Plumbers Use

A good plumber can fix just about anything, from a leaky faucet to a clogged toilet. But to do their job well, they need the right tools. This article explores the tools that most plumbers use, including wrenches, pliers, pipe cutters and drain augers. It also lists the basic safety gear every plumber should have on hand, like a bucket to catch spills and a pair of sturdy work gloves.

A metal file is a handheld tool that allows plumbers to cut through metal pipes and sheet metal. It has several blade options, including a regular blade for softer metals and a raker blade for cutting thick metals. A stubby screwdriver is also an essential plumber’s tool. This type of screwdriver has a smaller handle that’s easier to grip and allows you to tighten or loosen screws in hard-to-reach spaces.

An adjustable wrench (sometimes called a spanner or crescent wrench) is a heavy-duty plumber’s tool that can replace multiple types of wrenches. It has adjustable jaws that can be adjusted to grip a wide range of sizes of nuts and bolts. Plumbers also use a variety of specialty wrenches, such as offset wrenches that have a bent handle to access awkward or cramped spaces and tongue-and-groove wrenches that can grip a wide range of shapes and sizes of fasteners.

Pliers are another versatile plumber’s tool that can be used to grip, twist and bend wires. Plumbers typically use a set of slip-joint pliers, needle-nose pliers and tongue-and-groove pliers.

What Tools Do Plumbers Use?

When it comes to clogged drains and pipes, most plumbers start with a plunger. If this doesn’t work, they turn to a plumbing snake, which is a flexible metal rod with a cutting head that can be inserted into drains and pipes to break up or remove obstructions. Plumbing snakes come in different lengths and styles, from small hand-held models to larger motorized ones.

While most plumbers don’t do any soldering, some do, and you’ll need a soldering torch to heat and melt copper pipe. A hand-held model is ideal for getting the heat exactly where you need it.

Plumbers also need to seal copper piping, and that requires soldering. A propane or butane gas torch is a great choice for the job because it produces a lot of heat quickly and can be adjusted to precise temperatures.

Lastly, most clogs can be cleared by using a simple plunger, but if that doesn’t work, plumber can use a hand-held or motorized drain auger to break up and remove large blockages. This tool is a long, flexible metal wire with a cutting head that can be pushed into drain lines to cut through clogs caused by roots, grease and other debris. The end of the snake can also be used to grab and break up clogs in toilets. It’s a good idea for plumbers to have a few different types of drain augers on hand, so they can choose the best one for the situation.