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Having the right tools when you need them can make all the difference when unexpected plumbing problems arise. You may already have some of these essential tools for general household use, like wrenches and screwdrivers. Adding a few specialized tools to your toolbox can make your next plumbing task much easier. As you expand your skills you can add the tools in this guide to your toolbox and be prepared to take on most plumbing tasks and emergencies when they arise. In the list below, you’ll find the most useful plumbing tools listed by the projects with which they are most typically used.
Sinks, Tubs & Showers
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Cup Plunger – A rubber cup attached to a wooden handle that applies a forceful burst of water to clear clogs in sinks, tubs and showers.
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Shower Valve Socket Wrench – Used to remove and install shower and tub fittings and nuts, this specialty tool has an extra deep socket that fits around the valve stem to reach the area where the valve stem attaches to the valve body behind the wall.
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Garbage Disposer Wrench – This handy tool can be inserted into disposers to turn the shredder and clear it of clogs.
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Strainer Locknut Wrench – A specialty wrench with one stationary and one pivoting jaw designed to provide maneuverability and leverage for easy removal of basket strainer locknuts.
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Faucet Seat Wrench – Use this to remove and replace the faucet body valve seat in compression faucets, which are the type of faucets found in many older homes.
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Basin Wrench –Tightens and loosens the nuts under a sink that hold the faucets in place. The long shaft and swiveling jaw can be placed in narrow, hard-to-reach areas and lock onto nuts for easy removal.
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Adjustable Wrench – This open-ended wrench has one fixed and one movable jaw to fit a variety of bolt heads and nuts. The jaw adjusts easily with a worm gear accessible on both sides of the wrench head. The smooth jaw prevents marring of softer metals such as brass, bronze and copper.
Toilets
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Socket Set – A tightening tool that uses individual removable sockets to fit many different sizes of nuts and bolts. Also known as a ratchet set.
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Flange Plunger – A plunger specially shaped to seal the hole in a toilet, creating a vacuum that clears clogs from toilets. More effective in clearing toilet clogs than a cup plunger used with sinks.
Pipes
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Tubing Cutters – This is an essential tool if you’re going to be working with plastic or copper pipe. It uses a steel wheel to cut pipe easily and cleanly, for precise cuts with even ends for well-fitted joints. If you’re working in a tight space, consider a close-quarter mini tube cutter.
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Metal File – A metal file removes burrs and smoothes the edges of pipes after cutting, for a better seal at joints. Keep a half-round and rat-tail file on hand.
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Hacksaw – A hacksaw is handy for those times when you need to cut through metal pipe or plastic pipe and screws. Do not use a hacksaw to cut through pipe where the ends will be connected at a joint. Save yourself an interruption while working by having extra blades on hand.
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Slip Joint Pliers – Ideal for jobs that require grabbing, pulling, twisting, holding, tightening and loosening. Also known as water pump pliers, tongue and groove pliers, or by the brand name Channellock.
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Adjustable Pipe Wrench – This is the must-have tool for plumbing repairs, especially for working on compression fittings, supply lines and other plumbing parts that have hex-shaped nuts. A 10”, 12” or 14” wrench can be used for most jobs. The serrated teeth provide a firm grip on metal that needs to be turned, but shouldn’t be used on fixtures with fine finishes.
Supply Lines
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Acid Flux Brush – Used to apply paste flux when soldering copper pipe.
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Propane Torch and Igniter – Used for soldering and brazing metal pipe, a propane torch consists of a bottle that contains combustible, pressurized gas. A match or spring-loaded igniter is used to turn on the flame, which is directed by a nozzle, with the flow of gas controlled by a fuel-air mixing valve. Some torches have trigger-type igniters that make it easy to turn on the flame.
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Heat Shield Cloth – Used to shield heat-sensitive or flammable materials from damage when using a torch.
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Combination Tool – Instead of using wire brushes, take advantage of this convenient tool for cleaning and deburring pipe.
- Emery Cloth – Use strips of emery cloth to clean and prepare copper pipe for the application of flux and solder.
Other Useful Tools
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Plumber’s Tape and Putty to seal threading, stop a leak at a connection and prevent rust on steel pipes.
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Washers and O-rings to stop dripping compression faucets.
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Caulk Gun and Silicone Caulk to replace seals around sinks and tubs.
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Spray Lubricants like WD40 and Liquid Wrench to loosen stubborn nuts and pipe fittings.
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Tape Measure for determining accurate lengths and widths.
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Safety Glasses for eye protection.
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Bucket to catch water when draining lines.
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Putty Knife for applying and removing caulk and toilet wax ring residue.
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