At some point in your life, you’re going to have a plumbing issue and you won’t be able to have it fixed right away. Being prepared for the inevitable will help prevent any real disasters until the professionals can come and lend a hand. Here are a few plumbing tools you’ll want in your toolbox ready to go when an issue pops up.

Plunger

Basic? Yes. Necessary? Also, yes.

If you’re a new homeowner or just moved and you realize you don’t have a plunger – go out and get one. When small plumbing issues come up, this is one of the first plumbing tools you should reach for. There are three different types of plungers out there so here’s the rundown of their purposes:

  • Cup plunger – Probably what you picture when you think “plunger.” This is best to use on bathtubs, sinks, or anything with a flat surface so it can create a vacuum to dislodge a clog.
  • Flange plunger – This is a plunger with a sleeve-like extension aka the “flange.” This is best for unclogging toilets as the flange creates a seal to help unclog things easier.
  • Accordion plunger – This is exactly what it sounds like. This plunger looks like an accordion and is also good for clearing toilet clogs. As it’s mostly made of plastic, it’s common to have difficulty using it, but when used right, it’s extremely effective.

No matter which plunger you like best, make sure you have one stationed in each of your bathrooms, just in case.

Pliers

There are many different pliers out there, so as long as you have a pair on hand, they’ll help you in a plumbing pinch. However, water pump pliers or needle-nose pliers are especially helpful.

Water pump pliers allow for a solid grip on nuts and bolts, irregular-shaped objects, and even smooth pipes. Needle-nose pliers are perfect for reaching into cramped and tiny spaces. They can also be especially helpful with clearing clumps of hair or dirt out of the shower drain.

Adjustable Wrench

Another must-have for any tool kit. This tool is multi-functional and can help with a variety of plumbing repair and maintenance fixes. Having an adjustable wrench makes it perfect for tightening and loosening different kinds of nuts and bolts easily.

These wrenches can help you unscrew or fasten plumbing fixtures like pipes, elbows, and faucets. Just make sure the jaw is on the side you’ll be rotating and that it’s secured snug around the pipe or fixture to avoid breaking your tool.

Auger/Snake

Two different tools, but we felt they should be in the same section. A plumbing auger is commonly used for toilet clogs, while a drain snake helps tackle clogs in bathtubs, sinks, or showers.

If you have one bathroom in your living situation, you’ll definitely need to get one of these. Plungers are great and can help get things unclogged easily, but if it happens to not work, you don’t want to be without a toilet for too long.

Duct Tape

Not one of the common plumbing tools, but still very useful in case of a plumbing emergency. Duct tape can fix small plumbing leaks before they grow too big. When you use the duct tape, it’ll create an airtight, waterproof band-aid for any small repairs.

Of course, this isn’t a permanent solution but can work in a pinch if a plumber can’t make it out to you soon.

Wyman Plumbing & Mechanical‘s Number

The worst time to look for a plumber is during a plumbing emergency. So along with your plumbing tools, keep our number on hand. If an incident occurs, we’ll send a plumber over as fast as we can to fix any issue you have.

While headquartered in North Phoenix, we proudly service the entire North Valley area and are ready to help you with your plumbing needs!

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