Every plumber has to be equipped with good quality tools to do their job precisely and efficiently. Good plumbers know the value of their tools more than anyone else. Their toolkit should include all the tools necessary to do the most common plumbing jobs. The last thing you want is to show up at a job site and realize you don’t have the proper tools to do the job.
We have put together a list of twenty of the best tools a plumber’s toolbox should have. So here we go,
List of Plumbing Tools
A good toolkit for a plumber comes with many varieties of tools. Here are the best lists of tools for a plumber’s toolkit,
Wrenches
- Basin wrench
- Pipe wrench
- Faucet key
- Adjustable wrench
Clearing clogs
- Hand Auger
- Plungers
- Snake Machine
Pipework
- Tube and plastic pipe cutters
- Hacksaw
- Plumber’s torch
- Teflon tape
- Press fitting systems
- Pliers
Safety Equipment
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Heat pads/shields
Other Necessary Tools
- PEX pipe expander and fittings
- Stubby screwdriver
- Crimpers
- Borescope
Now here are the short descriptions of each tool,
- Basin wrench
This wrench is a T-shaped type of tool which is used to work on faucets. It has a clamp-like system on the bottom end to allow the plumbers to get into narrow spaces and loosen or tighten the nuts and bolts.
- Pipe wrench
The pipe wrench is one of the largest wrenches in a plumber’s toolbox. This heavy tool is used to loosen or tighten nuts or fitting of any pipework. Sometimes, two pipe wrenches are used together to finish a pipe-related specific task. Pipe wrenches also come in various lengths.
- Faucet key
Faucet key is one of the exotic wrenches out in the market and is rarely seen in any other plumbing tools list. These are small-sized and X-shaped tools to close or open spigots and sillcocks.
- Adjustable wrench
These wrenches can easily loosen or tighten fittings and hexagonal nuts on any pipe. The wrench is available in many sizes, but most plumbers prefer to have a six or 10-inch version of it.
- Hand Auger
A hand auger is a device that lets plumbers drive a cable deep down a drain to clear and break clogs by using this hand crank. This technology has evolved a lot since its invention. Nowadays, it has more models with more capabilities.
- Plungers
Most homeowners own plungers, but some plumbers need to be ready with them too. Professional plumbers need to be ready with a heavy-duty flange and cup plunger that gives slightly more suction than the average consumer plunger.
- Snake Machine
A snake machine is mostly a bigger and motorized version of the hand auger. When the toilet clogs are very deep and difficult to displace, a snake machine can help recover the situation.
- Tube and plastic pipe cutters
If you are a professional who mostly deals with copper or plastic frequently, you already know that these things often need to be replaced, removed, and resized. There is an arrangement of the handheld tube and plastic pipe cutter in the store, so professional plumbers can pick which model will be the best for them. Also don’t forget a set of PEX pipe expander and fittings.
- Hacksaw
When pipes, nuts, bolts, or screws don’t come out easily, use your hacksaw to get the job done. If the location is tight or squeezy and you can not enter your hacksaw in place, then take out the blade and use it to cut stubborn fittings.
- Plumber’s torch
Many plumbers need heat to solder the seal of copper piping. Plumber’s torches are small handheld tools that plumbers use to apply heat in the exact areas, soldering and sealing new piping for setup and replacements.
- Teflon tape
Teflon tapes are a great choice to seal off any leaks of any joints. Teflon tapes will not come off even in low or high temperatures.
- Press fitting systems
All press-fitting systems save plumbers money and time in the long run. These physically press a connection on a pipe to create a great seal between them.
- Pliers
Like wrenches, most of the plumbers use pliers in their everyday work. These smaller tools are the best ones as you can lose or tighten the bolts or nuts that will be too small for a wrench to grip.
- Gloves
Plumbers are usually exposed to a lot of things that no one wants to touch with their hands. There are different types of heavy-duty gloves in the store that can help protect hands and help them grip on slippery items more effectively.
- Goggles
As a plumber, you will face different issues, and you need to closely examine soldering, leakage, and various things that can be harmful to the eyes. A good plumber will always have safety goggles to protect their eyes at work.
- Heat pads/shields
Since soldering is a regular part of plumbers day to day duty and a heat shield is essential to protect yourself and the homeowner. Complete your equipment bag with a heat shield and pads to help protect the surrounding from heat or fire damage.
- PEX pipe expander and fittings
Pex pipe is the latest invention of plumbings. It is strong and flexible that offers extraordinary benefits and reliability. A Pex expander is working as a drill that widens the mouth of a pipe so you can install a metal fitting. Pex piping can keep its original shape when the mouth closes on the fitting and makes a perfect seal for water to go through.
- Stubby screwdriver
A stubby screwdriver is a must-have tool for all plumbers. That is because it is a job saver when plumbers require to lose or tighten the screws in hard-to-reach areas that are sometimes unreachable to a normal or electric screwdriver.
- Crimpers
Crimpers are crucial in using PEX-related plumbing, but plumbers can use them in other types of piping. Crimping is mainly joining different pieces of metals or other materials by disfiguring both or one of them to clasp each other.
- Borescope
Plumbers mostly consider borescope as a top-of-the-line technology in plumbing professionals, but nowadays, the experts or veterans keep them in their toolkit. These small cameras are connected with a long and flexible cable used to see the condition of sewer or drain lines to find out what is obstructing the line.
Not every plumbing problem is the same as their solutions are different then the tools required to resolve the issue are also different. And, having good quality plumbing tools is very important for every plumber to do their job more efficiently. I like your suggestions for the tools that every plumber needs to keep in their toolbox. Keep Posting!