Whether you consider yourself a DIY pro or not, there are certain tools that every homeowner should have on hand. Being confident you’ll be able to stem any sudden floods that come your way is a huge boon.  

Here are the six plumbing tools that will help you feel that confident. We think all homeowners should have these on hand–just in case.

A plunger

This one should be a given, but we’re not going to make the mistake of forgetting it. Plungers are essential. Imagine it: you’ve accidentally clogged a toilet. The water is rising fast. And there’s no plunger in sight. It could happen to you!

Here’s the most important suggestion in this blog: have two plungers. Keep one cup plunger for sinks and tubs, and one flange plunger for toilet clogs. It’s hard to overstate the importance of the simple plunger. Having one on hand could make all the difference.

A hand auger

A hand auger is a good thing to have for when a clog gets too intense for your plunger. A hand auger is a long, coiled metal wire connected to a hand crank. To use it, place the end of the wire in the drain and uncoil it using the hand crank.

As the wire uncoils, it pushes through the drain, clearing away clogs as it goes. When you have a clog that’s too much for your plunger, a hand auger is your best bet.

A high quality roll of duct tape

Duct tape is useful to have around in general, but it is especially helpful with plumbing because it’s water resistant. If you’ve notice a small leak, you can temporarily keep it from getting worse by wrapping duct tape around the leaking pipe.

Duct tape creates a tight, temporary, water-resistant seal. This seal will hold until you can bring professionals in to take care of fixing it long-term. Think of duct tape as a band-aid for your plumbing. It won’t actually solve the problem, but it’s great first aid!

A caulking gun

Spot-treating the caulking around your home shower or bath can be an easy-to-handle project for home plumbing DIY’ers.

If you’re going to do it, do it right! A home caulking gun will allow you to apply caulk smoothly and evenly.

A wrench set

There are a number of different wrenches that we recommend for anyone who expects to do some home plumbing. First and foremost, an adjustable wrench that can be used to handle hexagonal connections. A basin wrench can be used for handling nuts and getting into hard-to-reach places. A pipe wrench can be used when you need to get something handled quickly and efficiently.

Having all of these wrenches on-hand will ensure that you can reach any nuts and bolts you have to access.

A hacksaw

We hope you’ll never have to use this one, but it’s still handy to have around. A hacksaw is a handheld saw strong enough to cut through plastic or metal piping – or any plumbing fixture that gets in your way during an emergency.

A “Zip-It” Drain Cleaning Tool

Getting hair out of your drains is one of the great homeowner anxieties. Wet hair tangles and smells in the drain. The process of removing it is unpleasant enough that you put it off, or worse, use some noxious chemical cleaner. Hair in your drain will make your shower, sink, or bathtub less effective and less sanitary. Having an effective means of getting it out is important.

Enter the zip-it. A zip-it is a thin plastic wand measuring approximately 12-20 inches. It’s easy to work the flexible, soft polymer tool into the drain. At the top end there’s a handle for maneuvering the tool. From the handle down, sharp barbs stick out on either side of the wand.

Work the barbed end down into the drain. Move it around to dislodge and grab ahold of hair and other debris. Using the zip-it will only take take you a couple minutes, and you’ll pull out some pretty amazing stuff. Throw the zip-it away after using it. Zip-its usually come in packs of 6 to 24. You can find them at most hardware stores.  

Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

Tongue-and-groove pliers go by many names: water pump pliers, adjustable pliers, groove-joint pliers, and so on. They feature slip-joint pliers with serrated jaws and a pair of fixed, long handles. The handles are usually 9.5 to 12 inches long and include grips to improve control and ease of use.

Plumbers adjust tongue-and-groove pliers to grip and turn nuts and bolts from many positions. Plumbers often have to work in awkward positions, so these pliers are a big help.

The plier’s jaws can adjust to different sizes without changing the space between the handles. To adjust, slide the lower jaw along the tracking groove built into the upper jaw. Plumbers use the tongue-and-groove pliers to  get at fasteners that might otherwise be out-of-reach. They’re cheap, common, easy to use, and have a huge variety of applications, so they’re a great addition to your plumbing-preparedness kit.

Plumber’s Putty  

It’s difficult to install plumbing fixtures like drains without leaving gaps between the sink and fixture. Even the tiniest gap will let water drain out, which is obviously not something you want. The easiest and most effective way to reliably ensure leak-free plumbing is to apply plumber’s putty during installation.

Plumbers use this clay-based sealant by molding it and spread onto surfaces and appliances. During sink installations, for instance, the plumber typically rolls plumber’s putty into a long, thin ring. The installer places the ring is around the circumference of the hole at the sink’s base and presses it into the basin. Then, drain is placed into the putty until it fits snuggly with no gaps between the drain, the putty, and the hole. The putty repels water and fills in gaps between drain and sink, creating a watertight seal that allows no water to leak out of the sink instead of going down the drain.

Virtually all plumbing fixtures that need watertight seals to function properly, like drain lines, faucets, sinks, and valves, require plumber’s putty. It’s one of the most important tools to have around when doing plumbing maintenance or DIY projects of your own. You can find plumber’s putty cheap at any hardware store.

Hex Keys

Commonly called Allen keys or Allen wrenches, hex keys are a set of thin, L-shaped, single-piece metal wrenches of various sizes with hexagonal heads. Plumbers use them to fit six-sided bolts and screws called hex screws. Manufacturers commonly use hex screws in showerheads, garbage disposals, and lots of other plumbing fixtures. They come in a wide variety of sizes to be used in places that are difficult to access, which is why multiple hex keys are required.

The head of the hex key fits into the grooves on the hexagonal screw. You simply grip the straight portion of the wrench and apply the torque required to either loosen or tighten. If you run out of space to rotate the wrench, pull it out and replace it to give yourself leeway. If the tightening or loosening process proves difficult, it’s possible you’re using a wrench that’s too small. To figure out which hex key you should use, start with the smallest and work your way up until you find the right size.

Hex screws are common, so your hex keys will see a lot of use both in plumbing and other home repair projects. They’re cheap, durable, portable, and easy to find at any hardware store.

If you stock your toolbox with these tools, you’ll be prepared to handle just about any plumbing problem that comes your way. When trouble strikes, just remain calm, do a little research (we can help with that, too!), and remember: you’re prepared. And if the trouble turns out to be a bigger than you realized, don’t forget that we’ll always have your back. Good luck with your plumbing projects; you’ve got this.

Honestly, you probably won’t use these tools every single day. Trust us when we say that when you do need them, however, and that you’re going to be happy to have them.

Having these tools will help you at least keep any emergency plumbing problems you may encounter from getting any worse. After you’ve performed your plumbing first aid, you can always call on Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Dallas to finish the job.