Sorting through plumbing issues can quickly become deeply complicated, and some plumbing emergencies are best left to a professional. There are, however, quite a few things you can still do on your own, such as unclog a clogged toilet or repair a small faucet leak. If you want to be ready to deal with minor plumbing emergencies as they arise in your home, here is a list of the household plumbing tools that you need.
Plunger
The plunger is the quintessential household plumbing tool, and for good reason. A plunger comes in handy for dislodging clogs in your sink, tub, and toilet drains. A tip for using your plunger: it’s more about vacuuming the clog out than it is about pushing the clog further; so, be sure to press down, create a seal around the drain, and then pull upward firmly. You’ll want to have a toilet plunger on hand at the very least. Having a smaller sink plunger on hand can be a good idea as well.
Auger
Also called a plumber’s snake, an auger comes in handy for clearing sink, tub, and toilet clogs when a plunger doesn’t quite do it. The hand-cranked variety, called a hand or sink auger, is best for use on sink and tub drains, while the more robust closet auger is best for use on toilet drains.
Wrenches
You’ll need a variety of wrenches on hand. A basin wrench is good for tightening and loosening nuts that hold sink fixtures in place and will help you work in hard-to-reach places. A pipe wrench, meanwhile, is good for tightening and loosening threaded pipes; get two—one for tightening and loosening, and one for holding in place. An adjustable wrench is good for taking care of other needs involving hex-shaped nuts; get one 6-inch and one 10-inch adjustable wrench.
Pliers
Pliers are also great for detail work, and some people prefer using them over wrenches when they can. Needle-nose pliers are perfect for detail work, while locking pliers can do many of the same things that an adjustable wrench can.
Teflon tape
Often called “plumber’s tape,” teflon tape is perfect for ensuring that you have a good seal on threaded pipes.
Plumber’s putty
This is useful for creating watertight seals around faucets and drains.
Cloth
A small, thin cloth can be used in multiple ways. First, of course, you might need it to wipe your hands (or some pipes) clean in the middle of a repair job. Second, it can serve as a protective barrier between a wrench’s serrated teeth and a pipe.
Gloves
On a similar note, you may want to keep gloves on hand for those times when you may need to manually remove obstacles from your sink or tub drains. Many prefer disposable gloves here since plumbing work can be a bit off-putting.
Headlamp
You may have to grab this from your camping kit when it comes time to take care of a minor plumbing job, but you should know that it will prove highly useful in letting you see down drains and into dark, enclosed spaces as you work.
