If you have the time, some know-how, and the right tools, then you can fix most common plumbing problems at your home. Fortunately, these are all you need for fixing the most common household plumbing repairs. You might even already own some of the essential plumbing tools because these are the same ones used for many do-it-yourself projects.
Certain plumbing jobs, however, require specialized tools. We’ve rounded up all the possible plumbing tools you’ll need for the simplest to the most challenging tasks.
Plunger
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One of the most common plumbing tools that are on the market is the plunger. Plungers are used to help dislodge clogs from sinks, toilets, and other types of drains. You will need to own a good plunger so that you can deal with minor plumbing problems. These plungers are going to be useful for many reasons, and they won’t cost you much money at all to purchase.
Anyone who works with plumbing should always be equipped with a plunger. It is going to be one of the most essential tools for clearing out clogs. It isn’t always enough to just use a plunger to fix a clogging problem.
Sometimes special liquids will need to be used in the drains, and other times you might need to use a more complex tool, such as an auger.
Regardless, the plunger is the first thing that you will want to turn to when looking to fix a clog. In an ideal situation, you will be able to dislodge the clog using the plunger and can then go about your business. Sometimes it really is just as easy that. Buy a good plunger that will be able to help you to fix small clog problems right away.
Pipe Wrench
The pipe wrench is probably the first thing that you think about when you’re conjuring up an image of plumbing tools. A faithful pipe wrench is an essential tool that no plumber should be without. You aren’t going to get very far in a plumbing job if you don’t have a reliable pipe wrench at your side.
You need to be able to wrench on pipes to get to the root of many plumbing problems, so it will be worth it to buy a good wrench.
There will be a lot of different pipe wrenches for you to choose from. It is recommended to buy one that is really sturdy and easy to use. You may also want to consider buying a couple of different pipe wrenches that are various sizes. This can be useful when you encounter pipes that are smaller or ones that are particularly large.
Whether your plumbing skills are significant, or if you are an amateur, you will want to own one of these wrenches. It will allow you to grip the pipes very effectively, and you can work towards solving your plumbing problems. Wrenches like this aren’t overly expensive, so it won’t be difficult for you to purchase one.
Look into getting a couple of these for the best results, and be sure to buy wrenches that are meant for different sized pipes.
Pipe Saw
You can buy saws that are specifically meant for cutting through pipes. These saws are often used by professional plumbers when they need to remove certain pipes or saw through the wood to get to particular plumbing features.
The saw being shown here is very strong and can cut right through PVC, ABS, CPVC, wood, and even drywall. This will be really good to have around when you need to make some cuts to finish a job properly.
There will be some plumbers who would prefer to have a jigsaw for cutting through tougher surfaces, but this pipe saw is going to work nicely. You need to have tools available to you that will help you to cut through pipes, at the very least.
This pipe saw won’t work as well as some of the other options when it comes to cutting in tight spaces, but it is still good to have around. You won’t regret owning this saw and will find many uses for it.
Ratchets
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Owning a good ratchet set is important for anyone who plans on being handy. This is a set of tools that will prove to be invaluable in many areas of life. You won’t just be using a ratchet set for plumbing problems, as these will come in handy for many home projects and mechanical jobs.
The utility of a good ratchet set is obvious, and you will want to have it around in case you come across anything that has a ratchet head.
Being prepared for everything is essential when you’re doing plumbing jobs. Whether you are an amateur or a professional, it’s a good idea to keep ratchets in your toolbox. It is always best to be ready for any possibility. There will be times when you will need your ratchets on a plumbing job, so make sure that you have access to a good set.
Pipe Cutter
Pipe cutters are an essential tool for any plumber to own. You will need to cut pipes frequently when you are doing plumbing work. This can happen when you need to remove bad pipes to make room for new ones.
You may also need to cut pipes when you’re performing a simple installation, as some fixtures may not be compatible with certain existing pipe sizes.
The pipe cutter that is being shown here is very convenient to use. It is capable of being used even in tight spaces. This is perfect for being used underneath your sink and will be able to make quick work of any pipes that you need to cut.
This tube cutter is easy to control and can cut through copper pipes, aluminum pipes, copper, or plastic tubing without a problem.
