One of the most important aspects of any plumbing job is having the right tools for the task. However, if you don’t know what those tools are, finding them can be difficult. There are many types of plumbing tools that you should have in your toolbox at all times and we’re here to tell you just about everyone! This blog post goes over 30 different basic plumbing tools that will cover nearly any job that comes your way!

What Is A Plumber?

A plumber is someone whose job is to install and repair plumbing fixtures in residential or commercial buildings. The type of tools they are likely to use will depend on the trade that they specialize in. For example, a gas fitter deals with pipes while an electrician deals more with wiring systems. There are some essential types of plumbing tools every professional should have at hand for most jobs.

Types of Plumbing Tools

There are many types of plumbing tools, but most are either designed to be used in a fixed position or moved around. Here are the 30 essential plumbing tools that you need:

1. Tubing Cutter

Plumbers use tubing cutters to make precise cuts in copper or steel water supply lines. These are adjustable for different sizes, and the wheel inside grips the pipe tightly while it is being turned to ensure a clean cut with no ragged edges. The best ones can even be used on plastic pipes too.

2. Pipe Wrench

The standard plumbing pipe wrench is a heavy tool that has a serrated jaw with teeth that bites into the metal of pipes. It can grip them tightly and turn without slipping to allow for easy removal or loosening of threaded fittings such as those used on gas supplies. Pipe Wrenches are available in different sizes denoted by the length of the handle, and there are even adjustable ones to accommodate different sizes.

3. Pipe Cutters

These have a round blade driven by a screw mechanism that allows them to be tightened without slipping so they can cut through metal pipes with ease.

They tend not to damage or score the surface as much as other methods such as sawing do, making them preferred for use in areas where rust is an issue because it would quickly form after cutting if left untreated.

Plumbers are not the only ones that can use pipe cutters, anyone who needs to make cuts in metal piping should consider getting one of these.

4. Tongue-And-Groove Pliers

These are a type of pliers that plumbers use to pull or push the pipe into place and make gripping adjustments when necessary. They have a tongue-and-groove design with two jaws that can be adjusted by squeezing them together from the sides to open up wider for larger objects or closer together for smaller ones.

5. Screwdrivers And Bits

You will need screwdrivers if you are going to work on faucets and other do-it-yourself plumbing tasks where screws hold things in place rather than being fastened by nuts and bolts.

Plumbers use both flathead screwdrivers and Phillips head bits, which come in several sizes depending on how much torque they offer, so choose according to your needs if you plan to get these kinds of pliers.

The handles should be made of a comfortable material, and the tip should be strong enough to resist breaking even when used on stubborn screws.

6. Corner Cleaning Brush

You might not think about these types of plumbing tools right away, but they are indispensable for cleaning corners where water can stagnate after traveling through long pipes.

Depending on how much area you need them to cover, they come in several sizes, with longer brushes offering more reach while smaller ones allow for greater dexterity. Corner cleaners have bristles that cannot bend or break under pressure which makes it easier to clean tight spaces without worrying if they will scratch your surfaces as some other materials do.

7. Drain Auger Or Cable Auger

A drain auger is also known as an “auger bit” or “cable auger” which are types of plumbing tools that can be handled by hand or mounted on a drill. It has a long metal cable with sharp threads cut into it at the end, and this is what you use to clear clogs in drains.

Augers have different lengths depending on how deep they need to go, but most reach about ten feet maximum so don’t try using them on toilet drain lines unless there really isn’t any other option available since they will not work for more than an inch or two below the surface even if they do fit.

8. Shoe Horn

No longer just used for putting shoes on your feet, plumbers also use these kinds of plumbing tools when installing flooring like vinyl tiles because their rounded shape makes them easier to roll under the edges of tiles when you are pressing them into place.

You might also find uses for a shoehorn in your own home, so keep one on hand just in case you need to use it for something else after its primary purpose has been fulfilled.

9. Caulking Gun

You can think of these types of plumbing tools as similar to glue guns that have tubes instead of sticks that push out with pressure from their mechanism that compresses the air inside.

