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What are the Different Types of Plumbing Equipment?
The different types of plumbing equipment include personal hand tools, consumable materials, and power tools and equipment for the shop or workplace. The simplest set of tools that you may have for basic plumbing jobs include an adjustable wrench, fire-resistant cloth, hacksaw, pipe wrench, pliers, plunger, propane torch, and safety glasses. These tools can be used to do basic work, such as unclogging a drain, changing a faucet or soldering two pipes together. More complex plumbing equipment may be required to do more complicated jobs.
Other plumbing tools that fall into the category of personal hand tools include Allen keys, a ball peen hammer, a caulking gun, chisels made of either cold or wood, a crow bar, and a drywall knife. Other types of hand tools include needle nose pliers, regular, multi tip, and stubby screw drivers, a sledge hammer, a socket set, a trowel, and different kinds of adjustable wrenches. Safety equipment includes safety gloves and earplugs. These different tools are used in a number of ways. For example, a crow bar and drywall knife can both be used to access plumbing behind walls in order to replace old, damaged or clogged pipes.
These personal hand tools are brought with a plumber when he does a specific job. The personal hand tools are plumbing equipment that can be used for job after job. There is no need to replace these items after use, and many of them are not specific to plumbing but are general equipment used in a multitude of construction jobs.
Consumable plumbing equipment, on the other hand, cannot generally be reused for multiple jobs as it is installed or consumed when used. Examples of consumable plumbing equipment include copper strapping, 50/50 solder, flux or soldering paste, plumber’s putty, silicone, Teflon tape, and various nails and screws. Once solder or tape is used to do a job, naturally it is used up and cannot be re-used again.
Finally, power tools are an example of the different types of plumbing equipment. These include augers, such as a closet, sewer, drill type, and medium auger. Drills that a plumber may use include a cordless drill with spare batteries and a hammer drill with concrete bits. Other power tools that a plumber may require include an electrical multi-meter, an inspection camera, a metal detector, a pipe freezer and a pipe thawer, reciprocating, jig, and circular saws, and welding and cutting equipment.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![Pipe fittings.]()
Pipe fittings. -
![Allen key set.]()
Allen key set. -
![A plumber may use a multimeter to measure electrical current.]()
By: pokchuA plumber may use a multimeter to measure electrical current. -
![Plumber's tape is generally used when joining two pipes together.]()
By: Bert FolsomPlumber's tape is generally used when joining two pipes together. -
![A caulking gun can be part of a plumber's needs.]()
By: auremarA caulking gun can be part of a plumber's needs. -
![A propane torch is a basic plumbing item.]()
By: ontebeotegA propane torch is a basic plumbing item. -
![Common equipment used by plumbers include handheld wrenches or ratchets.]()
By: Nomad_SoulCommon equipment used by plumbers include handheld wrenches or ratchets. -
![A hacksaw, which can cut through metal and plastic, is considered a useful tool for plumbing.]()
By: simonkrA hacksaw, which can cut through metal and plastic, is considered a useful tool for plumbing. -
![Pliers are useful when doing basic plumbing work.]()
By: charcomphotoPliers are useful when doing basic plumbing work. -
![PVC pipes are connected using a special solvent-based adhesive glue.]()
By: auremarPVC pipes are connected using a special solvent-based adhesive glue. -
![Wrench sets are typically considered standard items needed for plumbing jobs.]()
By: Anthony MaragouWrench sets are typically considered standard items needed for plumbing jobs.
Discussion Comments
@allenJo - When you look at this list you realize that there are a number of tools that are quite accessible to the consumer. I wouldn’t put a hacksaw at the top of the list (at least I wouldn’t recommend that you use it), but I would consider something like plumber’s putty.
It’s very useful. I’ve used it myself when I’ve had to deal with a leaking faucet. The putty is smooth and easy to mold, and when it dries it seals the faucet fine until I can get the plumber out to look at it.
I am not a plumber. But I believe that the most useful tool is the auger, the tool that unclogs your pipes. Obviously it’s not a sophisticated piece of equipment, but I think it’s the one that’s most often used in bathroom plumbing service calls.
I’ve used commercial liquids to unclog my pipes. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. But I have yet to see the auger fail to do its job, whether it was an auger that I was using or one used by a professional plumber. I like the fact that it’s easy enough for either the plumber or me to use too.
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