Which Tools Are Most Common to Plumbing?
The plumbing job is essential to any building infrastructure: it provides access to clean water and facilitates sanitation and waste removal. Above all, plumbing helps kitchens and bathrooms serve their functional purposes. Like most trades, plumbing requires various tools in order to complete pipe installations and repairs, among other tasks.
Whether one is a seasoned professional plumber or a beginner training as an apprentice, there are essential tools you’ll need to undertake a plumbing project. This article provides insights into the essential and common plumbing tools professionals and DIY enthusiasts in this field require.
6 Essential and Common Tools in Plumbing
1. Pipe Cutter
Regardless of the type of tubing/material (copper, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, PVC, PEX) you work with, you’ll need a pipe cutter in a plumbing job, especially where you need to cut or resize pipe for installation and repairs. For this reason, a pipe cutter is an essential tool required in plumbing jobs to make precise and clean cuts. It can be a simple handheld tool or a battery-powered cutter.
Often, a certain pipe cutter is designed to cut a specific type of material, but some are versatile and cut different types of materials. For instance, the iCrimp PPR-SY Pipe Cutter is strictly designed to cut PEX tubing only. However, the iCrimp CT-532 Pipe Cutter can cut aluminum, brass, copper, steel, and PVC tubing.
2. Plunger
One of the common tasks plumbers have to undertake, especially in repair jobs, is to clear clogs encountered in pipes connected to toilets, bathtubs, kitchen sinks, and floor drains. A plunger is a simple yet effective tool for this kind of work in plumbing. It’s designed with a rubber suction cup that creates a seal over the drain or pipe, enabling one to apply pressure and force the blockage/clogs to move.
Plungers are of different types, and each is designed for specific applications.
3. Crimping tools
A crimping tool is another common tool used in plumbing to create watertight seals in copper and PEX piping systems during installation or repairs. It’s a unique set of jaws that apply pressure on crimp rings to create crimp connections between the pipe and a fitting. You’re probably wondering why crimping tools are essential to plumbers. They create secure connections, and crimping is relatively quick and efficient. Above all, it doesn’t involve open flame.
An example of an ideal crimping tool is the iCrimp IWS-FAS PEX Pipe Crimping Tool.
Read more: What is a Crimper in Plumbing?
4. Wrenches
A plumbing tool collection can never be complete without wrenches: wrenches are indispensable tools in plumbing. They are designed to grip, fasten, and turn pipes, fittings, bolts, and nuts on pipework. Wrenches are of different types (pipe wrench, adjustable wrench, basin wrench, faucet key, etc.) and sizes and are used in various applications. For instance, an adjustable wrench provides a strong grip and makes it easy to tighten and loosen threaded pipes of different sizes. On the other hand, a basin wrench is specifically meant to work with nuts on faucets.
5. PEX Pipe Expanders
A PEX pipe expander is a critical tool needed in plumbing jobs that involve installing and repairing PEX tubing (specifically PEX A tubing). This tool helps expand/enlarge an end of a PEX tubing to allow space to insert PEX fittings to create a water connection. Pipe expanders are often an alternative to crimping tools when using PEX tubing. Besides, using an expander is a faster way of creating PEX pipe connections.
Often, PEX pipe expanders can be electric or hand-operated. An excellent example of a PEX pipe expander is the iCrimp IWS-1960D/34 PEX Expansion Tool.
Read more: What is the Best PEX Connection Method?
6. Plumber’s Tape
A sealing or plumber’s tape is another significant and common thing in plumbing. It’s used to prevent possible leaks at threaded joint connections in pipework to create watertight seals.
Bottom line
Plumbing projects depend on a wide range of tools. However, the above-listed tools are common and essential in nearly all plumbing jobs undertaken by professional plumbers and DIY enthusiasts. Each of these tools serves a specific purpose in installing and maintaining piping systems.
With iCrimp, you can access the right, affordable, quality plumbing tools for your projects, primarily if you work with copper and PEX tubing. Such tools include crimpers, pipe expanders, PEX removal tools, pipe cutters, and copper tubing press tools.
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