Plumbing Tool Essentials for Beginners | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows the basic tools required for most plumbing projects.

Cost: $10 and Up

Skill Level: Beginner

Tools List for Beginning Plumbers:
Water Pump Pliers
Adjustable Open End Wrench
Basin Wrench
4-in-1 screwdriver
Plunger
Closet Auger
Plumbing snake

Steps:
1. Richard recommends labeling the main water shut off valve to make it easy to locate in an emergency.
2. Water pump pliers are a good multi-purpose plumbing tool. Richard recommends selecting a pair that opens wide enough.
3. An adjustable open end wrench allows for tightening and loosening without leaving behind marks.
4. A basin wrench allows facuet nuts that are hard to access to be loosened and tightened.
5. A screwdriver with multiple tips allows one tool to be used for many applications.
6. A plunger is useful for clearing stopped toilets.
7. For more difficult clogs, a closet auger can be used in toilets.
8. A plumbing snake can clear clogged drain pipes.
9. Identify a local plumber that can be called in an emergency.

Resources:
All of the tools and material used can be found at a home center or plumbing supply store.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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Plumbing Tool Essentials for Beginners | Ask This Old House

[corygriffiths]

I use the Knipex pliers instead of the channel locks the good thing about the Knipex pliers is they’re self locking making it easier channel locks don’t have that self locking feature if you can afford them get a pair of Knipex pliers their the best.

[Mixwell]

If you have compression fitting shutoff valves for your water lines a 1/2" ferrule puller is a must along with a basin wrench and valve seat wrenches. Those are my 3 "specialty" plumbing tools.. A drain snake is a no brainer also.

[PaperBagMedia]

I know how to properly use a plunger blown.

[manojmago]

you guys are wonderful...please keep it up...thanks to all team

[myothercarisadelorean]

@3:15 I'm a property manager at a new property. 7 unit apartment complex. Nothing crazy. Just had a family move in with a toddler. By day 2 they had already caused plumbing damage. Plumber came out to snake the pipe with that same auger and yanked out a wad of baby wipes. 😡 That clog caused the washing machine drain to backup and flood our laundry room.

[PlumbingPartsPro]

Awesome video. I cant think of any other tools needed for s home

[diracflux]

Over where I live (Australia), anything beyond changing a washer or a shower head is illegal and requires a licensed plumber, hence plumbers charge a fortune assuming you can get one, and many people therefore are forced to learn how to DIY this stuff anyway due to budget constraints :) Thanks for the vid.

[thomream]

Steve and Rich (and the other guys) have helped me multiple times over the years. Sometimes I think they should send me a bill.
But I'm glad they don't!

[diegovaler]

makes a video of the new ridgid telescopic wrench for plumbers

[CharleyThePlumber]

Basin wrench...great tool but a lot of people struggle using them for some reason

[dandeleona]

DIYers need mneumonics for direction of turn ... if there are any. We all know right tighty but up under a sink I broke the brass nut with that and made the repair worse. Same with backside of a pipe or upside down main shutoff gate valve, when direction might not be intuitive. Nothing worse than keep turning thinking it's just scale in the way when it's actually brass or pvc threads and you're over tightening. Sure, if we did this kind of work on a daily basis it would be simple, but mostly it's emergency type stuff and we're rattled to start. A ball valve is nice because 'cross it off' is a good mneumonic, and a single 1/4 turn is proof either way. The handle in a 'cross' configuration closes everything from furnace duct baffles to water pipes. Any tips or tricks?

[RubbinRobbin]

I guess I'll have to add a closet auger if I ever stop eating veggies.

[Mareds]

Olá bom dia amigão

Eu me chamo Edson Cunha e também tenho um canal no YouTube, estou sempre te acompanhando, e o trabalho de vocês fantástico, e muito bem explicado!! Ok mas é isso aí desejo boa sorte, e que G.'.A.'.D.'.U abençoe a todos! Abraço do Edson mareds

[Andrew]

What sizes are the the Channel locks, large adjustable wrench and basin wrench? I enjoyed the video.

[evenflow]

You can do everything with a screw driver and channel locks

[jairperez]

When he said to pull it out at 2:26 I was like “Fu*k that I’m not getting water with sh*t all over my face

[eosjoe]

They make a version of those slip pliers with smooth jaws so as to not mar the fittings.

[qaswed]

put chicken in the garbage disposal and now both the kitchen sink and the bathroom sink water in the apartment backs up into the bathtub

[michaelmitroff]

How did you check a tweet on a iMac that is turned off and not plugged in?

[ravengsxr]

House has a pvc main shutoff. Is this really bad.