Table of Contents
The average plumbing company charges $75 to $150 an hour in labor costs. However, if you have a plumbing emergency after five o’clock, or on the weekend, expect that cost to double. It’s certainly a fair price, but it might tempt you to do some of your own DIY plumbing repairs. Here are 15 tools every DIY plumber needs to have at home.
Plunger
Getty Images
There are two types of plungers, and you need both of them in your home. The first kind is a sink plunger. This variety has a flat suction cup for sinks, tubs and other flat surfaces.
In addition, you’ll want to have a toilet plunger. Also known as flange plumbers, this version has a protruding flange at the bottom. Accordingly, the flange helps create a tight seal on the curved surfaces of a toilet bowl.
Using a plunger is easy. First, slowly make contact with the fixture surface, then apply pressure to create a seal. Second, make sure there is enough water to cover the seal. Finally, move the plunger straight up and down for about 20 seconds. This should remove the blockage.
Auger
If a plunger doesn’t solve your clogged drain woes, then you’ll need to upgrade to an auger. Like plungers, there are augers for your sinks and tubs and augers for your toilets.
Toilet augers have a hard rubber elbow that goes into the toilet bowl drain and protects the porcelain from the metal cable or snake. They are hand operated and have short snakes.
Sink, or drain augers, also called drain snakes, are thinner and much longer than toilet augers. Additionally, many drain snakes have a drill attachment bit for use with a power drill.
Using augers is more complicated than a plunger, but definitely doable for a DIY plumber. First, hand-feed the snake into the drain by pulling it out of the casing and pushing it into the pipe. It is likely a p-trap or a 90-degree bend if you hit something hard. Now, turn the handle to start feeding it through the curve. Keep the auger about six inches from the drain, don’t let the cable turn on itself, and don’t force it.
Next, connect the drill or hand-turn the snake entirely through the drain. Finally, slowly pull the snake out and into the casing until you’ve removed it all, including the blockage.
Water Meter Key
When working on the supply side of your plumbing system, you will need to turn off the water to that fixture. However, if your job is on a fixture or pipe with no shut-off valve, you must shut off water to the whole plumbing system.
Most homes have a water shut-off valve. However, some older homes may not or it may be in an undesirable location like a crawlspace. In those cases, you will need to turn off the water at the water meter in your front yard. The tool you’ll need for that is a water meter key.
They’re available at any big box hardware store, and using them is pretty self-explanatory. Find the water meter in your front yard, lift the cover and insert the water meter key. Then, turn the valve completely to the left to shut off the water.
Adjustable Wrenches
Getty Images
Many plumbing jobs include loosening and tightening bolts, fittings or nuts. Likewise, every DIY plumber needs a set of adjustable wrenches.
Your adjustable wrench set should include a basic adjustable wrench or crescent wrench for standard-sized nuts, bolts and fittings.
In addition, you will need an adjustable plumber’s wrench for large slip joints, spud nuts and strainer basket nuts.
Lastly, a pipe wrench will be convenient if you have metal piping in your home.
Specialty Wrenches
Even though adjustable wrenches are versatile, they won’t handle every job. For example, special wrenches are needed for tub drains, shower valves and strainer baskets. These wrenches are usually less than $10, so they won’t break the bank.
Shop Vac
Getty Images
The shop vac should be part of any homeowner’s tool arsenal. Because unfortunately, despite your best efforts, you may end up with a puddle of water when fixing a plumbing problem.
An old towel will suffice for a bit of spillage. However, you’ll need a shop vac on hand for bigger messes. They’re also great for removing water from toilets during a repair. Just make sure to remove the filter before using as a wet vac.
Pipe Cutters and Reamers
You’ll eventually need to cut some pipe if you’re committed to being a DIY plumber. A hacksaw is decent for cutting most pipe materials. However, there are specific cutting tools for each type of pipe.
After cutting, a pipe will have rough edges with some loose material. This can cause poor connections and leaks. So, it is essential to create clean surfaces after cutting pipes. You can do this with a pipe reamer or deburring tool.
Caulk Gun
Getty Images
The last tool every DIY plumber needs to have in their home is a caulk gun. Many jobs, such as those involving the toilet, sink or shower valve replacement, require recaulking the area.
A good caulk gun can last many years. Make sure you get one with a smooth rod for less mess, a revolving frame for seamless application and a comfortable grip for those big jobs.
