When servicing homeowners, plumbers are constantly faced with a number of challenges, such as navigating small spaces, avoiding health hazards, and a variety of other challenges. Whether you are a residential plumber or a commercial plumber, these challenges require the right plumber tools and a specific skill set. Below we’ll take a look at the 27 best tools for plumbers while on the job.
We’ll start out with the plumbing tools list you can find at any commercial plumbing suppliers store and then we’ll take a deeper dive into each plumbing tool afterwards.
Plumbing Hand Tools
Best Plumbing Tools For Pipe Work
- Tubing Cutter
- Hacksaw
- Hole saw kit
- Pipe and tube benders
- Mole grips
- Plumber’s torch
- Thread sealing tape
- Pliers
- Press fitting systems
- Flashlight
- A bucket
- Ratcheting pipe threader set
Plumber Wrenches
Plumber Drain Cleaning Tools
Plumbing Safety Tools
Plumbing Business Tools
Now let’s take a deeper dive into each tool on this plumber’s tools list.
Best Plumbing Tools For Pipe Work (Pipe Tools)
Tubing Cutter
A tool used by plumbers to cut through plastic tubing, with each one having its own cutting range.
Hacksaw
Plumbers typically carry hacksaws so that they can cut through a variety of items, including nuts, bolts, pipes, and screws. Make sure you keep spare blades around too!
Hole saw kit
A hole saw is used to cut perfectly round holes in a variety of materials.
Mole grips
Used to hold metal parts in place during welding, such as when a plumber is using a plumber’s torch to seal copper piping by soldering it.
Pipe and tube benders
This plumber tool is used to bend a range of piping and tubing instead of creating a fitting.
Pliers
These are used every day by plumbers. Easily tighten or loosen nuts and bolts that wrenches can’t grab onto.
Plumber’s torch
A plumber’s torch is a handheld tool used to apply heat to a precise area of piping, allowing you to seal new piping for installs and replacements.
Press fitting systems
Iron Pipe Size (IPS) press fitting systems enable plumbers to press a connection onto a pipe, resulting in a watertight connection or seal.
Flashlight
Plumbers are commonly required to go into dark spaces, such as basements, so having a flashlight handy is always a good idea.
Thread sealing tape (“Plumber’s Tape”)
Thread sealing tape is used to patch or prevent leaks in piping.
A bucket
Even when the water is turned off in the home, there is still going to be some water leakage, so it’s smart to keep a bucket around.
Ratcheting pipe threader set
This plumber tool allows you to cut threads into pipes so that it can accept fittings when joining pipes together.
Plumber Wrenches
Pipe wrench
Plumbers use pipe wrenches to tighten and loosen nuts and fittings on pipes. Two of these are often used together, one for holding a pipe in place and the other for rotating a nut or fitting.
Adjustable wrench
Also known as an adjustable spanner or crescent, is a tool used to loosen or tighten a nut or bolt.
Basin wrench (“Sink Wrench”)
A T-shaped tool that plumbers use specifically on faucets. Its unique design allows plumbers to turn fasteners in confined spaces that would otherwise be impossible to reach.
Faucet key
An X-shaped tool that plumbers use to open and close spigots and sillcocks.
Torque wrench
A tool used to apply a specific torque to a nut or bolt.
Internal pipe wrench
Commonly used to remove old rusted fittings on galvanized pipe.
Plumber Drain Cleaning Tools
Plungers
A plumber tool used to clear up blockages in drains or pipes, commonly used in the household toilet.
Hand auger
A hand auger has a long, flexible metal wire with a corkscrew auger attached on the end used to unclog drain lines.
Snake machine (“Plumber’s Snake”)
A flexible and slender auger is used to clear particularly difficult clogs.
Drain inspection camera
A camera that allows the plumber to see any issues with a specific pipe. Usually used on sewer lines.
Hydro jetting machines
An extremely effective method of clearing up drains and sewer lines. Comes with hose attachments that will blast water into drain lines and sewer lines.
Plumbing Safety Tools
Gloves
Used every day by plumbers, allows your hands to always have a strong grip and to not stain your skin with hazardous materials.
Goggles
Goggles protect your eyes from any hazardous materials you come into contact with while working on a plumbing job.
Heat shields or pads
Protects plumbers and the surrounding environment from any heat damage or fire during soldering.
Plumbing Business Tools
Plumbing Business Software
Plumbing software is used by most plumbing businesses to help organize and manage daily operations in the office and in the field. The best plumbing software allows you to:
- Schedule plumbing jobs with ease
- Let your plumbers manage jobs out in the field
- Access customer information via a mobile app
- View, track, and send invoices in just a few clicks
- Easily collect payments in the field
Plumbing business software can simplify your workday and help improve efficiency, allowing you to grow your business.
- Recommended option: WorkWave Service
Hope you found value in our plumbing tools list. Have any other Plumber tool recommendations? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook!
