5 Plumbing Tools Every Homeowner Needs

There is nothing like a job well done, by yourself, for yourself. To accomplish this, though, you'll need the right tools for the job!

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Oneida, we have a pretty good grasp on what tools are needed to do a proper plumbing job yourself. Plan for success with five tools we know you will need to get just about any DIY plumbing maintenance job done.

1. Pipe Wrench

The first tool you likely think of when it comes to plumbing is the classic pipe wrench. These versatile wrenches are less common today than they used to be, but they're still needed to work with many fittings.

Pipe wrenches can be used on galvanized steel and iron pipes, hydrants, pressure regulators, and more. Many fittings require two pipe wrenches for a job — one to hold the pipe and the other to turn the connected piece.

2. Channel Lock Pliers

Also known as tongue-and-groove pliers or slip-joint pliers, these effective pliers are essential to routine plumbing maintenance. This type of pliers all but totally replaced pipe wrenches in a plumber's tool arsenal. This tool has angled, ridged jaws and longer handles and features a variety of adjustment positions, also called "channels."

3. Basin Wrench

A basin wrench, a.k.a. a sink wrench, is a tool that you'll cherish if you find yourself with a leaky pipe. It has a pivoting head with a spring-loaded claw attached to a long shaft. Its pivoting head allows you to turn the nut more easily in either direction so you do not have to re-orient yourself. Its longer shaft also allows you to adjust nuts that are in hard-to-reach or awkward positions.

This wrench is perfect for working with pipe fittings or fasteners that lie underneath the sink or behind the washing machine.

4. Drain Snake or Auger

At some point, one of your drains will become clogged. When it does, you'll be happy that you purchased a drain auger or snake.

This tool comes in inexpensive, manually-powered handheld variants or larger, electric-powered machines. These tools have a long, slender metal cable that you feed into a drain or opening with the purpose of getting to the clogged area and breaking up whatever's blocking your drain.

5. Plunger

Last but not least, plungers are a plumbing tool that everyone needs to own. Plungers are an iconic plumbing tool and are used to unblock drain traps in sinks, tubs, showers, or toilets. If you have a clog in your drain, this is probably the first tool you will reach for.

There are two kinds of plungers. One is a cup plunger, which is a rubber bowl fitted to a wooden handle that fits over a drain opening. The other type, known as a flange plunger, does the same job but is fitted with an extra inner flange that fits down the drain of the toilet.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing Has All the Tools for a Job Done Right

If you have a plumbing problem near Oneida that you don't feel comfortable or knowledgeable enough to take care of, contact the professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing. We will provide you with courteous service that solves your problem quickly. Plus, we'll bring all our own tools so that you can feel certain the job was done properly.

Get started by filling out a job estimate form today.