Whether performing an emergency repair or working on a routine installation, Plumber North Olmsted Ohio has certain tools to get the job done. This article looks at the basics of the trade including plungers, wrenches, pliers, and other basic tools.
A drain-cleaning bladder attaches to a standard water hose and expands under high water pressure, blasting away clogs. It’s also known as a pipe-cutting kit.
Plunger
A plunger is one of the most basic plumbing tools. It’s ideal for toilet clogs, but it can also be used on sinks and drains if you have the proper plunger head. You’ll also want to keep a pair of rubber gloves, which protect your hands from harsh chemicals and sharp debris.
A tubing cutter is a useful tool for plumbers who regularly work with copper pipes. This handheld device features a thin cutting wheel and a flat pressure wheel that applies pressure when you turn the knob. The tubing cutter allows you to make clean, square cuts without damaging the pipe.
If you’re working with PEX piping, a crimping tool is essential. This tool is designed to deform the mouth of a pipe so that you can insert a metal fitting. Be sure to choose the right crimping tool for your project, as different types of piping use different kinds of fittings.
A wrench is another plumbing tool that’s necessary for various projects. The most common type of wrench for plumbers is an adjustable pipe wrench, which has sliding jaws that grip objects of different sizes. You can also purchase a set of needle-nose pliers, which have long and tapered jaws that allow them to grasp small items in tight spaces. A set of channel-type pliers, commonly called channel locks, is also an important addition to your plumbing tool kit. They feature long handles that give plumbers extra leverage and provide a strong grip on pipes and other fixtures. They’re a good replacement for traditional locking pliers, which can cause damage to delicate pipes and fixtures. They’re also not as durable.
Nipple Extractor
Nipples play an important role in connecting sections of pipe and other plumbing components. However, they can become stubborn or broken and require specialized tools to remove them. Thankfully, several tools can make this task much easier. One of these is a pipe nipple extractor, which is designed to grip onto the remaining part of a nipple and allow for sufficient force to be applied to remove it. This tool can be found at home improvement retailers and can be used to easily tackle a variety of different pipe nipple sizes.
A nipple extractor has a hex barrel with tightening shoes (or teeth) that fit into the end of a nipple. This tool can be secured to a wrench to provide stability during the extraction process and prevent the nipple from escaping. It’s also a good idea to apply a penetrating oil or rust remover to the nipple before using an extractor to help loosen up corrosion that may be holding it in place.
This nipple extractor is heat-treated and cadmium-plated for added durability and features a cam-style internal wrench to grip the nipple and unscrew it. It’s designed to fit both 1/2″ and 3/4″ nipples, making it perfect for removing broken risers and tees from PVC pipe fittings. It can also be used to remove PO plugs, such as those found in shower arms some pop-up assemblies, and tub drains.
This is a very durable and high-quality nipple wrench with a long reach and a comfortable grip for prolonged use. It can be used to extract both right-hand and left-hand threaded nipples, and it’s ideal for working on plumbing projects in cramped spaces.
Crimping Wrench
A crimping tool looks much like a pair of pliers and creates connections between wires or connectors by forcing them together forcefully. This deforms the materials to grip onto each other and create a secure connection called a cold weld joint. The process is much easier and quicker than soldering. Crimping tools are available in a wide variety of variations, each designed for different types of connections or wires.
Light-duty crimping tools offer a basic, low-cost option with limited handle protection for comfort during use. These are ideal for a small number of crimps during a project. Medium-duty crimpers provide greater comfort with larger handles and are designed for workers who need to make more than a few connections per day. They also tend to have a ratchet mechanism that allows consistent pressure with each crimp and can be locked into place once the desired crimp is achieved.
Battery-powered crimpers are increasingly popular among electricians, especially since they are more comfortable to use and require no gas or oil. The battery-powered hydraulic crimper uses a movable hammer that can be adjusted to varying heights, and its built-in counter records the number of compression cycles.
For plumbers, a PEX crimp tool is used to create watertight seals on tubing and prevent leaks. These tools are also commonly found on vehicles and boats where they connect electrical cables to the battery, ignition, or other components. Other variations include an auto electrical crimp tool, which provides durable joins between pre-insulated or non-insulated car batteries and starter terminals. Then there are the plier-style bootlace ferrule crimping tools that are designed for connecting copper and aluminum bootlace ferrules to cables.
Hacksaw
A hacksaw is a tool for cutting metal and other hard materials. It has a frame that holds a blade and is tightened using a small wing nut. Originally and primarily used for cutting metal, it can also be used to cut other materials like plastic and wood. It is especially useful when you need to cut bolts and screws that are too long, as it can quickly get them down to a more manageable length.
The type of blade you use with a hacksaw depends on the application. Hacksaw blades typically have a small number of teeth that are forward-facing and act as scoops to move the material away from the blade, so you can make cuts easily. The size of these teeth varies by blade. They can have anywhere from 8 to 24 teeth per inch (TPI). Blade TPI categorizations include raker, wavy, and regular. Course blades have more teeth and are better suited for thicker metals, while finer blades provide smoother cuts but take longer to cut through thin metals.
The raker blade has teeth that are in sets of three and can be used to cut through thick iron piping. A wavy blade has teeth that are positioned from left to right, which can be ideal for cutting hard but thin metal sheets. A regular blade has teeth that alternate from one side of the blade to the other and touch each other, which can be best for soft metals such as aluminum or tin. The way a hacksaw blade is positioned in the frame also impacts its cut. The frame can be adjusted to rotate the blade so that it cuts on the push or pull stroke.
Basin Wrench
A basin wrench is a hand tool for turning fasteners in hard-to-reach places, such as the mounting nuts on sink faucets. It consists of a small, spring-loaded claw head on the end of a long shaft. The head swivels to position it for tightening or loosening a nut, and a T-bar on the bottom of the shaft provides leverage. Some models feature a retractable handle for use in tight spaces.
The claw of a basin wrench fits around a faucet mounting nut, gripping the notches or edges of the nut to loosen it. The T-bar on the end of the shaft is then used to turn the nut to loosen or tighten it. You can lever the T-bar with two hands, or you can use one hand to operate the head while stabilizing the shaft with another.
If the nut is too tightly rusted to remove with the basin wrench, you can try using a center punch and hammer (properly applied) or a cold chisel. If that fails, you may need to cut the nut and shank with a hacksaw or reciprocating saw.
This adjustable model from Ridgid features a molded grip on the head of the wrench, which allows you to maintain maximum control while positioning and operating it. It also has an integrated LED light that illuminates your work area, making it easier to see the nuts and bolts you’re working with.
Some homeowners choose to replace their sink faucets rather than call a plumber. While you can get by with other tools for most plumbing jobs, a standard adjustable basin wrench will make the job much easier. And a telescoping version of the wrench can help you reach those tricky, deep-sunk nuts behind extra-deep sink basins.
