Plumbing problems are an inevitable part of every homeowners’ life. No matter what, you have to face them.  Calling a plumber for every problem is expensive and impractical. Therefore, building your personal plumbing tool kit is a wise investment for your home that will save you from the annoyance of the long pending plumbing problems being sorted out quickly and economically. As a beginner, you can start with adding basic plumbing to your tool arsenal and then keep on adding the special ones as per the requirements of your house test.

Plumbing problems are an inevitable part of every homeowners’ life. No matter what, you have to face them.  Calling a plumber for every problem is expensive and impractical. Therefore, building your personal plumbing tool kit is a wise investment for your home that will save you from the annoyance of the long pending plumbing problems being sorted out quickly and economically. As a beginner, you can start with adding basic plumbing to your tool arsenal and then keep on adding the special ones as per the requirements of your house.

I have sorted the basic tools from the specialized ones to help you build your plumbing tools kit step by step as your plumbing expertise increases.

Basic Plumbing Tools

   1.Plunger: This indispensable tool, also known as force cup or a plumber's friend is the first option to grab when you need to clear clogs from sinks, bathtubs, toilets, showers, and floor drains. Just press it down back firmly to create a vacuum around the pull it up. The pressure build by the vacuum loosens or breaks the blockage caused by the excessive stuck material in the drain.

   2.Straight Jaw Plier: This is one of the most required handy plumbing tools that you would grab to loosen, tighten, pull or twist nuts, bolts, wires and more. A basic 2-inch straight jaw plier will resolve most of your DIY twisting and turning problems.

   3.Pipe Wrench: The primary function of a pipe wrench is to tighten or loosen the threaded pipes, nuts and fittings. This clamp shaped tool has a stable lower jaw and an adjustable upper jaw. The pipe is gripped firmly between the serrated teeth of both jaws to tighten or loosen the fittings as required. Wrenches come in different sizes. The size is clearly marked on the right side of the wrench handle. A 10-inch and 14-inch pipe wrench is the most used wrenches for household plumbing.

   4.Adjustable Wrench: This tool in your tool kit can come to your rescue when you have to deal with compression fittings, supply lines and hexagonal shaped nuts and bolts, screws and cylindrical surfaces. It is also available in various sizes but for household purposes, you can go for a 6-inch and a 10-inch tool.

   5.Basin Wrench: An essential tool, also known as a sink wrench, is used to loosen or tighten the deeply placed threaded nuts in a basin or sink. Its long shaft and swiveling jaw are designed to reach the deeply placed fasteners where other types of wrenches could not reach. It is available in two varieties- fixed and adjustable. Houseowner can consider the adjustable type as it will fit on all types of nuts.

   6.Drain Snake: Blocked drains of shower, sinks, bathtubs and washing machine is a common trouble every house owner has to pass through frequently. A drain snake is a basic tool kit must-have to save you from the clogged hairs, kitchen left-overs and other titbits that are stuck inside the drains and cause a blockage. This easy to use and affordable handy plumbing tool pulls out the stuck material causing the blockage in a drain.

 

Specialized Plumbing Tools:

   7.Tubing Cutter: Tubing cutter is used to cut the PVC, CPVC, PEX, polybutylene, vinyl and several other types of piping materials conveniently and efficiently. You can buy its two variants- standard size tubing cutter and close-quarter mini cutter, which can reach narrow spaces.

   8.Drill: Drill is an essential power tool for every household to punch holes, chip or chisel the fittings, walls or pipes within seconds. Make sure you grab drill bits pack to conveniently use your drill machine on all kinds of surfaces.

   9.Propane Torch: If you are all set to try soldering, welding, searing, brazing, a propane torch is a must addition to your tool kit. It uses the hydrocarbon gas propane to ignite. A self-igniting propane torch is much more convenient than the traditional ones that required matchstick for ignition.

Safety Gear:

   10.Gloves: You have to touch a lot of things that you won’t like to touch with your bare hands during your DIY plumbing projects. Also, a pair of heavy-duty gloves will enhance your grip over slippery fitting and protect your hands from germs and chemicals.

   11.Goggles: Safety eyewear is a must while soldering, examining leaks and using chemical adhesives. Keep it handy and wear it during your plumbing work to protect your eyes from harmful fumes and particles.