Must have starter plumbing tools

Published On: July 31, 2019Categories: Plumbing Repairs

plumbing toolsThe real estate market in Greater Cleveland is booming, and all over town first-time home buyers are moving into their new digs. Owning your own home is exciting – it’s easy for all of us to remember how excited we were to move into our first house. But with that excitement comes the responsibility to keep the place up. If you’re a new home owner, here is a list of plumbing tools you should have on hand to help you maintain and sometimes do repairs on your plumbing system.

No need to go on a huge shopping spree. Acquire these over time if that’s more affordable. Buy the best tool you can afford – cheap tools often break and don’t work as well as they should. Everything on this list can be bought at Lowe’s or Home Depot or at your local hardware store. So here’s the list in no particular order.

A pipe wrench. These come in different sizes, but a 10-inch and later a 14-inch should handle most homer repairs you’ll want to tackle on your own. When you get into 24-inch pipe wrenches, you’re much better off calling in the pros.

An adjustable wrench. This is the perfect tool for nuts, bolts or fittings that have flat sides. They come in several sizes, but a 10-inch version will handle the majority of work you’ll need to do.

A tubing cutter. You’ll need this to cut copper pipe. As you rotate the cutter around the pipe, you tighten it down slightly with each turn until the cut is complete. It’s much more precise than cutting with a hacksaw and it leaves your work piece with smooth edges. If you ever need to solder copper pipes, you’ll need one of these.

A toilet plunger. So obvious, yet so easy to forget! Who doesn’t already have one of these? If you just raised your hand, then it’s time to head out to get one of your very own. Some night around midnight, you’ll be glad you have one!

A snake, a.k.a., a drain auger. When the toilet plunger fails, it’s time to bring in the heavy equipment: a drain auger. This simple device really comes in handy at times. Start with a quarter-inch, 25-foot manual model. This will take care of nearly every problem you encounter. If, by chance, you can’t reach the blockage, it’s time to bring in a professional. When you get that far down the line, your problem is probably larger than what you want to tackle on your own.

A basin wrench. This is a self-tightening wrench used to repair and replace old faucets. Get one with a telescoping shank that adjusts from .75 to 1.75 inches. This wrench is absolutely essential for kitchen faucets. There just isn’t enough room under the sink to get another type of wrench on the job.

A handle-puller. This is designed to remove a seized faucet handle from the valve stem. It makes dismantling the faucet a breeze, and you can usually get one for under ten dollars.

Other helpful tools to have include a hacksaw, screwdrivers, locking pliers and a tape measure. With these tools you should be able to take on some simple plumbing repairs.

And remember, when your plumbing problems become bigger than your own tool box or knowledge base, it’s time to call in a pro. The Plumbing Source has been making plumbing repairs all across northeast Ohio for more than 35 years.

So call 216-365-0600 for faucet replacements, drain or sewer line cleaning, water heaters, sump pumps and everything in between. We welcome you to join our family of satisfied customers!

When you call The Plumbing Source, you’ve made the RIGHT call!

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Find out more about The Plumbing Source’s comprehensive plumbing, drain and sewer services.