4 Useful Plumbing Tools Every Homeowner Should Have

Often, people neglect to think about keeping plumbing tools on hand until it is too late. For example, nobody wants to encounter an overflowing toilet with no plunger available to stop the overflowing water. However, this is precisely what might happen to a homeowner who is unsure about what items they need in the case of simple DIY plumbing issues. While it is advisable to contact plumbing services in Mississauga for more significant plumbing problems, here are four necessary plumbing tools every homeowner should have.

1. Plungers

A plunger is a device that contains a rubber cup attached to a wooden handle and is used for clogs in sinks, tubs and toilets. These devices are relatively inexpensive and should be a staple in every home, as their potential to divert overflows and their subsequent water damage make plungers a worthy item. The type of plunger that you employ depends on what you are using it for.

Flange plungers are the ideal plungers to use for clogged toilets. Flange plungers are recognizable by their smaller cup within the larger cup, which makes it easy to get a good seal around the toilet drain. They are best for ridding clogs that occur in the toilet bowl rather than farther down in the plumbing system, as there is another tool for those clogs.

Cup plungers are best used on flatter surfaces and are the better option for unclogging bathtubs and sinks. This type of plunger generally has a brownish-red rubber cup at one end of the handle.

Keep these two plungers separate and use them only for their ideal purpose so as not to spread toilet germs to the sink or tub.

2. Screwdrivers and an Adjustable Wrench

Screwdrivers tighten or remove screws found in the bathroom and kitchen pipes and in plumbing valves. An adjustable wrench works similarly but is for bolts or nuts rather than screws. These versatile tools are important for taking apart the pipes under the sink if, for example, an item falls down the drain and needs to be retrieved. If you are not confident in your ability to take pipes apart and put them back together, you should call plumbing services in Mississauga instead.

3. A Toilet Auger

Sometimes, a clog is lodged too deeply within the pipes for a plunger to do any good. In these cases, it is necessary to use a toilet auger, which is a long, flexible braid made of metal. This tool is designed to enter pipes without causing damage to either the plumbing or the toilet bowl in order to free a clog that is deeper than surface level.

Most toilet augers are around 1 to 2 meters in length. Any clogs that extend farther than this are best handled by professionals in order not to cause more clogging issues or damage to the plumbing system.

4. A Hand-Held Auger

Just like there are two different types of plungers, there are two different types of augers that are used for toilets or sinks. A hand-held auger is also known as a sink auger and is used for removing items from drains that a plunger cannot. One common substance that clogs shower drains is hair, which a hand-held auger can remove by clinging to the hair and helping to lift it out. A sink auger is a good alternative to chemical drain cleaners that can be harsh and damage pipes.

Every homeowner should have these four tools to solve potential plumber issues, which happen to everyone from time to time. Contact Handyman Connection if you encounter plumbing issues that cannot be solved easily by one of these tools, and our professionals will take care of your plumbing needs.