10 Plumbing Tools and Equipment Every Good Plumber Owns

Interested in becoming a plumber? There are a number of things that you’re going to need to work in the plumbing industry.

For starters, you’ll need a high school diploma and some vocational training. You’ll also need to spend time working underneath a plumber with a lot of experience. And of course, you’ll need to get your hands on the right plumbing tools and equipment.

By investing in a set of basic plumbing tools, you’ll give yourself almost everything that you’ll need to tackle most plumbing jobs. You’ll also provide yourself with the opportunity to learn about the different plumbing tools and their uses when you’re first getting your career off the ground.

Here are ten plumbing tools and equipment that every good plumber should own.

Plunger

When you’re working as a plumber, a lot of the calls that you’re going to get are going to be for clogged drains. Clogged drains are among the most common plumbing problems in the world.

With this in mind, it’s absolutely essential for you to have a plunger handy at all times. In fact, you should have more than one kind of plunger when you show up to attack a clogged drain.

You should have a cup plunger as well as a flange plunger. This will give you everything you’ll need to start working on a clogged drain.

Snake

In many cases, a plunger will be all that a plumber will need to dislodge a clog in a drain and make the drain clear again. But in some instances, they’re going to need to do more than just use a plunger.

When a plunger doesn’t get the job done, the next thing they’ll usually turn to is a plumbing snake. Snakes are coiled metal cables that can be used to bust up clogs located deep in a plumbing system.

Jetter

If a plumbing snake isn’t able to clear up a clogged drain, it’ll be time for a plumber to bring in the big guns. They’ll often use what’s called a jetter to eliminate the clog once and for all.

Buying a jetter is going to require a big investment on your part when you become a plumber. But it’ll be so worth it when you face your first really stubborn clogged drain.

Wrenches

Are you even allowed to call yourself a plumber if you don’t have a gigantic set of wrenches?

We would say no. Wrenches are, without a doubt, some of the most important plumbing tools and equipment of all.

Plumbers need to use all kinds of wrenches when they’re working on a plumbing system. You’re going to want to have:

• Adjustable pipe wrenches
• Basin wrenches
• Allen wrenches
• Faucet valve-seat wrenches

Over the course of your career, you’re going to spend a small fortune on wrenches. It comes with the territory when you’re a plumber.

Pliers

Much like wrenches, pliers are a necessity for anyone who considers themselves a half-decent plumber. You won’t be able to perform most plumbing installations, repairs, and replacements without these plumbing tools and equipment.

You’ll need a couple of different kinds of pliers, too. More specifically, you’re going to want to have tongue and groove pliers (also known as channel locks) and slip-joint pliers tucked away in your toolbox.

Screwdrivers

It almost feels silly mentioning the fact that you need to have screwdrivers on hand to be a plumber. You need screwdrivers to do just about any job that involves working with your hands.

But we would like to point out that there is one specific type of screwdriver that you’ll want to have in your tool stash. It’s a stubby screwdriver that can be used when you need a screwdriver to fit into a very tight space.

This screwdriver will definitely be a lifesaver the first time you have your head under a sink and need a screwdriver in a hurry.

Plumber’s Tape

If you put plumbing pipes and fittings together without using plumber’s tape on them, there is a good chance that they won’t form a tight seal. This could lead to plumbing pipes leaking shortly after you finish up a job.

Plumber’s tape is probably the least expensive thing on this list, but it’s an extremely useful tool for plumbers. It wraps around the threads on pipes and stops the pipes from leaking later on.

Washers and O-Rings

There are some plumbing leaks that are going to stump you when you attempt to fix them. You’re going to have to do a lot of digging around to figure out what’s causing a leak to occur.

But there are also times when the cause of a plumbing leak will be something as simple as an old washer or a worn-out O-ring. It’s why you should always have washers and O-rings in many different sizes on you.

Saws

Saws might not seem like the kind of plumbing tools and equipment that a plumber will need. But you’ll be surprised by how often you have to saw away at everything from old, rusty screws to brand-new plumbing pipes that need to be resized so that they fit.

There are a number of saws that can help you carry out these kinds of jobs. You should invest in:

• Hacksaws
• Hose cutters
• Hole saws
• Tube cutters

You should also keep fresh blades for your various saws around so that you always have one when you need it.

Metal Files

After you cut plumbing pipes, they’re often left with sharp, jagged edges. It’ll be your job to smooth those edges out before installing new plumbing pipes.

The quickest and easiest way to do this is through the use of metal files. They’ll make sharp, jagged edges disappear in no time at all.

All Plumbers Must Have These Plumbing Tools and Equipment

If you’re just starting to cut your teeth as a plumber, you shouldn’t feel like you have to go out and buy all of these plumbing tools and equipment at once. But you should begin to gradually build up your tool collection over time.

You’ll use each and every tool mentioned on this list on an almost daily basis. They’re going to help you get plumbing jobs done the right way every time.

Read our blog for more articles on plumbing that may be useful for you!