Just like any other system in your San Jose, CA, home, your plumbing system will require the use of various tools to be installed, maintained, and properly replaced. When you start looking at plumbing tools, their sheer volume can be quite astounding to the average homeowner. To help widen your plumbing knowledge, we’re going to name some of the most used plumbing tools below and share what their main uses are.
Plumbing Snake
Probably the most iconic plumbing tool out there is going to be the plumbing snake. Also referred to as a plumbing auger, this tool is comprised of a flexible cable that is attached to a sturdy handle. As you turn the handle, the cable will release and spin around the inside of your drainpipe. The plumbing snake is utilized to help break up clogs and clear out drain lines.
Pipe Wrench
One of the most basic plumbing tools that you’re going to find on the market today is the pipe wrench. Somewhat like a monkey wrench, a pipe wrench will actually have ridges on its jaws to help grab the pipe as you twist it. It’s important to purchase an adjustable pipe wrench that can fit a wide variety of pipe sizes. These wrenches are used on metal piping to help tighten and loosen connections.
Propane Torch and Solder
With copper still being a very popular plumbing material, having a propane torch in hand is a necessity. This torch can be used to heat up solder to solder joints together. Whether it’s an elbow to turn your copper pipe or a coupler to connect two pieces of copper piping together, you need to have hot solder to create a watertight seal.
Plunger
When you think of plumbing tools, you likely picture metal utensils in a toolbox. However, there are various types of tools that can be used throughout your plumbing system that come in all different shapes and sizes. A plunger is one of the more basic tools that every homeowner should have. This item works to unclog drains and toilets. Ideally, you’ll want to invest in a large plunger, as the bigger the plunger, the more suction you’ll be able to create. You should consider having multiple plungers for different areas of your home. For example, a plunger used in your bathroom toilet shouldn’t be used in your kitchen sink.
Pipe Cutter
To get the appropriate size pipe for your home’s plumbing setup, a pipe cutter may be necessary. There are different types of piping materials that can be used throughout a home, such as copper piping, PEX piping, and even PVC piping. There are different types of cutters, depending on the type of material you’re trying to cut. For example, a copper pipe can be cut with a small cutter that has a metal wheel alongside a clamp. However, when it comes to cutting PVC, you’ll need to invest in either a hacksaw or a specialized tube cutting tool.
Adjustable Wrench
When it comes to installing plumbing fixtures and supply lines for your wet appliances, you’ll need to have an adjustable wrench. This is a very versatile tool that offers an adjustable, wide jaw opening to fit various types of nuts and bolts. They’re super helpful for tightening down water supply lines to your washer and nuts on your faucets.
Teflon Tape
Another must-have tool in the plumbing toolbox is Teflon tape. This specialized white tape is designed to go around the threads of plumbing fixtures before they are adhered to their final position. Its role is to create a leak-proof seal. It can be helpful to have Teflon tape available in rolls of different widths.
Tube Bender
When it comes to using copper piping to run water supply lines throughout your home, a pipe bender is an absolute necessity. Instead of having to invest a lot of money in numerous elbow joints, you can use a tube bender to create the perfect curve in your copper piping. This goes a long way in helping to prevent unwanted kinks. It’s important to get a bender that creates various angles to help accommodate a wide variety of different pipe configurations.
Inspection Camera
One plumbing tool that can be particularly helpful to have on hand is an inspection camera. Also known as a borescope, this system is comprised of a small camera that is tethered to a long cable. Simply insert the cable down into your drain or sewer line to get a better look at your piping. This can be helpful when you’re looking for the location of a clog or if you’re just looking to see the state of the inside of your piping.
Press Fitting System
A very common plumbing material these days is PEX piping. To join together different pieces of piping as well as other fixtures like valves, you’ll need some sort of press fitting system. These systems are typically comprised of large clamping pliers that are specifically designed to hold a specialized clamp for PEX piping. You’ll need to ensure that you have both the pliers and various clamps on hand.
Tips for Selecting the Best Tools
Not all plumbing tools are created equal. In fact, if you look for a simple plunger online, you will be bombarded with tons of different options. To help you weed through all the options to find the best one, we’re going to share some tips below.
Purchase From Reputable Brands
One of the best things you can do to help ensure that you’re purchasing quality plumbing tools is to purchase tools from a reputable brand. Currently, it’s very easy to read online reviews about different tools that people purchase from stores online. Spend a little time going through the reviews for whatever tool you’re thinking of buying to see which one people are saying is the best.
Choose the Right Tool to Match Your Plumbing Material
It’s important to remember that there are many different types of plumbing materials out there, such as copper, PEX, and even PVC. When you go to purchase a specific tool, you need to choose a variety that is built specifically for the material that you want to use it on. For example, you’re not going to be able to use the same pipe cutter for copper as you are for PVC.
Tool Size
Many different types of plumbing tools, like pipe wrenches and adjustable wrenches, are available in a wide variety of sizes. It makes sense to try to purchase a size that will fit most of the piping material that you regularly work with. While it can be easy to think that you just need to purchase the biggest wrench out there so that you can handle any job you come across, that’s not always the best solution. Oversized wrenches can end up being super heavy to use and may not fit under cabinets and other confined areas you may find yourself working in.
Exceptional Plumbing Service
Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter offers exceptional plumbing service for the entire San Jose community. We can also assist with all your sewer, water heater, gas services, and plumbing fixture needs. Call our staff today to schedule an appointment with one of our highly experienced plumbers.
