Tools of the Trade – Plumbers

The job of a plumber, as with many other trades, relies heavily on the use of high quality tools to ensure a job gets finished. Nothing is more annoying than having a tool that’s not reliable in the middle of a plumbing job where sometimes failure to fix the problem quickly can cause sudden and irreparable damage. When a leak has sprung or a pipe has burst the right wrench better be in good shape to help you end it quick. Of course there are many specialized tools a plumber needs, but there are just as many common tools that are staples to keep on hand. Screwdrivers, wrenches and adjustable wrenches are just a starting point, here’s just a few tools that help plumbers out.

Two of the most indispensable tools you’ll find any plumber with are pipe wrenches and tongue and groove pliers (commonly known by the brand name “Channel locks”). These are kind of no-brainers and the pipe wrench itself has become something of an identifier should you wonder if someone is a plumber or not. Pipe wrenches come in many varieties, shapes and sizes and are used for different things, but their main job of tightening and loosening joints and pipes is pretty much undisputed. The only tool that rivals it for this job are the locking pliers/tongue & groove pliers. These pliers are great tools and often are used as an extra set of hand given their ability to lock and hold on to things. Quite often one pair of locking pliers will hold a pipe while the plumber uses another to screw or unscrew. Probably our favorite brands for these tools are Gedore and Knipex, both solid, well made brands that will grip and hold strong. You might also consider getting some standard or adjustable wrenches for turning nuts. Wera, Ideal and Gedore all have some excellent tools that will get you what you need.

Working as a plumber you’ll also need to do a fair amount of cutting. Pipes will need to be cut to a specific size and holes will have to be cut into walls and floors. Tubing cutters and hacksaws will help you cut pipes down to the right size. You’ll want to measure your pipes before cutting too, and one of our many brands of tape measures will help you get the right measurement, we carry Klein Tools and Ideal Tools tape measures, both names that are trusted for durability. As for the actual cutting and drilling, we carry Klein Tools Bi-Metal hole saws of varying diameter as well as standard drill bits made by Ideal and Wera. High quality metal that will last and be reliable for many jobs to come.

For clearing out clogs, one of the main things plumbers are called in for, you have a few options. Snakes (also known as drain augers) can help you get deep down into the plumbing to clear out the most stubborn clogs. Closet augers also do this work but are made for toilets and are designed to protect the finish keeping your toilet looking nice. For clogs that aren’t as tough, a standard plunger will get you through. Physically removing the clog is preferred to using a liquid drain cleaning agent as those will eventually ruin your pipes. If you want to go the route of unclogging the drain without harsh chemicals, the old baking soda, vinegar and hot water method will help loosen up anything before using the tools to unclog.

Here at Haus of Tools we carry all the tools that will help you succeed as a plumber and they’re tools you can rely on. The worst thing you could have happen as a plumber is that your tool will break in the middle of fixing an urgent issue and having no backup. It’s better to just have the right, solid tool on hand.

To keep up to date, sign up for our newsletter to hear the latest on all the best tools for plumbers..