Top 10 most common plumbing tools you need for home plumbing
Here at Build & Plumb, we aim to equip you in the best way to complete your home plumbing project or help you start your plumbing business. Before you start, you need the right tools for the job.
So here is an insight into the most common plumbing tools professional plumbers use in their daily jobs. Find out how you can get your hands on the top 10 essential plumbing tools you need to complete all your home plumbing jobs.
Contents: the top 10 most important plumbing tools.
1. Adjustable Wrench
Firstly, you’ll need an adjustable wrench to start your essential plumbing tool collection. This indispensable tool provides immense leverage and grip if you need to loosen or tighten fittings or nuts or steady a pipe. These wrenches can loosen and tighten the toughest plumbing joints because they increase pressure as you turn the wrench.
Our Wide Jaw Adjustable Wrenchs are made from forged chrome vanadium steel and have an extra angled jaw and slimline head, making it easy for you to work in tight spaces. Adjust the jaw size to fit the plumbing material size. Notably, our adjustable wrenches have smooth jaws and removable jaw protectors, meaning you can use them on softer material fittings such as chrome and polished brass.
We also offer sets in multiple sizes, such as our 6, 8, 10-inch set, 4, 6 and 8-inch set, or you can purchase them individually.
2. Spanner
As well as wrenches, every good plumber knows to carry a set of spanners. There are a few different types depending on the job you’re doing. For example, our Torque Spanner Set has six sizes to adjust any flare joints you might come across. Or if you’re plumbing sink or bath taps, you will need a Tap Backnut Spanner or T-spanner to tighten backnuts. For radiators, you will need a UNI-Spanner, a stepped combination spanner tool to remove radiator tails, nipples, tap extensions and other screwed connections.
3. Pliers
Similar to a wrench, you can also use pliers to tighten and loosen nuts and fittings. They have an extended adjustment section and angled jaw, allowing you to grip pipes and fittings of any size. The long handles allow you to squeeze and twist fittings with tremendous leverage, so you can grip heavy steel pipes and tighten plastic nuts and sink drains.
We have an extensive range of pliers for you to choose from, from the standard grip to the soft grip, to the self-lock to the push button safety-lock system pliers. The button locking system prevents the grip from slipping, and you can release it with the touch of a button, whereas the self-lock multi-point adjustment pliers allow for simple and accurate transition through sizes.
4. Pipe cutters
Also, you will need pipe cutters if your plumbing job includes cutting or resizing pipes for pipe installation and repairs. You will need different cutters depending on the pipe material, for example, copper or plastic pipe. Pipe cutters are essential in the plumber’s toolbox because they are easier to use and safer than a hack saw.
At Build & Plumb, we have an extensive range of pipe cutters for both plastic and metal pipes, from handheld pipe cutters to battery-powered ones. We also offer replacement blades.
5. Blow Torch
Often, plumbers need to solder and seal metal pipes together. Therefore a professional plumber will always carry a blow torch. These compact, handheld tools focus immense heat on a targeted area to fuse two pieces of metal.
When you buy a blow torch from Build & Plumb, you know you’ll get the best from many years of experience. Our quick-fire and super-fire blow torches provide the highest standard of concentrated high temperature for fast and effective soldering, even upsidedown.
We also offer a range of spare parts and accessories to service and complement your blow torch. For example, we provide soldering mats, flame burner tips, spare burn tubes, heat deflector guards, a service repair kit, an extension hose and soldering kits with a handy carry case.
6. Sink Auger
One of the most common plumber jobs is unblocking drains. If you want to unblock a drain at home, you can use a sink auger to break up a blockage.
A sink auger consists of a flexible stainless steel cable with a corkscrew or bristle brush at the end. The cable coil is in a drum canister, and the drum has a rotating handle to insert the snake cable into the drain. Turning the handle rotates the snake cable to break the blockage or pull it out.
Our sink augurs are suitable for cleaning sink and bath drains, but not toilets! For power tool enthusiasts, we also offer a battery-powered drain cleaner.
7. Drain Rods
However, you will need something more substantial for unblocking more prominent or outside drains. In these cases, drain rods are the better option. Our Set of 10 Drain Rods provides everything you need to unclog your drains. Fasten the rods together to make the rod long enough to reach the blockage, and use the rubber plunger or worm screw attachment to dislodge the blockage.
8. Sealant
Another essential tool in a plumber’s toolbox is a sealant tube. You can use these versatile adhesives to seal hard plastics, acrylics, fibreglass, ceramic, glass, marble, granite, aluminium, mirrors and metals. Use them to ensure water does not escape from pipes or as a neat finishing edge around any bathroom or kitchen unit.
We provide acrylic and silicone sealants in different colours. We also have sealants for water and humidity-resistant seals and anti-mould seals. Don’t forget to purchase your Sealent skeleton gun so you can start immediately.
9. Pipe benders
If you’re creating a new plumbing system, sometimes it’s easier to bend pipes to the right fit than to cut and solder them or attach fixings. We have a pipe bender for every plumbing material, including copper and stainless steel, small to heavy-duty pipes. Add a handy carry case for easy transportation, or opt for our battery-powered pipe bender to speed up your plumbing job.
10. Hole Saw
If you are making holes in pipes to attach a fixing, you will need a set of hole saws for making holes in the pipework. In our hole cutting sets, you will get a variety of diameters for cutting the correct size hole.
How to care for your plumbing tools.
You’ve heard the phrase – a tradesman is only as good as his tools, but your tools are only good if you take care of them. Ensure that after every plumbing job, your tools are clean and dry to avoid rust. You can easily clean them in soapy water and dry them thoroughly with a towel.
However, power tools might need extra TLC, and adjustable parts may need regular oiling or WD-40. Toilet plungers and drain augers will need bleach, as well as a detergent, to make sure you kill any germs. Keep them separate from your other tools to avoid bacteria contamination.
Store your tools in a toolbox or case to avoid losing or damaging them. If you can, place them in separate compartments in the toolbox to stop them from coming into contact with tools that could break them. Some plumbing tools have specific storage instructions, so ensure you observe them to elongate their lives.
Also, if you store them in a garage or basement, be mindful that humidity issues could damage your tools.
Lastly, regularly checking your tools will prolong their life as you can spot any issues and replace broken parts accordingly.
Conclusion
You are now ready to start your at-home plumbing job. These 10 essential plumbing tools can help solve the most common plumbing problems.
Here at Build & Plumb, we want to supply you with the best tools for plumbers on the market, and with 1000s of tools to choose from, you’ll always find the right tool for the job online. Shop all essential plumbing tools here.
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