Top 10 Plumbing Tools No DIY Homeowner Should Be Without
Are you a new homeowner? If so, you’ll want to assemble a basic plumbing tool kit to have on hand just in case a plumbing crisis arrives. Based on my experience as a homeowner, there are at least 10 items that should be part of every do-it-yourself homeowner’s plumbing tool kit. Here’s a quick look at few of them:
Plunger
A plunger is probably one of the most recognizable plumbing tools around. It is used to unclog various types of drains. You’ll want to invest in two types of plungers. The first plunger should have a flat force cup. It may be used to unclog toilets and tends to sell for $3. The second plunger should have a contoured cup that can fit over sink drains. A contoured plunger with an 18-inch long handle will tend to cost you $6 through most hardware, plumbing and home improvement stores.
Closet Auger
A closet auger is also handy to have. It goes by several names. Some folks call it a snake. Others call it a toilet jack. Whatever you choose to call it, it consists of a piece of flexible metal tubing and it is used to unclog the trap section of a toilet. You can generally purchase a 3 foot long closet auger through most home improvement stores for $34. You will want to look for one that has a plastic boot. That way you are less likely to scratch the inside of the toilet with the auger’s metal tubing.
Trap-and-Drain Auger
A trap-and-drain auger is similar to a closet auger in that it is used to clear clogs. The main difference between the two is that trap-and-drain augers are used to unclog sinks instead of toilets. A 50 foot long trap-and-drain auger will generally lighten your wallet by about $30.
Basin Wrench
At first blush, a basin wrench resembles an odd-shaped letter J. It consists of a torque tube, a transverse handle and a self-tightening wrench. It is used to access nuts and bolts that are located in places that are unreachable by other means. Basin wrenches tend to be available for purchase through home improvement stores and department stores. Basin wrench prices vary but typically start at $8 for a 12-inch model.
Spud Wrench
A spud wrench is used to tighten or loosen spud nuts on a toilet. It can also be used to tighten or loosen slip nuts. Spud wrenches come in two main varieties, non-adjusting and adjusting. I’d suggest that you invest in an adjustable spud wrench. Adjustable spud wrenches often sell for $11 through home improvement and plumbing supply shops.
Torque Wrench
A torque wrench is also used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. It is most often used in situations where the nuts and bolts must be tightened to a certain degree. An example would be a toilet or sink install. If a screw is over tightened during a toilet or sink install it could crack the porcelain. A torque wrench tends to sell through home improvement and plumbing stores for $50.
Pipe Wrench
A pipe wrench is often used to tighten and loosen large fittings that are traditionally found on metal pipes. They come in different sizes and prices vary. In general, you may expect to pay at least $16 for an 18-inch pipe wrench at plumbing and home improvement stores.
Seat Wrench
A seat wrench is important to have when you are working on installing, removing and repairing faucets. A two-piece seat wrench set usually sells through plumbing and home improvement stores for roughly $15.
Welding Supplies
There are times during plumbing installation and repairs that copper pipes will need to be welded. As such, a basic plumbing kit should contain a hand-held propane torch, a flame spreader attachment, solder, flux and a flux applicator. A heat proof pad and an emery cloth are also good to have on hand when welding pipes. Prices for basic welding kits vary.
Plumbing Tape
Plumbing tape is also good to have on hand, It is used on pipe threads. The tape helps to provide a tight seal thereby reducing the chances of a leak. It is also referred to as Teflon tape and tends to sell for less than $5 a roll.
Killeen Gonzalez is a home owner. She also has a history of completing home improvement projects with her family.
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