A pipe cutter like this is going to be perfect for keeping in your toolbox. It is very lightweight and easy to transport from job to job. You won’t have any problems making use of it and will be glad to have it around in a pinch. To add to this, you can purchase it at a very affordable price, so it’s definitely recommended to buy one as soon as you can.
Internal Pipe Wrench
Source: Amazon
Certain difficult plumbing situations are going to require you to make use of an internal pipe wrench. These wrenches are able to fit right where you need them to, and you can easily expand them to various sizes.
This can help you to hold different strainers for your bathtub or sink. It will also make installing or removing nipples a whole lot easier than it would otherwise be.
One of the great aspects of this tool is that it doesn’t weigh much at all. It is very easy to transport, and you won’t have any problem fitting it in your belt or your toolbox. Being able to have access to this internal pipe wrench at any time while on a job will be quite convenient.
Once you have made proper use of this to finish a couple of tough plumbing jobs, you will see why it is called an essential plumbing tool.
Internal Pipe Cutter
Source: Amazon
There will be situations in which you need to cut the inside of a pipe. You can use this handy internal pipe cutter attachment on your power drill. It will allow you to cut pipes from the inside, and it works really well. If you have some PVC pipe or tubing that you need to cut through and remove, then this is going to help you to do the job.
This is one of the most cost-effective ways to deal with this situation. There are other internal pipes cutting solutions on the market, but this drill add-on is going to save you a significant amount of money. It works very well at cutting pipes for you, and you will be impressed by how quickly you can finish your task.
Seek one of these out, and cut the pipe that you need to get out of the way today.
Crimpers
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Crimpers are more important than many people realize. If you don’t have a proper crimping tool in your belt, then certain tasks are going to be a lot more difficult than they need to be. A good pipe crimper is going to allow you to crimp the ends of a round metal pipe.
This can help you to make a proper male fitting on the end, and it will also prove useful for other reasons, too.
This is another inexpensive tool that you can add to your collection. You will be able to buy a high-quality crimper without having to spend much money at all. Owning one of these is going to be very useful if you plan on doing a lot of your own plumbing work.
You will be happy that you bought this when you see how much easier it is to use this than it is to try to crimp a pipe with another tool.
Faucet Handle Puller
Source: Amazon
A faucet handle puller may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of plumbing tools, but these are essential for a good plumber to have. You will need a faucet handle puller in order to make installing and removing faucets as simple as possible.
They work to help you pull the faucet out without it being a big hassle. This will be a lot easier when you have this tool, so it is highly recommended that you purchase one of these when you’re installing a sink.
This is a tool that is very inexpensive as well. There is no good reason to avoid buying a faucet handle puller when you are capable of purchasing one at such an affordable price. It will be worth the small investment to save yourself some time and frustration. You will find these faucet handle pullers at most hardware stores, so it won’t be difficult to track one down.
Jigsaw
Jigsaws are not tools that plumbers will use all of the time, but there will be situations where it is necessary to cut into something. When a plumber needs to cut something, having a jigsaw handy is going to be a good solution.
These saws are very useful for purposes outside of the plumbing realm, so this is something you will want to have access to. You can buy a nice jigsaw and get plenty of use out of it around your home.
Buying a good jigsaw won’t be overly expensive, either. You can find a saw that will work well for your purposes without having to spend too much money. This might not be something that you will need to handle your plumbing issue, but you will still enjoy having it.
It’ll be important to have a tool like this when you do need to saw into something, so keep that in mind when you’re buying what you need.
Auger
One of the most common plumbing problems that people face is clogged up drains. Hair and other types of debris are going to build up in your pipes over time. This will cause clogs and your drains are going to stop working properly. In order to fix these issues as easily as you possibly can, it is often recommended to use a plumbing auger.
Augers are capable of removing hair and other gunk from your drains very easily. If you are having some serious problems with your drain, a professional plumber would be very likely to bring an auger in to remedy the problem.
You can also choose to buy your own auger so that you can take care of the task by yourself. There are very powerful augers that will cost a fair bit of money, but this one here is actually quite affordable.
Handheld Snake
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Snake tools are similar to augers in some ways, but these are a lot easier to use overall. You will find many different styles of handheld snake tools on the market. These are going to be useful for dislodging clogs from your drains. If your sinks are not draining like they should, then purchasing one of these handheld snakes could help you to fix the situation.
