When you have a plumbing problem, it’s best to call your local professionals rather than try to handle it yourself. It’s not that you can’t learn; it’s just so expensive to try! What tools do plumbers use to complete the job?
Experienced plumbers in Moore, OK, like our experts at Champion Plumbing, require a lot of tools to do the job right. Not only do they require several tools to repair pipes and fixtures, but also to find the problem in the first place.
Safety Gear for Moore Plumbers
What tools do plumbers use? Plumbers’ tools start with safety gear. Not only are bigger tools dangerous to use, but proper water safety also requires protection since plumbing jobs often require dealing with dirty water.
Safety gear often includes:
- Rubber Gloves: Proper rubber gloves should be heavy-duty to protect hands from dirty water and sharp blades on tools.
- Goggles: Goggles should have full coverage to prevent dirty water or other debris from getting in the eyes.
- Earplugs: When drilling through metal pipes or handling loud tools, earplugs can help save the ears from overexposure to loud noises.
- Boots: Plumbing is a dirty job. Sturdy rubber boots can help plumbers trudge through the sludge.
Wrenches
Wrenches are probably the first answer you’d get after asking, “What tools do plumbers use?” They may be stereotypical of plumbers, but that’s due to their necessity when fixing pipes and bathroom fixtures.
Plumbers use more than one type of wrench to perform plumbing work:
- Adjustable: Adjustable wrenches can save a lot of room in a plumber’s toolbox because one wrench can take the place of several.
- Basin: A basin wrench allows your plumber to reach difficult places, like behind sinks, where they normally wouldn’t have enough room to fit a wrench, let alone rotate it.
- Offset Hex: Aside from a plain wrench, the offset hex wrench is one of the most common wrenches for plumbers. It allows for a firm grip on pipe screws and lets your plumber twist from an angle.
- Straight Pipe: The straight pipe wrench is the “regular version” of the offset hex. It functions and looks the same, but it’s straight rather than at an angle.
- Toilet Bolt Lock: This wrench is specifically for toilets. Corroded bolts make removing toilets tricky, but the bolt lock wrench keeps the bolt still.
Drills and Pliers
Plumbers in Moore, OK, sometimes have to drill into pipes or fixtures. These tools make it possible:
- Power Drill: Nearly every home improvement job requires a power drill. Plumbers can use it to drill, cut, and even clean. It’s a handy tool for every plumbing job.
- Right Angle Drill: This drill is good for those awkward angles you can’t quite fit your hand into. This drill is also called a 90-degree drill.
- Slip-Joint Pliers: Slip-joint pliers are regular pliers you’ll find in any toolbox. They’re good for getting a grip on slippery objects and holding things in place.
Saws and Cutters
What tools do plumbers use more: saws or cutters? Plumbers often have to cut through materials, so you’ll find a wide selection of sharp objects in their bags.
- Files: Files come in handy when plumbers have to cut metal pipes and make them smooth again. They’re typically flat, but there are many shapes to choose from.
- Hacksaw: Hacksaws come in different sizes and strengths, allowing plumbers to cut through PVC pipes, wood, and whatever else they can’t get through without a tool.
- Hole Saw: Hole saws are specialized saws that drill perfectly round holes. The attachment goes on a power drill to make quick work of it.
- PVC Pipe Cutter: Pipes go into hard-to-reach places. If your plumber needs to cut a pipe before the floor but doesn’t want to tear up the floor, the internal PVC pipe cutter will be highly useful. This cutter attachment goes on a power drill, then you place it inside the pipe and cut from the inside out.
- Ratcheting Pipe Cutter: This pipe cutter is best for PVC pipes and makes it easier to work in tight spaces.
- Reciprocating Saw: This type of saw has several attachments a plumber can use to work with PVC, wood, and steel. It can cut through almost anything with the right attachments.
Pipe Tools
Pipes are hard to get into, so what tools do Moore plumbers use to get in there?
- Drain Snake: Drain snakes are ideal for unclogging pipes. You can find short ones meant for at-home use at hardware and superstores, but plumbers have specialized long versions called hand augers that can go deep into the plumbing system to release unreachable clogs.
- Nipple Extractor: Pipe nipples help fit pipes together. They can sometimes break and get stuck, and the extractor helps get them out.
- PEX Crimp Ring Tool: Plumbers sometimes crimp pipes to make them fit together better. The ring tool can be manual or battery-powered.
- Fittings Removal Tool: This tool allows plumbers to remove fittings like pipe nipples in hard-to-reach areas.
- Snake Camera: When you can’t see into the pipe system, a tiny camera on a long drain snake will work wonders. It allows the plumber to see everything in the pipes, removing all the guesswork plumbers used to do.
Miscellaneous Tools
When answering, “What tools do plumbers use?” you can’t forget these honorable mentions:
- Plunger
- Tape measure
- Caulk
- Flashlight
- Spray bottle
- Welding torch
- Thread seal tape
Our Plumbers at Champion Plumbing Has a Full Toolbox in Moore, OK
What tools do plumbers use? Don’t worry about filling up your own toolbox—our team at Champion Plumbing has you covered.
Call us today at 405-889-1318 for all your plumbing needs in Moore, OK. We’re happy to tell you what tools plumbers use or how to fix a leaking pipe joint while we’re out repairing all your plumbing problems.
We work in residential and commercial buildings to provide installation and repairs for water heaters, water filtration, gas lines, sump pumps, and general plumbing services.
