Whether you are one of the many professional plumbers looking to start a plumbing business on your own or a DIY plumber who wants to be ready if common plumbing problems come out, you need to have at least the tools in this plumbing tools and equipment list. A plumbing job doesn’t stop unclogging drains. Your work may take you down to the sewer lines to deal with problems ranging from unclogging pipes to repairing leaks. These tools, such as which can help with the most common plumbing problems or which plumbing device helps prevent backflow, will help you solve most of the plumbing problems you will encounter. This tool list includes plumbing hand tools. However, there is a wide range of piping work requirements in the plumbing business that essential plumbing hand tools can’t deal with effectively. We will be mentioning a short list of plumbing tools near the end of the article.
Plumbing Tools List
Before going through this list, plumbers should always practice safety in the workplace. Professional plumbing services are very keen on safety. Plumbers should wear heavy-duty gloves, especially when turning pipes, using press-fitting systems, or when they apply intense heat when using torches. Use heat shields when using a plumber’s torch as well.
Pipe Wrenches
A plumber may have three to four different pipe wrenches with them. Wrenches have fixed or adjustable, smooth or toothed jaws at one end of a long handle. Plumbers may carry various wrenches to tackle a wide range of pipe sizes. The most common wrench is the adjustable wrench. Its design makes it capable of securely gripping a wide range of round objects, such as pipes, by applying pressure to the pipe as the wrench is turned. They may carry with them a basin wrench for lighter turning work.
Uses of a Pipe Wrench
Pipe wrenches hold, remove, turn, or fit plumbing pipes and fixtures. These wrenches are intended for pipes made of galvanized steel and iron or heavy-duty fixtures with rough finishes.
A pipe wrench exerts high pressure to turn pipes, making it unsuitable for use for fragile pipes such as copper piping. In the case of copper pipes, a plumber uses a copper pipe wrench.
Plumber’s Tape
A plumber’s tape is a thin white tape made of PTFE (PolyTetraFluoroEthylene). A plumber wraps these around threads on pipes and fittings before joining two lines together. Plumber’s tape is also known as thread sealing tape.
Uses of a Plumber’s Tape
A plumber’s tape has a dual purpose of making it easier to aid threading like a lubricant while sealing the joint to prevent leaks. A plumber can also use thread sealing tape to wrap around leaking joints as a temporary measure.
Plunger
The plunger is among the plumbing tools that can be considered the first resort against clogging drains. There are different types and sizes of plungers to deal with varying sizes of drains.
Uses of a Plunger
A plunger is an essential household tool for dealing with a wide variety of drains. By using suction and pressure, it can force softer types of materials from clogging the drain.
Tubing Cutters
Tubing cutters are essential for plumbers working with copper piping. Its thin cutting wheels cut through the metal while a flat pressure wheel applies pressure gradually as the tool’s knob is turned.
Uses of a Tubing Cutter
To seal copper piping effectively, the copper tubing requires clean and square cuts, which a tubing cutter can do better than a hacksaw.
Hacksaw
A hacksaw is a versatile type of saw where the blades can be installed with the teeth facing either in front or against the handle depending on the type of job required. By using a hacksaw plumbers can cut through any kind of metal piping that won’t require smooth cuts. Hacksaw blades tend to dull easily if plumbers work with pipes made of harder materials. Plumbers will carry spare blades with them just in case.
Uses of a Hacksaw
Hacksaws are for cutting metal that won’t require smooth cutting edges, such as stainless steel and cast-iron pipes. Hacksaws are also helpful for PVC pipes and other plastic pipes.
Washers
Washers are simple, flat, and round disks with a hole at the center that fits inside showerheads and faucets. A plumber may have different sizes of washers with them. These can come in metal, plastic, or rubber.
Uses of Washers
Washers control the intense flow of water flowing through showerheads and faucets.
Drill and Boring Bits
A plumber uses an electric hammer drill with an auger or masonry bits.
Uses of Drill and Hole Boring Bits
Plumbers create holes of different sizes on plumbing pipes and plumbing systems using these drills.
Measuring Tape
Plumbers should always carry measuring tapes with them in their toolbox. These are measuring tapes encased in a small and compact plastic case.
Uses of Measuring Tape
Plumbers use a measuring tape to measure the dimensions of pipes and plumbing systems.
Other Plumbing Tools in Plumbing Businesses
A versatile plumbing business requires various plumbing tools to deal with more complicated plumbing needs. For drain cleaning, plumbers carry a drain auger, drain snake, shaped tools, and other heavy-duty drain cleaning tools. Some of these drain cleaning tools may be specialized equipment with small cameras attached at the end to look for drains in sewer lines or wherever the tubes can fit.
Plumbers working in a construction setting may carry a plumber’s torch and press-fitting systems to deal with copper piping.
Plumbers should always include other basic hand tools in their toolbox: a faucet key, a stubby screwdriver, a hand auger, pliers, and channel locks.
Takeaways: Having the Right Tools
Plumbing tools are essential for plumbers to do their job correctly. Having the right tools can help a plumber deal with most types of emergencies commonly encountered in the plumbing business. AK Plumbing is a family-owned business that has served Duarte, California and surrounding cities and towns for decades. We have all the tools, experience, and technical knowledge to tackle any kinds of plumbing needs and emergencies. For a free quote, call us at (626) 812-8365, or contact us.