The 7 Plumbing Tools Every Home Owner Should Have

You never know when you’ll experience a plumbing emergency. As a homeowner or tenant, it’s a good idea to have a toolkit set aide to help quell plumbing emergencies until help arrives. There is certainly no limit to the tools that you can acquire for plumbing, but these are a few of the essentials to help you get started.

Plunger

Perhaps the most evident tool, and the tool most commonly associated exclusively with plumbers. Plungers come in many different shapes and sizes, depending on their usage. You should ideally have two separate plungers in your home. One used exclusively for your toilet and the other used for all sinks and drains. For sanitary reasons, you do not want to use a toilet plunger in your kitchen sink.

Wrench

There are many different types of wrenches that every homeowner should be familiar with. The wrench is used to loosen tight bolts or pipes. It gives you a firm grip on metal pipes and bolts that you cannot move or adjust by hand. A wrench is often the tool you would use to tighten a leaking pipe. You can buy wrenches at any local hardware or utility store.

Caulk

You know that leak dripping in through your windows? Is there a cracked and worn substance lining the edges of your bathtub, window pane or balcony? Caulk can be used as a multipurpose sealant, a temporary fix or a permanent improvement to a pesky leak. This filler is water resistant and weatherproof, so you can rest assured that once you’ve sealed a crack, it won’t be leaking any time soon.

Caulk Gun

Use this tool with caulk to get into precise and intricate, hard-to-reach places. A caulk gun helps you improve your level of control over the product, so you can get an even amount where you really need it. It is perfect for accessing hard to reach places like corners and cracks so you can get the best possible coverage.

Flashlight

You never know when a flashlight may come in handy, it is always good to have one laying around the house. They are especially useful when there is an unforeseen plumbing problem in your home.

Plumbing emergencies can take you into the lesser explored areas of your house. Leak in the attic? You’ll need a flashlight to safely navigate your surroundings.

A flashlight is also the perfect way to see water damage in the walls or ceiling, in areas that are poorly lit. You can scan your basement, attic, or crawlspace for leaks and damage easily when you have a flashlight on hand.

Plumbers Tape/Duct Tape

This is an absolutely essential addition any at home plumbing tool kit. Duct tape was originally used in the military when temporary repairs were needed. It is extremely strong, water resistant and durable. In the event of an out-of-control leak, duct tape may be your best bet at maintaining the problem until help arrives.

Call Your Plumber

There is only so much you can do to help repair a plumbing problem. If you are experiencing an emergency, these basic tools can give you the equipment you need until help arrives. However, if something gets out of control, it is best to call the professionals.

At Hillcrest Plumbing, we have over 50 years of experience helping with plumbing emergencies and repairs all over the lower mainland. Our team of professionals would be happy to help, contact us for professional and effective plumbing repairs.