They are usually made with metal handles and trigger mechanisms with rubber grips, but some come in plastic versions if this is more suitable for your needs. Caulk is useful not only for sealing holes around pipes where there could be water leaks or infiltration by pests but also for bathroom fixtures where there could be mold.

10. Shower Valve Wrench

It is nearly impossible to tighten or loosen shower valves without using one of these types of plumbing tools so you will need it if the handle on your shower valve starts to feel loose and wobbly.

This particular tool has a long metal rod with different heads that can attach depending on what type of fittings are being worked with, as well as an angled head which makes it easier for plumbers to reach into tight spaces when they need access underneath sinks where drain lines go up against walls.

11. Plumbing Torch

When you need to solder pipes for a repair or installation, one of these types of plumbing tools will be needed. You can’t just use any tool that emits open flames: it has to be designed with specific components so there won’t be any accidents while the plumber is working on exposed wiring behind walls and under sinks where they might encounter electrical circuits being used in your home.

12. Soaker Hose

These types of plumbing tools are made from porous materials which allow water to seep out slowly along their length so they don’t have long droplets running down them once installed outside near plants where they are meant to deliver moisture at an even rate over time instead of being sprayed all at once when turned on by hand.

Not only do soaker hoses have this type of design, but they are also made to be flexible so that you can wind them around trees or other decorative elements in your garden without having any problems with kinking.

13. Ratchets

You might also see these types of plumbing tools referred to as “pipe wrenches” or some other variation on the name, which is why they are hard to find when you need them.

They have a long metal handle with grooves cut into it so that your fingers can get a good grip, and this small tool packs quite a punch in its ability to turn even stubborn nuts or bolts that don’t want to budge once they start tightening items up inside an enclosure where there isn’t any space for using larger adjustable pliers.

14. Drills

You can use these types of plumbing tools with a variety of attachments for loosening up nuts and bolts that are stuck inside sink drains or toilets, but sometimes the task at hand is too much to handle so it needs to be taken outside where there isn’t any worry about damaging materials.

That’s why you also see plumbers using drills when they need to cut through cement walls that might have been poured over an old pipe to install something new without having to break out any power saws first.

15. Flashlights

Of course, no toolbox would be complete without including some kind of light source since it will help you see what you’re doing even if your hands aren’t free enough for holding them up by yourself while still being able to work.

Flashlights are a classic type plumbing tool which is why they come in all shapes and sizes, some with rubberized grips for comfort while holding them inside small spaces where there isn’t much room to move around either.

16. Plungers

These types of plumbing tools can be used as an alternative to using chemical drain cleaners when you have something clogging up the pipes that won’t go down easily even if it’s been left sitting overnight or longer so that bacteria has had more time to develop since the water was last going through this section of pipe system before being stopped by whatever obstacle got stuck on its way out.

Plungers don’t use chemicals but instead rely upon pressure from air being pushed into the chamber once a handle is activated in order to create suction that’s powerful enough to dislodge whatever is stuck inside the pipes.

17. Pipe Vise Grips

You might see people using this tool incorrectly when they reach inside of a drainpipe with it. By turning the handle, they can tighten up one end against another section that is supposed to be gripping onto something that needs holding in place.

This tool isn’t designed for this purpose, though, since using a plumber’s vise grips on metal or plastic piping can cause damage depending upon how long you’re tightening them for without having any idea about what type of stress will occur when trying to hold pipes together at their weakest points.

19. Hammers

These common types of plumbing tools come in all shapes and sizes so if you need both hands free while working then there are hammers sold with clips attached where you can put your hand through instead so that the weight is evenly distributed across your body as opposed to hanging off of one shoulder.

But suppose you can hold onto something while swinging a hammer for knocking nails into the wall or putting them through metal pipes to join sections together. In that case, this will be much easier on your back and arms in general so that these types of plumbing tools are useful whenever there isn’t any room to use larger tools instead.

20.Pliers

Many people don’t realize how many different types of plumbing tools plumbers have at their disposal, so they might try using two adjustable pliers when it comes time to tighten up nuts because having both hands available seems like a good idea.

