Household repairs don’t get much more infuriatingly unexpected than a plumbing problem. Sure, calling in a pro is sometimes necessary, but many of these little plumbing problems can indeed be handled on your own—if you happen to have the right plumbing supplies. Keeping your house equipped with the essential tools and materials will pay off in saved time and money, and it will spare you much frustration when those minor leaks or clogs pop up out of the blue.

Here is a rundown of all the plumbing tools you may ever need as a homeowner to accomplish most of the common household repairs.

1. Adjustable Wrenches: The Basics for Every Toolkit

Arguably, one of the handiest utilities you can own is an adjustable wrench. For everything from loosening faucet connections to the tightening of plumbing joints, you’ll have just the tool—adjustable wrenches.

• Why You Need It: Plumbing often requires you to make adjustments to various-sized nuts and bolts, and an adjustable wrench can be resized in a breeze to accommodate the various fittings and pipes.
• Pro Tip: Have one large and one small adjustable wrench on hand for everything from leaky sinks to shower head tightens.

2. Plumber’s Tape: A Leak Prevention Essential

Also known as Teflon tape, the plumber’s tape is a thin, flexible material that is wrapped around the pipe threads in order to create a watertight seal. Such tape is required to prevent leaks around joints and fittings.

• Why You Need It: Whether setting up new faucets or repairing the old ones, plumber’s tape ensures you get a tight seal so that water does not leak through the most important areas.
• Pro Tip: Always have some plumber’s tape in the house for those on-the-spot fixes when you need to seal pipe threads or shower heads.

3. Plungers: Not Just for the Toilet

Every homeowner knows having a plunger handy is key when toilets get clogged, but few know there are plungers for sinks and showers as well.

• Why You Need It: A plunger is the first line of defense against minor clogs, saving you from using harsh chemical drain cleaners.
• Pro Tip: Invest in a cup plunger for sinks and showers, and have a separate flange plunger just for toilets to maximize your unclogging power.

4. Pipe Wrenches: The Heavy-Duty Tool for Stubborn Pipes

When a little extra torque is required for loosening or tightening of larger pipes, it’s time to get a pipe wrench. Unlike adjustable wrenches, pipe wrenches provide more leverage, so they’re ideal for larger plumbing tasks.

• Why You Need It: Pipe wrenches are indispensable in any form of work with metal pipes, such as in older homes, for their serrated jaws securely clench down to make powerful turns.
• Pro Tip: Always keep two pipe wrenches in your toolkit for working with threaded pipes. One will hold the pipe and the other will be used for turning the pipe.

5. Drain Snake: Your Best Friend in Unclogging Drains

Sinks, showers, and bathtubs get clogged; it is something that happens. With a drain snake, or an auger, even the trickiest blockages will easily be defeated without involving a plumber.

• Why You Need It: Drain snakes are flexible, enabling them to go deep into your pipes to dislodge clogs that a plunger cannot handle. They work best for clogs caused by hair, soap scum, and debris.
• Pro Tip: Use a hand-crank drain snake for deeper clogs and invest in a smaller, more portable version for quick fixes in bathroom sinks or kitchen drains.

6. Pipe Sealant: Extra Protection for Leaks

Whereas plumber’s tape is excellent for sealing joints, a pipe sealant—also called pipe dope—offers added security for larger plumbing projects and leaky areas.

• Why You Need It: The pipe sealant works to ensure the threaded connections remain leak-free over time, especially in systems under high pressure or temperature.
• Pro Tip: Opt for a non-hardening sealant, which will make removal and future adjustments of plumbing joints more accessible.

7. Basin Wrench: For Attacking Tight Spaces

The basin wrench is a specialty tool designed just for those hard-to-reach nuts under sinks. A long handle and pivoting jaw allow it to be used in tightening or loosening nuts that fall in confined areas.

• Why You Need It: It is a tool needed in the installation of faucets or their repairs, especially at instances where access is limited and when a normal wrench won’t fit.
• Pro Tip: Save your sanity on faucet installation and repairs with a basin wrench that allows you to study those hard-to-reach connections easily.

Conclusion: Be Prepared with the Right Plumbing Supplies

It’s amazing how having the right plumbing supplies on hand can turn what would otherwise be a traumatic situation into an easy-to-handle DIY project. Stock up your home with these essentials, and you should be better equipped to handle minor issues before they become major ones.

For more about home improvement at Fibahub—your one-stop-shop for everything about home repairs, renovations, and practical Do-It-Yourself solutions.