Depending on the severity of your clog, the handheld snake may not be enough to fix the problem. These can work swimmingly in certain situations, but they may not always be able to do the trick. It is really dependent on how bad your plumbing problems are and how long your handheld snake is.
You can purchase handheld snakes that are quite long, and they will be helpful to you when dealing with clogs no matter what.
Pipe Thawer
Source: Amazon
This pipe thawer is going to prove to be very useful to any plumber. It will also be helpful for an amateur who wants to avoid having to call in the professionals. If your pipes have become frozen, then you will need to get them thawed out as quick as you possibly can to avoid further problems.
Tools like this have become available to consumers and it has made the process of thawing out pipes a lot easier than it was many years ago.
In the past, this was a major issue that would require people to dig into the floors or break down walls to get to the frozen pipes. With this pipe thawing tool, you can thaw out your pipes without having to go through all of that hassle.
Frozen pipes are still a really big problem that you should try to avoid at all costs. It is just fortunate that tools like this are able to help, in most situations. These tools are very expensive, but they will prove to be useful to you.
Cordless Drill
Source: Amazon
Cordless drills are going to come in handy for many different plumbing jobs. When it comes to installing certain fixtures, some drilling may be necessary. This is also the case when plumbing experts are installing new toilets. Having a powerful and lightweight cordless drill is going to make a plumber’s job much simpler, in many situations.
This cordless drill is very useful because it is durable and lightweight. The fact that it is so easy to hold makes it easier to use it while you’re working in tight spaces. You don’t want to buy a cordless drill that is too cumbersome when you’re going to be working underneath a sink.
A nice lightweight drill will help you to stay on task and avoid any mishaps, so buy yourself one today.
Pipe Inspection Cameras
These pipe inspection cameras are something that professional plumbers will be able to put to good use. They cost quite a bit of money to purchase, but they are excellent for determining the plumbing problems that you are facing. Using this pipe camera is just like using a traditional handheld snake tool.
The camera will be able to snake down your pipes and help you to determine where the blockage is located. This is definitely a tool that is more commonly used by professionals. The price is prohibitive for many people, so these tools aren’t seen in many average households.
Even so, it is possible to buy one if you think it would come in handy. This is going to be a great tool to have around if you want to determine the cause of plumbing issues very swiftly.
Pliers
Source: Amazon
Pliers are used by just about any type of handyman when something needs to be held into place. These are versatile tools that can be used for many different purposes. Plumbers will always keep a few different types of pliers in their tool belts so that they can use them when the need arises.
This set here is a very convenient purchase because it includes several different styles of pliers. Having many different pliers to choose from is going to make things even easier on you. You will always have the right type of pliers for the job that you are doing.
Ensuring that you are properly equipped before doing plumbing jobs is essential, so it’s worthwhile to buy these. You will find many uses for them outside of plumbing jobs as well, so you won’t regret the purchase.
Tubing Bender Set
Source: Amazon
There are going to be times when you will need to bend copper pipes in order to position them properly. These tube benders have been designed specifically for that purpose. This set comes with several different sizes of tube benders.
You will be able to put these to use in order to take care of your needs. Plumbers will always have some of these around for when they need to bend certain pipes.
You will find that these tube bending sets are usually the best way to go when you’re in need. They are very cost-effective and the multiple sizes will offer you some versatility. There are other types of tube benders on the market, as well, and some of them will work better for other purposes.
Think about what your needs are, and then look into which type of tube bending tool is going to be the most useful to you.
Flaring Tools
Source: Amazon
Flaring tools aren’t tools that are used by amateurs very often, but you will see plumbers using them quite regularly. During piping installations, there will be a need to flare out certain things. These flaring tools can accomplish this task easily and make a plumber’s job that much simpler.
You will find flaring tools in many different variations, but they are all generally used for the same purposes. This flaring tool being shown here is a very high-quality tool. This is going to help you to make short work of any job where you’re going to need to flare something out.
You can find flaring tools that are a bit more inexpensive if this is more costly than you would like. This quality tool will be able to last for a long time, though, so it is up to you to decide.