This doesn’t work since clamping down with too much pressure means that neither hand has enough power left over what’s being used inside clamped pliers, and this will end up stripping the threading instead of tightening it down as needed.

21. Thawer

The biggest problem with frozen pipes is that plumbers need to be called in when the temperature gets below freezing, but if you’re trying to thaw your own pipes, then hold onto this tool for using it as an alternative way of heating up water tubing, which might not be attached to any other plumbing system since there’s no place where running hot water isn’t enough.

Thawers work by holding them against metal piping and allowing electricity inside a coil wrapped around its exterior to run through whatever appears to be the most conductive material before reaching the end goal of unfreezing what needs attention next in order to make sure that everyone knows how useful types of plumbing tools can actually become even when they don’t look anything like regular hand tools.

22. Adjustable Wrench

This common type of plumbing tool is used just like a regular wrench would be but with the difference that it has an adjustable head so that you can set and forget about this tool until something else needs tightening or loosening up.

You will need to place your hand around the handle in order to keep any pressure on one side of the spanner from opening up what’s being turned since there are two different points where gripping means making sure nothing moves as needed for turning clockwise or counterclockwise instead of back and forth repeatedly which isn’t going to help when trying to cut through old metal tubing without causing too much damage along the way.

23. Thread Sealing Tape

There are many different types of plumbing tools that plumbers use, which means there’s a lot of them out there to choose from, and anyone who needs to install new piping will need thread sealing tape.

This strip of material is wrapped around the male or female threads on pipes in order to create an airtight seal between two pieces that fit together without any problems since it has been possible for someone else to use this tool before you did so now why not pick one up and keep it inside your home instead of waiting until something leaks again?

24. Basin Wrench

This is another common type of plumbing tool that plumbers rely on to make sure things fit together tightly, but the difference here is mostly in what it’s called.

A basin wrench has a long handle that can be extended up to four feet away from where your hand might normally reach so that this tool stays out of the way when you’re trying to screw down nuts and bolts instead of turning them back and forth repeatedly because only one side needs tightening at any given time without worrying about anything else getting loose since this isn’t an adjustable spanner like some other ones are.

25. Snake Auger

If you ever watched someone use a toilet auger then you might have seen how it can be used to clear out almost anything stuck inside of any drain, but the snake version is designed for clearing out clogs instead.

This tool has an interchangeable head with various diameters so that there’s always something that will fit down into whatever blocked up area needs attention next and pull everything else back up as needed since this isn’t quite like using a plunger or even trying to dig around in order to find what needs doing first before getting started on unclogging pipes.

26. Sawzall

This is another common type of plumbing tool that can be used to cut through almost anything, and it’s a useful addition when trying to clear away roots from old pipes to make way for new ones.

You might not need this tool often unless you have lots of trees on your property or plan on installing water lines out towards the street where there are no nearby fire hydrants meaning that everything needs running all the way back before getting started with what comes next after calling plumbers at least once every few months since they’re always available whenever anyone calls them up.

25. Silicon Lubricant

This is one of those types of plumbing tools that are often overlooked, but it can be used to help with just about any job.

Silicon lubricant comes in a tube or spray bottle and should always be on hand since this type of lube gets applied before trying anything else which has moving parts since you want to make sure nothing shifts around when there are lots of nuts and bolts involved until the whole thing fits together properly without causing too much trouble afterward because silicon grease makes all sorts of things slide smoothly instead.

26. Faucet Key

This is one of those types of plumbing tools that no plumber should be without since it’s used for tightening up faucets, and there are different sizes depending on whether or not they’re standard size or oversized ones.

You might wonder why someone would need a tool like this instead of just using the wrench from your socket set, which actually works quite well as long as you can reach all areas involved in getting things tightened down enough so that nothing moves again unless you want to take off the handle first before trying anything else because otherwise, everything will become unaligned once more.

27. Locknut Wrench

This is another common type of plumbing tool that plumbers rely on to make sure things fit together tightly, but the difference here is mostly in what it’s called.

