasteners of varying diameters.
An adjustable wrench allows the user to modify the opening width to fit various fastener sizes, making it more versatile than a standard spanner. Working in plumbing necessitates familiarity with a wide variety of pipe diameters and wall thicknesses.
The process is simplified by the availability of an adjustable wrench. The hex bolt in the sink, for instance, is considerably larger in diameter than those in other pipes. Whereas, the bolt size of a standard bath faucet is often smaller.
Due to this, plumbing work is best done using an adjustable spanner. The adjustable wrench fits perfectly over any screw or bolt.
3. Toilet or Closet Auger
A toilet auger, often known as a closet auger is a tool commonly used when the plunger fails to unclog a toilet.
Unlike a plunger, the auger won’t crack the porcelain of your toilet bowl when you use it. This makes a toilet auger the best tool to fix any clogged drain.
A toilet auger is an effective instrument for removing obstructions from a clogged toilet because the auger’s spiraling edge can grab the clog and break it up, reaching further into the bowl than a plunger.
Apart from reaching well into the bowl a toilet auger also has more power to it, making it easier for anyone to unclog obstructions successfully. You no longer have to rely on professional plumbers for clogged pipes and drains.
The toilet auger consists of a cable that can be turned using the handle. But there are toilet-specific augers that come with a rubber sleeve protecting the bowl and a hollow tube hooked to an elbow fitting. This can make sewer and drain cleaning jobs much easier.
4. Hacksaw
The hacksaw is a saw with a toothed blade. These are designed to slice metal and other arduous materials. You may choose from a variety of blade sizes to suit your needs.
Getting a hacksaw with a straight handle or a pistol grip is also useful for plumbing needs. Hacksaws with a pistol grip offer more precision. At the same time, those with a straight handle are better suited to cutting through thicker materials.
Because of its ability to rapidly and efficiently cut through pipes and other materials, a hacksaw is a quick solution for plumbing jobs.
5. Plumber’s Putty
Putty is one of the most elementary items in a plumber’s toolkit. Plumber’s putty is used because it retains a watertight seal and stays soft for an extended period. However, it is not an adhesive like polyurethane and other caulk forms.
If you secure a fixture or drain component with putty, you won’t have trouble taking it apart again when it’s time to replace it. Also, a plumber’s putty doesn’t dry like caulk and is easier to work with, so it’s better at filling significant gaps as opposed to silicones.
The plumber’s putty swells and sticks to any surface when exposed to water. The expansion forms a watertight seal, so there will be no more dripping or running water in your pipes, sinks, drains, or bathrooms.
Plumber’s putty can be used to seal the spaces around drains and pipes to stop water from leaking. It may also prevent clogs in drains and pipes by sealing off crevices and other openings that could otherwise collect water or other liquids.
Although a plumber’s putty has many uses and is easy to work with, it is not always the best option.
Tip: The putty used for plumbing should never be applied on metal or plastic.
Final Words
To make plumbing operations easier, it is usually a good idea to keep some basic equipment available. An adjustable wrench, a hacksaw, a plumber’s putty, and a toilet auger are among the most useful pieces of equipment.
Having these repair tools at home is a great option, it just makes life much easier when you have so many additional chores to attend to. Calling the plumber, and waiting for them to inspect and fix seems like the longer route, so for people who want to jump in and have a go at plumbing duties, these tools are life savers.
