Plumbing emergencies can be an inconvenience and potentially costly if you don’t have the right tools on hand. With the following five emergency plumbing tools, you’ll be able to handle any plumbing problem that comes your way without having to call in a plumber (unless you want to, of course).
If you’re reading this, there’s probably some sort of emergency plumbing situation going on in your home or apartment right now! Don’t worry! With the following tools and your quick action, you can resolve it in no time!
1) Plunger
If your toilet overflows or you have a minor clog, a plunger is a must-have. It’s one of those things that most people know they should have but never really think about buying until it’s too late. Once you realize just how handy plungers are, you’ll want to keep one nearby at all times—just in case.
If your home isn’t equipped with multiple toilets (which is typical), make sure at least one plunger is stored away for emergencies. A basic rubber plunger can be found for less than $10 and will do wonders when your toilet overflows!
2) Drain Snake
Drains can become clogged and cause a plumbing emergency or flooding, so it’s important to know how to quickly clear them out. While you should consult your local plumber if you have any doubts about whether you can handle a plumbing job yourself, there are tools that every homeowner should have on hand.
One of those tools is a drain snake. As its name suggests, it looks like a snake, with two metal prongs that spin at high speeds. It’s inserted into your drains to break up hair and other clogs causing problems. Drain snakes aren’t just for use by professional plumbers; they make handy additions to homeowners’ toolkits as well.
3) Pliers
If you have a problem with your pipes, you’ll want to get to it as soon as possible. A plumbing toolbox is a must-have for any homeowner and pliers should be included. The best thing about them is that they can fix a number of problems without you having to go through all of your tools first. The worst thing about them is that they aren’t very versatile: if you can’t get a grip on something, forget about using pliers. Still, it’s better than nothing!
And since pliers are so cheap and easy to buy, there’s no reason not to include them! Just make sure you include other types of clamps too. Perhaps even an adjustable wrench; although its use is more limited than either of these two tools are, wrenches are perfect when you know what size pipe or object you need to work with but don’t quite know how big or small things will turn out.
4) Flashlight
In case you have an emergency that occurs during hours of darkness, a flashlight is one of those plumbing tools you should have in your home. A flashlight will allow you to see what’s causing your problem and let you work with greater precision to fix it.
When picking out a flashlight, look for something with at least 20 lumens. More lumens equals more light and more light equals less battery drain—which means longer life. Keep your torch near your bathroom or kitchen sink so it’s easy to access if needed.
5) Wrench
In an emergency, when you’ve got a burst pipe or other issues with pipes, a wrench can help you shut off your water. In addition to helping with plumbing emergencies, a wrench is also handy for tightening loose faucets. Even if you’re not dealing with an emergency, use wrenches and pliers to tighten connections that may have loosened over time (like your hot water heater), since these repairs will help prevent larger, more expensive problems down the road.
Most homes have several sizes of adjustable wrenches on hand already; if yours doesn’t, it’s one of those tools that’s worth spending money on because they’re so versatile. Just make sure to get one made of metal and not plastic; otherwise they won’t withstand much force and could potentially crack under pressure.
Conclusion
By being prepared for a plumbing emergency, you can reduce frustration and downtime and get your household back on track as quickly as possible. In case of an emergency, it’s always good to have above mentioned 5 tools at hand: a flashlight, pliers, drain snakes, plungers, and a wrench. We hope that you never need them — but if you do run into trouble with your plumbing system, there’s no time like the present to have these five tools on hand!
