When it comes to our homes, we really need to take initiatives to keep in shape and make sure it is protected in times of emergencies. One of the ways to take good care of your home is to have proper plumbing maintenance. Any plumbing issues always have an impact on the peace and comfort of your home; thus, as the homeowner, you have to be always prepared so you can readily respond to any disasters that could arise in the household including plumbing problems–trivial or not–like leaks, cloggs, flooding, and frozen or burst pipes.
It is downright important for homeowners to possess certain essential plumbing tools and supplies on hand as some plumbing projects can be handled using DIY methods and without necessarily hiring a plumber.
Plumbing Tools You Must Keep Handy
Your plumbing system is one of the most vital parts of your home that require maintenance and attention. Every now and then, any of your plumbing equipment could have a malfunction or defect. Hence, you must at least own the following tools so that you can somehow carry out basic troubleshooting and repair. Here are five must-have tools that will help you look after your plumbing:
➢ Plunger
Clogs are common plumbing problems you may encounter from time to time. You need to always have a plunger or two inside the household in order to fix minor blockages in your drains and toilets. There are two types of plunger that are highly useful inside your home: the flange plunger and the cup plunger. These tools serve different purposes. The flange plunger, with its soft rubber, is most appropriate to use for unclogging your toilet. The flange can make a strong seal on the curved surfaces of your toilet bowl. The cup plunger, on the other, works best for unclogging the drains in the sink, tub, and those resting on flat surfaces.
➢ Teflon Tape
This is also called the plumber’s tape because it is particularly handy when you have quick fixes to make in your plumbing system such as sealing a leaking pipe. Since this material is water-resistant, it can effectively block water seeping out of your piping. It also contains lubrication that allows for a smooth threading of the fittings in your plumbing connections. It is definitely inexpensive and keeping a supply of Teflon tape in your plumbing tool kit is thus a practical move.
➢ Snake and Auger
These two must-have tools work hand in hand when solving drain clogs that can’t be handled by the plunger. A toilet auger, which is a safer form of drain snake that comes in varying lengths, is intended for loosening and clearing obstructions specifically in the toilet drain. It consists of a metal cable with a rotating handle. The cable, which runs through a hollow tube, can pierce through drain clogs all the way to the main soil stack. The best feature of the toilet auger is that it won’t scratch the porcelain surfaces of your toilet bowl since it is covered by a rubber sleeve at the bottom. The drain snake, on the other hand, is designed for dislodging clogs in sinks, tubs, and showers.
➢ Pipe Wrench
○ Another simple user-friendly tool you should have at home is the pipe wrench. It is meant for loosening and tightening things, most particularly pipe fittings, in the household. The pipe wrench has two adjustable serrated jaws so it can easily make a solid grasp on fixtures and fit in various pipe sizes. If you are working on a threaded piping, whether it is for assembly or disassembly, the pipe wrench is the perfect device you should keep close to you.
➢ Pliers
Touch-and-groove pliers are always part and parcel of every plumber’s toolbox. If you need to twist, tighten, loosen, pull, grab, or hold something, the pliers are your best friend. Touch-and-groove pliers, in particular, have flexible serrated jaws that can tightly clutch things of different sizes without creating a hand-gripping problem.
There are still so many plumbing must-haves that you should always keep handy at home. However, having these five plumbing tools will already help you big time in responding to non-severe plumbing issues that only call for quick fixes and troubleshooting. These devices certainly won’t cost an arm and a leg; thus, keep them in your tool kit is a wise thing to do as a homeowner.