Plumbing Tools Every Homeowner Should Have

While we always recommend calling a plumber for all your plumbing needs, we know that not everybody wants to or can pay for plumbing services. If you do need to work on your plumbing yourself, there are tools that you can get that'll make things easier. After taking a poll from some of our plumbers, here is a list of tools that you can keep around your house in case you have to be a plumber for a day.

• Tongue and Groove Pliers: Tongue and groove pliers are one of the most useful tools you can have in your house. Also known under the brand name Channellock, these pliers are good for grabbing, tightening, and pulling, among many other uses. They have an adjustable jaw, making them easy to use and ensures that you don't have to have many of them cluttering up your toolbox.

• Multi-Bit Screwdriver: Having two sizes of Phillips, two of Slotted, as well as a couple of nut sizes, a multi-bit screwdriver will become one of your most used and handiest tools. Having a tool that allows you to loosen and tighten any screws or nuts will make removing fixtures a breeze.
  
  
• Plungers: Almost every homeowner at some point has had a clog where a plunger was needed. According to our plumbers, having both a sink and toilet plunger (yes, they are different!) to handle those tricky clogs makes it so you might not have to call a plumber after all. If you are curious as to what the difference is, check out this page from The Home Depot: Best Toilet Plungers and Sink Plungers.
  
  
• Hand Augers: Just like with plungers, there are different types of hand augers for sinks and toilets. Hand augers are useful when the plunger just isn't cutting it. The drain auger is a more flexible cable to go down all your pipes, whereas the toilet auger still has the flexible cable, but has a more sturdy rod to properly fit with the shape of the toilet to get out even your toughest clogs.
  

While there are many other tools that can come in handy when it comes to working on your plumbing, these are the basic tools that every homeowner should have. And if you don't feel comfortable working on your plumbing issues yourself, the best tool you can have is a business card or the phone number of a reputable plumbing company. At Gold Seal Plumbing, we'd be happy to fix all your plumbing concerns, so give us a call at (509) 535-5946 or email us at service@goldsealplumbing.com.