9 Most Important Plumbing Tools You Absolutely Need

by Trevor Woods | Last Updated: February 7, 2020

Sometimes fixing your own plumbing can be frustrating, especially if you don’t have a 2/15″ toilet wrench (just kidding… that doesn’t exist). Skip all the gadgets and gizmos, because most repairs can be done around the house with some basic hand tools. But what plumbing tools do you actually need?

Before you run out to the nearest hardware store and plunk down a big ol’ chunk of change, make sure you know what plumbing tools are genuinely necessary. You’ll save yourself some money, and you’ll be ready to take care of your plumbing like a pro.

1. Tool Box

Your tool box is the foundation of your tool selection. Housing your plumbing tools and allowing you to set up for repairs anywhere you need. Most tradespeople have found that bulky tool boxes limit your mobility and can be cumbersome to maneuver throughout your home. Rather tool bags and tool buckets are the preferred go-to.

Tool bags are extremely portable and comfortable to carry around, especially if they come with a shoulder strap. Look for one with a padded base or rubber feet to protect the surfaces of your workspace. A wide opening and multiple pockets are also a must to keep your tools organized.

Tool buckets are increasing in popularity with plumbers due to their versatility and ruggedness. You can inexpensively convert any five-gallon bucket into an organized tool carrier with the ability to transport parts and materials, catch leaks, and double as a step stool if needed. Their shape also makes them perfect for longer tools like pipe and crescent wrenches.

2. Pipe Wrench

No plumbing tool list would be complete without a quality pipe wrench! Professionals stick to RIDGID brand plumber wrenches because of their excellent performance and durability. RIDGID also covers their products with a lifetime warranty against defects in material or workmanship for the life of the tool.

If you want something light and easy to carry around, splurge for the aluminum version. If you are only going to swing one of these tools around once in a blue moon, stick to the standard steel version. 12″ or 14″ sizes will give you enough grunt for most household repairs and won’t take up too much real estate in your tool bucket. Don’t forget to by a pair of these if you don’t have a trusty set of pliers to back-up your work.

3. Channel Lock Pliers

Channellock pliers have been the industry standard for a long time and have become synonymous with groove joint pliers. Their right angle, undercut tongue and groove design won’t slip and will last longer. Channellock uses high-carbon steel for superior performance and is specially coated for ultimate rust prevention.

With Channellock iconic blue grips for comfort, no pipe or fitting is too stubborn to break loose. Do yourself a favor and grab a multipack of sizes so you are never left looking for the right size.

If time is of the essence for you, quick adjusting pliers are built for speed and ease of use. No fumbling with tongue and groove pliers, just click and set it to the size you need.

4. Crescent Wrench

Stubborn nuts, bolts, and plumbing fittings fear the original adjustable wrench. A large knurl allows for easy adjustment and a tight-fitting hex jaw design reduces slippage for secure operation. Whenever possible, splurge for the cushion grip models which increase ergonomics, comfort, and reduces fatigue. Plus, the plastic grip prevents damage to working services in case you lose your grip or drop it accidentally.

Working in close quarters where space is limited, like underneath a sink or behind a toilet? Opt for wide-mouth wrenches that can fit in tight spaces with their shorter handles.

Channellock Wide Mouth Adjustable Wrench

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12/18/2023 04:30 pm GMT

5. Screwdriver Set

No toolset is complete without screwdrivers. Phillips screwdrivers for removing finish trim and tighten fasteners and slotted for prying and chiselling. Tight spaces and needing extra reach necessitate a variety of lengths depending on the situation.

If you are limited in what you can fit in your tool bag a multiple-bit screwdriver is best. Our favorite for years has been from Picquic. This screwdriver not only saves space with seven bits stored in the handle but time as well because it doubles as a nut driver using the two most common sizes for gear clamps and other plumbing fasteners.

Picquick Multi Bit Screwdriver

$19.91

A Complete Set In One Handle

This screwdriver is a plumber's dream! It has instant storage of all the common fasteners and 2 nut drivers for maximum convenience.

The solid handle and quality craftsmanship will give you years of use!

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12/18/2023 03:38 pm GMT

6. Bubble Level

Water flows downhill, simple right? To ensure your plumbing is graded in the right direction it needs to be checked with a level. The majority of the time, bigger isn’t better. A small and compact “torpedo” style level is more than enough to inspect grade and vertical plumb.

You want a level with super-handy magnetic capabilities and that also has dual pitch vials that allow you to quickly check pitch and grade. A grooved design provides stability around the curved surface pipes and fittings.

Armed with a trusty level you don’t have to “guesstimate” grade with your eyeball anymore.

7. Flashlight

You can’t plumb what you can’t see. When you are cramming your head and shoulders underneath a kitchen sink or in a crawl space looking for a leak illumination is critical.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to choosing your torch; handheld or headlamp. Both have their pros and cons. Flashlights are great for inspecting and lighting up workspaces but headlamps free-up both your hands to work. Whichever style works best for you, pick LED bulbs for brightness and battery size that is common or rechargeable.

We recommend the Maglite Mini because of its durability, super bright LED, and beam focus. Its small enough to fit in tight spaces and can be held in my mouth with ease if I need an extra hand.

Multifunction Flashlight

You can turn this flashlight into a lantern by unscrewing the bezel and using it as a base. Perfect for when you need a hands-free setup in a vanity or under a sink!

8. Allen Wrenches

You’d be surprised how many plumbing repairs require a set of Allen Wrenches or Hex Keys. Set screws, tub fillers, trim fasteners, faucet handles all use hexagonal sockets.

Get yourself a set of SAE and Metric wrenches so you’re prepared no matter which style a plumbing manufacturer chooses. If you are the plumber who is prone to losing tiny tools, consider wrenches that come in a hard case to keep you organized. Also, pick a set made of quality steel so you don’t strip any of the smaller fasteners.

9. Pipe Cutters

Last but not least is tubing cutters. If you had to walk into a job with only one way to cut pipe, this would a great choice. Tubing cutters can be used to cut all kinds of pipe like PVC, CPVC, ABS, copper, and steel to name a few.

With a sharp blade, tubing cutters make quick work of slicing straight through the pipe without burrs or jagged edges. And much more efficient and consistent cuts when compared to a typical hacksaw.

Make sure you choose a tubing cutter that has the jaw capacity to match the size of pipe you wish to cut. A cutting capacity fo 2 5/8″ should be able to handle most plumbing projects.

You’re Just Getting Started

A lot of hardware stores will have a ton of tools they say you absolutely need to get the job done. And you may find other plumbing tools later on that you can’t live without. We all have our own ways of handling plumbing repairs and maintenance with little tweaks here and there to reach the same end goal: a clean flowing, healthy plumbing.

You’ll certainly add to your stock of plumbing tools as you become a more seasoned plumber or DIY’er. That’s the best part, more tools to play with! Just make sure you have the essentials to keep your plumbing flowing, and you’ll get a lot more years of trouble-free service out of your plumbing investment. And isn’t that the way it should be?

Happy Plumbing!

Trevor Woods is the founder of Plumb University® and he started in the plumbing and construction industry in 1997. Since then, his mission is to make plumbing repair and maintenance easy for everyone. And each year, he continues to help more people with their plumbing installation, care, and troubleshooting.