Plumbers are some of the most important people in the construction industry. They work across residential buildings and business spaces to install and maintain hot and cold water systems. This ranges from clearing drains and fixing toilets and taps to fitting complex central heating systems.
The jobs involved are vastly varied, unpredictable, and can be extremely urgent. This means that it is vital for you to carry the essential equipment for plumbers with you at all times and understand how and when to use each piece of kit.
Cleaning and clearing
One of the less glamorous but absolutely necessary plumbing jobs is drain and sink cleaning. Narrow and curved pipes can easily become blocked, especially if they are subjected to daily use in the bathroom.
You can use plungers to unblock toilets and drains. The suction motion works to release the pressure so that the water and grime can rise to the top of the pipe. Drain rods and snakes are also useful pieces of kit for unclogging as they can be used to target unreachable sections of the pipe and clear any obstructions.
Pipework tasks
Plumbing on whatever scale involves a network of pipes, so many typical plumbing tasks revolve around pipework. This might include connecting fixtures to a mains water supply and shaping pipes to be the right size.
Pipe cutters are needed to make clean incisions in the pipes. Make sure to get a model that can cut through varied materials as pipes are typically brass, copper, or plastic. You can find manual or electrical cutters depending on your preference.
Before starting any pipework jobs, make sure that you are carrying suitable adhesives like pipe sealants that will prevent any leaks. You may also need pipe benders which can create a smooth curve in a metal pipe.
Tool kit basics
You never know what you’re going to have to face with a plumbing job, so it’s important that your tool kit basics cover a wide range of tasks.
Most essential are pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers and spanners for loosening and tightening nuts and bolts. Adjustable options will take up less space in your bag but give you the flexibility to tackle fittings of different shapes and sizes. You can also get non-slip and hardened-teeth varieties.
Specialist gear
You will also need to deal with freezing and melting as a plumber. A simple freezing spray enables you to work on pipes without having to drain the system, while soldering and brazing tools are needed to finish off copper pipework.
Finally, don’t forget about your test kits. Pressure testing helps you to evaluate what is going on within pipework, particularly useful for identifying leaks. Those working with pipes that are connected to gas should also carry a u-gauge manometer and leak detection fluid to ensure safety.
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