I've been a plumber for 25 years, and my truck carries thousands of dollars in specialized tools. But you don't need a professional toolkit to handle basic plumbing tasks and emergencies at home. A few hundred dollars' worth of essential tools can save you thousands in emergency service calls and give you the confidence to handle many common issues yourself.
Here's what I recommend every Birmingham homeowner keep on hand—not to become a DIY plumber, but to handle the small stuff and minimize damage during emergencies while waiting for professional help.
Essential Tools (Must-Haves)
Quality Plunger ($15-25)
Get TWO plungers: one for toilets (with an extended flange) and one for sinks/tubs (flat cup style). Never use the same plunger for both—that's unsanitary.
What to buy: Look for one with a thick rubber cup and a sturdy handle. Cheap plungers are flimsy and don't create a good seal.
Adjustable Wrench (10" or 12") ($20-30)
This opens and closes to fit different nut sizes. You'll use this for tightening supply lines, removing P-traps, working on toilet tank bolts, and dozens of other tasks.
What to buy: Channellock or Crescent brand. A 10" size handles most home plumbing tasks. Buy a quality one—cheap adjustable wrenches slip and round off nuts.
Tongue-and-Groove Pliers ($25-40)
Also called Channellock pliers (after the brand name). These adjust to grip large pipes and fixtures. Invaluable for tightening slip nuts, holding pipes while you work, and gripping round objects.
What to buy: Get a 10" pair for general use. Channellock is the standard brand, but Knipex makes excellent ones too.
Manual Drain Snake (25') ($20-40)
A flexible cable that reaches clogs deep in drains. Way more effective than chemical drain cleaners and won't damage your pipes.
What to buy: A drum-style hand snake with at least 25 feet of cable. Ridgid and Cobra make good ones. Avoid the cheap "zip-it" style for anything beyond surface hair clogs.
Pipe Wrench (14") ($30-50)
For gripping and turning threaded pipes. The serrated jaws bite into metal pipes to give you leverage. You need this for working on older galvanized or black iron pipes.
What to buy: A 14" Ridgid or Ridgid-style pipe wrench. Buy once, use forever.
Teflon Tape and Pipe Dope ($10 total)
Used to seal threaded pipe connections. Teflon tape (also called plumber's tape) wraps around threads. Pipe dope is a paste you apply to threads. Use both together for the best seal.
What to buy: White Teflon tape for most connections, yellow tape for gas lines. Any brand of pipe dope works fine.
Bucket (5-gallon) ($5)
Sounds obvious, but you'll use this constantly—catching water when you disconnect pipes, carrying tools, mixing solutions. Keep one dedicated to plumbing so you're not scrambling to find one at 10 PM when water is spraying.
Flashlight or Headlamp ($20-50)
Plumbing problems always seem to happen in dark, cramped spaces. A bright flashlight or hands-free headlamp is essential.
What to buy: An LED headlamp with adjustable brightness. Keep extra batteries on hand.
Nice-to-Have Tools (Upgrade Your Kit)
Basin Wrench ($15-25)
Specialized tool for reaching faucet nuts behind sinks. If you ever need to replace a faucet, this tool is worth its weight in gold.
Hacksaw ($15-20)
For cutting through old corroded pipes or bolts. Keep extra blades—you'll dull them cutting through rusted metal.
Tubing Cutter ($20-30)
Makes clean, square cuts on copper pipe. If you're working with copper supply lines, this gives much better results than a hacksaw.
Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum ($50-100)
When you have standing water from a leak or overflow, a shop vac is infinitely better than trying to mop it up. Also useful for clearing clogged drains.
Pipe Thread Sealant ($5)
Different from pipe dope—this is for permanent connections. Good to have if you're doing any threading work.
Faucet and Valve Repair Kit ($20-30)
Contains common O-rings, washers, and seals for fixing drippy faucets. Much cheaper than calling a plumber for a simple washer replacement.
Emergency Supplies to Keep On Hand
Towels and Rags (dedicated plumbing set)
When water is spreading, you need to act fast. Keep a stack of old towels just for plumbing emergencies.
Rubber Gloves (heavy duty)
For dealing with drains, sewage backups, or gross situations. Buy the heavy-duty kind that go up to your elbows.
Spare Hose Washers and Faucet Aerators
These wear out and leak. Having spares means you can fix a dripping hose or low-flow faucet in 2 minutes instead of making a special trip to the hardware store.
Toilet Flapper and Fill Valve
These fail eventually in every toilet. Having spares means you can fix a running toilet immediately instead of wasting hundreds of gallons while waiting to buy parts.
Need Professional Help?
Some jobs require professional equipment and experience. We're here when you need us, 24/7 throughout Birmingham.
Call (659) 233-6566