Top Tools for DIY Plumbing Projects

A clogged drain, plugged-up toilet, leaking pipes; plumbing problems can occur at any time and are terribly inconvenient when they do. Overall, we recommend you leave the plumbing projects up to the professionals, as most jobs require a lot of experience and know-how. But there are some DIY plumbing jobs that are feasible for you to take on yourself. If you’re going to give it a try, it’s important to make sure you have the right tools for the job. Here’s our list of must-have tools for DIY plumbing projects.

• Pipe wrench & adjustable wrench: Pipe wrenches are a fixture of the plumbing world. While they’re not used quite as frequently as they might have been in past years, they are still important to have in your toolkit if you’re going to be doing any plumbing work with large threaded iron or galvanized steel pipes. There are certain pieces of equipment that will require the use of one or two pipe wrenches to unscrew them. Pipe wrenches are also important when removing clean-out fittings on drains, such as sewer mains, and they can be used to prevent stress on fittings while working with them. Adjustable wrenches fit a variety of nuts, valves and fittings with smooth jaws to prevent damage to the chrome finishes. A good wrench will last a lifetime.
• Tongue and groove pliers: The tongue and groove pliers (also known as a channel type or slip joint pliers) features angled jaws, long handles and a variety of positions to which you can adjust. A 10-inch size will be suitable for most types of plumbing jobs.
• Tubing cutter: While a hacksaw will work for you to cut many types of plumbing pipes, you’ll find the job is much easier if you have a tubing cutter that is specially designed for the type of pipes you have. You can find tubing cutters meant for copper, PVC or PEX tubing.
• Plunger: You should have at least one plunger on hand in your home to help you unclog drains that get stopped. There are two types of plungers: a cup plunger features a rubber cup that fits over an entire drain opening, and a flange plunger features an extended inner flange to fit into the drain opening of a toilet. 
• Auger: When your plunger fails to clear a clog, a trusty auger is the go to tool. Often called drain snakes, they come in 2 types: sink and toilet augers. A bit more skill and effort are needed as they can reach deep into the drain to clear stubborn clogs. Most come with a handle to turn the thin snake auger as it descends into the drain, snagging clogs along the way. 
• Wet/dry shop vac: A part of any DIY tool arsenal. Sometimes, despite your best effort, a puddle of water may accompany your plumbing repair. 

These are just a few of the tools you should absolutely have in your collection if you plan on doing any plumbing work at your home. For more tool recommendations, we encourage you to contact one of our experienced plumbers from PipeMasters today: info@pipemasters.ca or (289) 404-9063. 

PipeMasters is part of Oakridge Plumbing Ontario Ltd. and serves the East GTA, Durham Region, North to Lindsay & Peterborough, out to Cobourg and all points in between. All Rights Reserved.