What Are The Top 5 Plumbing Tools?
In this article we set out the top 5 plumbing tools that no self-respecting plumber will be without. The good news is that although they are specialized tools, they can easily be purchased online or in any decent sized home products store. So lets get started on that list.
1) Teflon tape
This tape is used to wrap around pipe threads that are being joined together to prevent any leakage. The tape is inexpensive, silky to the touch, but strong. While it is mostly used to prevent water leakage, it is also useful for stopping air and gas seepage.
2) A sink plunger (cup plunger)
This is just a rubber cup attached to a stick, but it’s exactly what a plumber needs when clearing clogs in sinks, bathtubs and showers. But when dealing with a toilet clog, most plumbers will use a specialized toilet plunger (see next item).
3) Toilet plunger (flange plunger)
Unlike a standard sink plunger (see previous item) a toilet plunger is specially designed to work on the curved surface of the toilet bowl without slipping. It is sometimes referred to as a flange plunger as there is an extra section of rubber – called a flange – that protrudes off the end of the rubber cup. This is placed inside the toilet trap-way entrance prior to plunging to help create a solid seal.
4) Toilet auger (closet auger, plumbers snake)
Although a toilet plunger is normally effective at getting rid of most toilet clogs, occasionally a plumber will come across a very stubborn “hard” clog that will not dislodge. For this, a toilet auger is needed. It’s basically a flexible cable with a coiled wire “bit” on the end that is extended and retracted by turning the handle on one end of the tool. Unlike a drain auger (see next item) it is specifically designed for use on toilets and shouldn’t damage the porcelain of the toilet bowl. The term “snaking a toilet” refers to the process of feeding an auger cable through the toilet pipes.
5) Drain auger (sink auger)
Designed for dislodging and clearing clogs in sinks and tubs the flexible cable that is used to penetrate the pipes is coiled within a dram canister and released when the drum is turned. The cable is much longer than that used in a toilet auger and the instrument does not have a protective rubber sleeve so can easily damage a toilet if used on one.
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