Plumbing Tools Buying Guide
Every home should have a basic DIY kit under the sink or in a convenient cupboard. Alongside the basics like a screwdriver set and a hammer for putting picture hooks in the wall, it makes a lot of sense to have some basic plumbing tools too. Getting a plumber out to resolve problems in your home can be costly, and if you have the tools at your disposal you can deal with an urgent issue right away rather than waiting for the plumber to arrive.
Radiator Bleed Key
This is one of the cheapest items which makes up a good plumbing DIY kit but one which is essential for the efficient running of your central heating system. Radiator bleed keys are used to loosen the valves at the top of your radiator to let air escape and water take its place. Doing this regularly ensures that your radiators heat up fully and aren’t cold in patches. You can expect to pay around £5 for a radiator bleed key.
Sink Plunger
Again a very simple and low-tech piece of equipment, a medium sized sink plunger can be used to deal with minor blockages or slow draining water from sinks or toilets. You can pick up a basic sink plunger for about £2, and it’s usually best to go for a medium plunger which can be used on drains of various sizes. Make sure that the round rubber bit is large enough to form a complete seal round the outside of the drain, then push gently to try to unblock the drain.
Adjustable Wrenches
An adjustable wrench can be used for many different plumbing tasks such as tightening up connections around leaking pipes, removing and replacing shower heads and many other jobs too. An adjustable wrench set can be bought for less than £10, but it’s usually better to buy a slightly more expensive wrench that will last a lifetime rather than skimping on a cheap wrench which might break and need replaced the first time you use it. Ask for advice in your plumb store or DIY outlet if you’re not sure about the best set to buy for your needs.
Pipe Cutters
If you’re going to start taking your plumbing DIY more seriously and are thinking about replacing pipes or adding new pipes, you’re going to need a pipe cutter. These are small circular tools which clip around the outside of the pipe and when the pipe is rotated, it gradually cuts the metal until the pipe breaks. Usually you’ll need a different pipe cutter for each diameter of pipe; 15mm, 22mm and 28mm. They’re not very expensive to buy at around £10 each, and make cutting pipes much easier than using a hacksaw as you try to hold the pipes still in a vice.
Pipe Bender
It’s unlikely that all of your pipes in the house are totally straight, and often you’re going to want to bend pipes to fit around a corner. The easiest way of doing this is with a pipe bender, which grips the pipe tightly and then you can use the handles to bend the copper pipes into shape using a former. Expect to pay between £30 and £40 for a good quality pipe bender, so this is really only a tool which you’re going to want to purchase if you’re planning on doing some regular plumbing work or are attempting a big project.
Drain Rod Kit
Plungers aren’t going to be enough to clear a blockage in external drains. For this job you’re going to need an extending drain rod kit, of the type used by the professional drain unblocking companies. A good quality set of drain rods will cost between £35 and £50 – cheap in comparison to calling out a company to try to solve the problem for you. The drain rods clip together to form one long, continuous rod which can then be fed through the drain until it reaches the blockage. Some of the more expensive types of rods include a jetwash function, enabling you to blast water at the obstruction once you’ve discovered where it is.
PTFE Tape
Also known as thread seal tape or plumber’s tape, this is a white translucent waterproof tape which is designed to wind around the threads of a pipe and form a watertight seal. It is used around joints to form a seal and stop any leaks developing. The tape is sold on a roll in a variety of widths. Don’t be tempted to substitute electrical tape or other types of tape for PFTE tape, especially when you consider that you can pick up a roll of PFTE tape for about 50p.
Spare Pipe
Most of the internal pipework in your home is likely to be the same dimensions, and it makes sense to have some spare pipe stashed in the garage so that in an emergency you’re not rushing around trying to buy the right size of pipe, or having to switch off the water completely until the stores re-open. The cheapest type of pipe to buy is the white plastic variety, and you can expect to less than £5 for a three metre length of 15mm white plastic pipe. Copper pipe is a bit more expensive, but will still cost less than £10 for the same length. Alternatively, if you have leftover pipe from a project don’t throw it out if there’s space to keep it.
Wire Wool Pads
Wire wool is used mainly for cleaning the end of copper pipes when you’re replacing lengths of pipe, or joining new pipes onto existing pipes. It’s the best thing to smooth the ends of the pipes and remove any little rough edges. Don’t be tempted to scrimp on steel wool by using soap filled pads which are designed to clean your pots and pans; you need the proper professional steel wool for this job. It’s not expensive either, with a single pad costing less than a pound and multipacks offering even better value.
