Plumbing Tools to Keep Around the House

Even if you aren’t Mr. or Mrs. Fix-It, there are several plumbing tools you should always keep around the house. In many cases, a professional hand is required for proper repairs and installations, but there are many examples of little issues that can be easily and inexpensively fixed by even the most inexperienced individual.

Here are our top choices for plumbing tools to keep handy around the house:

Put a Plunger in Every Bathroom

Simple clogs can frequently happen in a home, especially if you have small children who do not yet know the proper amount of toilet paper to use. Calling a plumber every time you experience a simple clog is wasteful and can start to add up, financially. By keeping a plunger in every bathroom, you can quickly remove simple clogs right away.

In our opinion, the best plunger is the simplest plunger; you’ll find them at any hardware store. They are commonly called a flange plunger and come with a wooden handle and simple red or black rubber cup at the end.

This cup creates a perfect seal on the hole in your toilet bowl or on a clogged drain in your sink or tub. Plunging down will dislodge the clog and get you back up and running. If you are experiencing a clog that a plunger won’t fix, that’s when we recommend bringing in a professional.

Keep a Pipe Wrench Handy

The pipe wrench is often considered the international symbol for plumbing repairs. These tools look like a typical wrench, but they have serrated teeth that are ideal for gripping round objects such as pipes.

Typically, pipe wrenches are used to open pipes to repair clogs. However, they can also be used to provide a quick repair until a professional plumber arrives for a comprehensive look. In many cases, pipe wrenches have helped stave off excess damage and helped homeowners save money on their repairs.

Learn How to Use a Caulker

Your bathroom is full of caulking. Consider it a sealant to prevent water from entering the tiny cracks in the tiles of your tub, shower and sink. Over the years, caulking begins to dry up and crack, requiring new caulking to be installed. Luckily, this job is so easy it isn’t even funny.

Caulkers work by inserting the caulking tube and pressing on a trigger. The caulking itself comes out like toothpaste in the area you are pointing the caulker. If you mess up, you can simply remove the caulking and re-try it until you get it right.

When you need help with a project that requires a professional hand, call Affordable Plumbing, Sewer & Drain in Fairhope Mount, AL, at (251) 990-5248.