Running a plumbing business or becoming a professional plumber requires knowledge, experience, and quick problem-solving. So, having the essential plumber tools for every job is crucial for pleasing customers and having confidence in your work. Let’s review the tool categories and how they help plumbers streamline their work.
Safety Equipment
Plumbers should always prioritize safety, so having the necessary safety equipment and gear will prevent injuries. Equipment such as goggles, gloves, and heat shields can prevent burns, cuts, abrasions, and lacerations. Communicate with your team regarding the safety equipment that meets OSHA standards and allows you to work seamlessly.
Wrenches
There are many types of essential tools that will help plumbers perform their tasks. Plumbers should have pipe wrenches, basin wrenches, adjustable wrenches, and faucet keys.
Pipe wrenches are the largest to find, helping tighten and loosen nuts and fittings to pipe work, while basin wrenches are T-shaped tools specific for faucets, allowing plumbers to reach narrow spaces. Adjustable wrenches help tighten and loosen hexagonal nuts and fittings, and faucet keys are small x-shaped tools for opening and closing sillcocks and spigots.
Pipe Work Tools
When working with pipes, plumbers need specialty tools, including hacksaws, pliers, plumber’s torches, cutters, and thread sealing tape. While hacksaws cut through pipes, nuts, bolts, and screws, pipe cutters cater toward copper or plastic piping.
Plumber’s torches are small handheld soldering tools that allow plumbers to apply intense heat to precise areas, and thread sealing tape helps prevent leaks at threaded joint connections in piping. Lastly, pliers provide a sturdy grip for loosening and tightening nuts or bolts.
Electric Tools
Electric tools, including cordless drills, can provide quick and seamless performance without excessive downtime. Cordless drills help work with drilling into walls, metal, pipes, and other rough surfaces. Choosing cobalt drill bits for your cordless drill can provide robust performance, especially when handling stainless steel, bronze, titanium, and cast iron.
It is crucial to ensure you and your team have the proper equipment for plumbing jobs for optimal performance and a positive reputation. Finding the appropriate tools for the job can take trial and error, but it’s better to practice safe tool handling than take an unfavorable risk.