5 Plumbing Must-Haves at Home
When it comes to our homes, we really need to take initiatives to keep in shapemake sure it is protected in times of emergenciesOne of the ways to take good care of your home is to have proper plumbing maintenanceAny plumbing issues always have an impact on the peacecomfort of your home; thus, as the homeowner, you have to be always prepared so you can readily respond to any disasters that could arise in the household including plumbing problems–trivial or not–like leaks, cloggs, flooding,frozen or burst pipes.
It is downright important for homeowners to possess certain essential plumbing toolssupplies on hand as some plumbing projects can be handled using DIY methodswithout necessarily hiring a plumber.
Plumbing Tools You Must Keep Handy
Your plumbing system is one of the most vital parts of your home that require maintenanceattentionEvery nowthen, any of your plumbing equipment could have a malfunction or defectHence, you must at least own the following tools so that you can somehow carry out basic troubleshootingrepairHere are five must-have tools that will help you look after your plumbing:
➢ Plunger
Clogs are common plumbing problems you may encounter from time to timeYou need to always have a plunger or two inside the household in order to fix minor blockages in your drainstoiletsThere are two types of plunger that are highly useful inside your home: the flange plungerthe cup plungerThese tools serve different purposesThe flange plunger, with its soft rubber, is most appropriate to use for unclogging your toiletThe flange can make a strong seal on the curved surfaces of your toilet bowlThe cup plunger, on the other, works best for unclogging the drains in the sink, tub,those resting on flat surfaces.
➢ Teflon Tape
This is also called the plumber’s tape because it is particularly handy when you have quick fixes to make in your plumbing system such as sealing a leaking pipeSince this material is water-resistant, it can effectively block water seeping out of your pipingIt also contains lubrication that allows for a smooth threading of the fittings in your plumbing connectionsIt is definitely inexpensivekeeping a supply of Teflon tape in your plumbing tool kit is thus a practical move.
➢ SnakeAuger
These two must-have tools work hand in hand when solving drain clogs that can’t be handled by the plungerA toilet auger, which is a safer form of drain snake that comes in varying lengths, is intended for looseningclearing obstructions specifically in the toilet drainIt consists of a metal cable with a rotating handleThe cable, which runs through a hollow tube, can pierce through drain clogs all the way to the main soil stackThe best feature of the toilet auger is that it won’t scratch the porcelain surfaces of your toilet bowl since it is covered by a rubber sleeve at the bottomThe drain snake, on the other hand, is designed for dislodging clogs in sinks, tubs,showers.
➢ Pipe Wrench
○ Another simple user-friendly tool you should have at home is the pipe wrenchIt is meant for looseningtightening things, most particularly pipe fittings, in the householdThe pipe wrench has two adjustable serrated jaws so it can easily make a solid grasp on fixturesfit in various pipe sizesIf you are working on a threaded piping, whether it is for assembly or disassembly, the pipe wrench is the perfect device you should keep close to you.
➢ Pliers
Touch-and-groove pliers are always partparcel of every plumber’s toolboxIf you need to twist, tighten, loosen, pull, grab, or hold something, the pliers are your best friendTouch-and-groove pliers, in particular, have flexible serrated jaws that can tightly clutch things of different sizes without creating a hand-gripping problem.
There are still so many plumbing must-haves that you should always keep handy at homeHowever, having these five plumbing tools will already help you big time in responding to non-severe plumbing issues that only call for quick fixestroubleshootingThese devices certainly won’t cost an arma leg; thus, keep them in your tool kit is a wise thing to do as a homeowner.