A locknut wrench has a long handle that can be extended up to four feet away from where your hand might normally reach so that this tool stays out of the way when you’re trying to screw down nuts and bolts instead of turning them back and forth repeatedly because only one side needs tightening at any given time without worrying about anything else getting loose since this isn’t an adjustable spanner like some other ones are.

28. Flux Brush

Plummers rely on flux brushes in order to get everything ready for soldering, and this might include getting the right amount of solder onto a joint before heating it up since you want things to melt together evenly.

Solder won’t stick when there’s too much oil or grease involved because that gets in the way, but if your project involves fitting tiles around a metal frame, then it helps tremendously to use silicone lubricant instead in order to make sure nothing moves out of place while trying to get everything lined back up again after taking something apart whenever anyone calls them at least once every few months since they’re always available whenever anyone calls them up.

29. Reaming Tools

You might wonder why you need two types of plumbing tools when it comes to unclogging pipes, but there’s a reason why these are used in conjunction with each other instead of going at the clog from only one direction.

One tool will bore through anything blocking your path while another is inserted afterward so that this smaller version can widen things up again until everything flows smoothly without having to call anyone for help because they’re always available whenever anyone calls them up since they’re not too expensive and often arrive within an hour or less.

30. Mortar Rake

This is one of those types of plumbing tools that you might not think about using, but it’s invaluable for getting mortar off the side of your house so that your siding looks good again.

If you’re trying to remove a section of the wall because there’s an old pipe behind it and want to do everything yourself instead of calling someone else in, this rake will allow you to clean up all sorts of things while still keeping costs down.

Here’s an additional video for different types of plumbing tools:

Plumbers Safety Equipment

It is important to always wear safety equipment when doing any type of plumbing work. Some items that belong in the toolbox are:

31. Protective Goggles

In plumbing, there are some items that can cause debris to fly into the eyes. This is a hazard because it could damage their vision and even lead them to become permanently blind if not taken care of right away.

32. Plumbers Wear Ear Protection

Noise levels in plumbing work can be very high, which is why ear protection should always be worn when working with tools like drills or saws that make loud noises.

33. Protective Gloves

Even though gloves aren’t usually included in standard toolsets, they do help protect hands from things like sharp edges on metal pipes or getting burned by hot water while mixing cement for tile jobs around bathrooms or kitchens. These types of injuries happen all too often without protective gloves being used during the job. So whether the gloves are rubber, cloth or leather they should be worn unless the job calls for bare hands.

34. Protective Clothing

When working on projects that involve standing in water for an extended amount of time, it is important to wear clothes that will protect you from getting wet too often. This means wearing things like boots with socks and pants made out of material that dries quickly if something spills into a puddle of water.

There are many types of plumbing tools that come in handy for every job. Above are the plumbing tool lists that include some of the most common items used by plumbers for just about anything.

Safety Tips For Using Plumbing Tools

There are many different types of plumbing tools, but it is important to use them safely. Some of the most common tips include:

Use the Right Tool for the Job

If your project is going to take a long time and you aren’t sure if certain types of plumbing tools will work, it’s best to go ahead and try using them. However, make sure not to use any tool that could cause injury or damage. For example, don’t see through things with a drill bit since this can break the teeth off, which might hurt anyone who tries to dig into what they’re working on afterward by hand.

Read All Instructions Before Using

Some of these tools come with instructions that must be read before trying anything new. There are parts that need extra tightening or need special attention when assembling, so nothing breaks during its first usage, causing anyone needing instead of being able to do so.

Keeping the Area Clean

It is important to clean up all debris before starting any type of plumbing work so that everything stays safe for everyone involved including pets, children, or anyone else who might come into contact with items like sharp metal objects and chemicals used in certain types of plumbing tools.

When it comes to any project involving a lot of messes due to materials being cut out quickly using a saw then going back over spots with a vacuum cleaner can help save time by picking up most pieces instead of having someone walk around barefoot only to get stitches later on from stepping on something they couldn’t see without shoes. You should also know how to maintain your plumbing tools to make them last longer.

If done right, these are some helpful tips that every person should follow when trying their hand at different projects around the house. However, when in doubt, it’s best to leave any unsafe jobs up to the professionals who know what they are doing, which might save them from an injury.