The plumbing system in anyone’s home, or in any other property for that matter, serves two crucial purposes. First, it supplies the structure with water for people to use. Second, it gets rid of various types of wastewaters.
Not having a properly functional plumbing system could lead to problems in those two areas, in which case fixing the problems should become your main preoccupation. If planning on doing any kind of DIY plumbing, learn more on what you can and cannot do alone.
Whether you’re planning on fixing certain plumbing problems alone, or you want to become a plumber, or you’re just interested in how these professionals operate, there’s one thing that you will definitely wonder and that you will definitely need to know.
What kinds of tools do they use? Specialist plumbing tools are a crucial part of any repair process, because fixing things without having the right pieces of equipment is pretty much impossible. You could try it, but you will definitely fail.
So, one of the first steps on your path towards learning how plumbing professionals do their jobs and how they can fix pretty much any issues that come their way consists of understanding what kinds of tools they are actually using.
Once again, learning this will also help you figure out which tools you may want to get for your home, or which ones you’ll need to have if you’re planning on becoming a plumber yourself.
As you will see, there are quite a lot of tools that you’ll have to consider if planning on buying an equipment set that could help you resolve your plumbing problems at one point or another.
What Tools Do Plumbers Use?
Whether we’re talking of residential or commercial plumbing, it should by now be clear that working on any repairs is impossible without the right equipment.
Every great plumber will take the time to research the market for the best tools, as well as constantly be on the lookout for new pieces of equipment that they could buy and that could improve their operations.
If you’re working in the industry as well, you should do the same. If you’re not working in the industry and you, instead, need to have certain repairs done, it could be useful for you to find out which tools the professionals will be using on your residential or commercial systems.
If you’re looking to hire one of these professionals in your specific area, this could help you choose: https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/plumbing/find-a-plumber/
Pliers
Probably the most used tool in the plumbing business, pliers are used to bend and shape wires and small rods, as well as to help you grip and move small objects. Stabilizing, loosening and tightening pipes is possible thanks to this specific piece of equipment.
There are, of course, numerous different types of pliers out there, all of which serve their own purposes, so plumbers need to carefully consider which ones they actually need when trying to complete a specific job.
Of course, they will most likely have most of the different types in their arsenal of tools, meaning they’ll be ready for any job.
Plumber’s Putty
A simple, and yet a rather effective tool, also called a caulk, the plumber’s putty is used to stabilize the base of a newly installed sink or toilet, as well as to prevent any further leakages from a fixture.
Serving as a finishing tool, plumbers use it to keep moisture from getting into any seams or gaps and to, thus, finish bathtubs, sinks, toilets and showers.
Moisture often leads to mold and some kinds of structural issues, which is why using the putty is important, as it helps avoid such issues.
Plunger and Auger
Do I really need to explain how a plunger works and why it is a necessary piece in a plumber’s toolbox? I suppose this is already clear to everyone, as every home should actually have a plunger.
Unclogging simple blockages is possible with this particular tool, but if the blockage happens to be more serious and more complicated, than an auger may have to be used for the problem to be fixed.
And, of course, an auger is another necessary tool that these professionals need to have.
Plumbers Wrench
One tool that  plumbers cannot go without and cannot complete any job without is a wrench. In fact, there are a few different types of wrenches that these professionals use, and all of them are quite necessary for the type of work they are doing.
A pipe wrench will help these pros loosen or tighten threaded pipes and their fittings.
A basin wrench allows them to reach areas under the sinks that aren’t so accessible, and a strap wrench is used for fastening and loosening pipes that have a finish on them, so as not to harm the material.
Tubing Cutter
When working with copper pipes, these experts also definitely need to own a tubing cutter. The thin cutting wheel of this tool serves to cut metal.
And, as you may know already, copper requires square and neat cuts, which is exactly what the tubing cutters will help you achieve quite easily. Sure, some pros prefer to go for a chainsaw, but a tubing cutter will make the job much easier and much more successful.
Plumber’s Tape
A thread seal tape is another crucial tool that plumbers need when on the job. Its purpose is to prevent leaks at threaded plumbing joint connections.
The tape is probably the cheapest tool that these professionals will have on them, but it is highly important, because a lot of jobs won’t be successfully done without it.
Safety Equipment
Apart from the equipment used to fix certain problems and do certain installations, these professionals also have to think about protecting themselves.
This is why they use safety gear to cover their hands, eyes, ears, and feet while on the job. Furthermore, they also need flashlights to allow them to get better views of certain parts of the plumbing systems that need to be fixed.
