No matter how skilled a plumber may be, your job is more difficult without the right products in your toolbox. While there may be a professional plumbing tool for everything, sometimes quality is more important than quantity.
Read on to learn more about the best tools for plumbing, including
- Plumbing tools’ names and uses,
- Commonly used materials, and
- Where to find plumbing tools.
Which five tools are most common to plumbing?
1) Toilet auger
A toilet auger is a simple hand tool with a metal cable that removes clogs from toilet drain lines.
There’s a rotating handle on one end and a long tube with a smooth angle on the bottom. A rubber sleeve also prevents the metal tube from scratching the porcelain toilet bowl.
2) Flange plunger
A flange plunger is similar to a typical cup plunger, with one main difference: a smaller cup (the flange) extending out of the larger rubber cup. Flange plungers usually have longer handles, too.
While cup plungers are ideal for plunging on a flat surface like a bathtub drain, flange plungers are designed to plunge toilets.
3) Drain snake
A drain snake, also called a plumbing snake or auger, is a flexible metal cable coiled into a protective case.
Drain snakes go deep into a drain to extract a clog. A professional snake (or auger) can push a clog through to loosen it.
4) Faucet valve seat wrench
A faucet valve-seat wrench is a small tool for removing the valve seats on a compression faucet. This L-shaped tool has two heads: a head on one leg to unscrew the worn-out valve and a head on the opposite leg to grip and screw in the new seat.
5) Adjustable pipe wrench
An adjustable pipe wrench holds or turns pipes and circular bars. It has serrated jaws, which create a firm grip. This type of wrench has been a foundational plumbing tool since the 1800s.
What are the materials and tools used in plumbing?
To find the best options, you need to know plumbing tools’ names and uses. Standard plumbing tools include plungers, hacksaws, cutters, pliers, augers, and wrenches.
Exploring the right materials for your specialization is also essential in developing your plumbing business. Choosing the suitable materials depends on the particulars of the job at hand. Copper, CPVC, PVC, and PEX are the most commonly used plumbing materials.
Copper is sturdy but costly; PVC won’t rust but is sensitive to heat; PEX is inexpensive and cuts quickly but is susceptible to rodents; and CPVC is fireproof but unrecyclable.
Where to buy plumbing tools
Purchasing plumbing tools online is convenient and works well if you know what you want. Online reviews provide helpful information about which professional tools perform better than others. Make sure you investigate whether you’re buying from a reputable brand.
Big box stores have an ample selection of tools, as do local hardware shops. By purchasing in person, you can
- Test the tools,
- See if they fit you well, and
- Get answers to any questions.
The best plumbing tools: Filling your toolbox
Learning which professional tools are essential to your work is an excellent place to start when building your plumbing toolbox. Equip you and your team with foundational, quality tools and add to your selection as necessary.
Starting with the basics can help you to avoid purchasing more than is necessary. For example, you may find that an adjustable pipe wrench does the same work as several other wrenches combined.
When building a plumbing tools list, consider the tools’ quality, durability, ease of use,
and, of course, price. Investing in quality tools will pay off in the long run, as replacing tools that don’t stand the test of time can be costly.
Key takeaway about purchasing plumbing tools
Step one is to understand what tools and materials you need on your plumbing tool list. After that, you can start growing your business into a thriving plumbing enterprise.
For more tips on building your plumbing company, AnswerForce can help. Let us capture your new leads and free up your time by fielding your inbound calls and messages!