The Essentials Tools Do Plumbers Use

Professional plumbers know that every job presents a new set of challenges. From health and safety issues and navigating cramped spaces to the challenges of ever-changing technology, seasoned plumbers understand that preparation plays a vital role in their success. This article addresses the question of what tools do plumbers use, breaking down the tool groupings by use and function.

While having an arsenal of plumbing tools comes in handy for the occasional DIY fix, if you experience a plumbing emergency, contact the professionals at Advantage Plumbing & Sewer Company immediately. You can count on Aurora’s plumbing service for all kinds of plumbing jobs 24/7.

Plumbing Hand Tools

The Wrench

Perhaps the most widely recognized plumbing hand tool, without which no plumber’s toolbox would be complete. That said, with no universal wrench adopted in plumbing, seasoned plumbers arrive at a job site with several different types.

The most common plumbing wrenches include the following:

• Basin wrench: Plumbers use this T-shaped wrench for working on faucets. One end of the wrench has a clamp, which enables plumbers to access narrow spaces and tighten or loosen the mechanism that opens and closes the faucet.
• Pipe wrench: The pipe wrench comes in several different lengths and usually proves to be the largest wrench in the toolbox. Professional plumbers work with an entire set of pipe wrenches.
• Adjustable wrench: Available in multiple sizes, adjustable wrenches come in to loosen and tighten fittings and nuts on piping. Most plumbers keep the 6-inch and 10-inch sizes in their arsenal of tools.
• Faucet key: Though technically not a wrench, faucet keys are a vital plumbing tool used to open and close sill cocks and spigots.

Tools for Pipe Work

If you ask a seasoned pro, “what tools do plumbers use for working with pipes?” you may get a variety of responses, depending on their area of specialty. Trade professionals have an arsenal of tools and techniques that work well for pipe repair, installation, and modification in small spaces.

• Hacksaw: Plumbers use hacksaws for cutting through all kinds of hardware, including nuts, bolts, screws, and pipes.
• Pipe cutters: Pipe cutters provide plumbers another vital tool for cutting, resizing, and replacing plastic or copper piping. 
• Plumber’s torch: This small torch helps plumbers to solder and seal copper piping with precision. Plumbers who regularly work with copper piping keep a torch handy for repair, replacement, and installation.
• Thread sealing tape: What tools do plumbers use to patch and seal piping where threaded joints connect? Thread sealing tape, of course! Also known as plumber’s tape, this durable, flexible tape provides a form-fitting application and becomes impervious to hot and cold temperatures.
• Pliers: Like the wrench, pliers are an essential tool for plumbers. Pliers work best to tighten and loosen small nuts and bolts that wrenches cannot grasp.
• Press fitting systems: IPS (Iron Pipe Size) press fitting systems connect pipes securely, creating an impermeable seal. Press fitting systems are efficient and economical because they require less time to connect piping securely than soldering or welding.

Tools for Clearing Clogs

Clogged and blocked pipes are familiar territory for an experienced plumber. A plumber will generally have a myriad of tools and techniques to irradicate stubborn clogs and keep the plumbing system free of congestion.

Hand Tools

• Hand auger: Also known as a drain snake, a hand auger is a tool plumbers use to insert a cable deep down into a drain to dislodge and clear clogs.
• Plungers: While most homeowners keep a plunger under the sink for minor clogs, professional plumbers should come prepared with a commercial-grade flange and cup plunger, which deliver substantially more suction than the average consumer models.

Machinery

• Snake machine: The snake machine refers to a heftier, motorized version of the drain snake, used to break apart and remove tough clogs that a hand-auger cannot displace.
• Borescope (inspection camera): A borescope is a visual tool commonly used in mechanics and engineering. Its tiny camera, affixed to a flexible cable, provides a visual aid for a narrow or inaccessible space. Once considered a luxury tool, inspection cameras have evolved in recent years, making them an affordable, welcome addition to the plumber’s tool kit. 
• Hydro jet: These machines provide one of the most effective means of clearing sewer lines and drains by blasting them with highly pressurized water.

Safety Gear

What tools do plumbers use to stay safe on the job? As plumbing technology evolves, so too does the necessary personal protective equipment. These tools are crucial to lower the chances of getting injured on the job.

• Flashlight: Plumbers often work in dimply lit places with uneven footings, such as basements; keeping a flashlight handy can prove invaluable.
• Protective Gloves: Let’s face it, plumbers regularly handle material none of us wants to touch with our bare hands! Plumbers can choose from a wide variety of professional-grade gloves on the market to protect hands from toxic substances and help them to grip slippery objects and surfaces more easily.
• Heat shields and pads: Heat shields are a must for anyone who works with soldering. They protect the plumber and the immediate surroundings from fire or heat damage while soldering.

Plumbing Business Software

Plumbing software helps businesses to stay on top of daily operations, in the office and on the job. Plumbing software offers a variety of applications that benefit companies of all sizes.

Most plumbing businesses utilize software to complete the following tasks:

• Schedule appointments and assign technicians
• Manage jobs and record data from the field
• Access client information
• Keep track of invoicing
• Take payment while in the field

Contact Advantage Plumbing & Sewer

The answer to the question, “What tools do plumbers use?” is that it depends on the task at hand. The best practice includes arriving at every job with a fully stocked toolbox. When you need the expertise of a seasoned, professional plumbing service, contact Advantage Plumbing & Sewer Co in Aurora, IL.

Read on to learn how long do sewer lines last or call us at (847) 268-3553 with questions or a no-obligation quote.