What to Get the Person Who Has Everything: Plumbing Edition

Fact: shopping for gifts can be quite a challenge, especially when it comes to that one particular recipient on your list who has everything. If you can’t think of what to get that special person in your life, then consider giving them some necessities instead. Plumbing tools and home equipment make excellent gifts that can serve people for the years to come.

Without further ado, here are five plumbing essentials everyone should have in their toolbox:

1. Hacksaw

You might wonder what on earth you’d ever need a hacksaw for in the bathroom, but you’d be surprised. Hacksaws can cut through pipes in a pinch and make home repairs much easier.

Just like a vehicle, a sink pipe doesn’t last forever and may need to be cut. Although a hacksaw will get the job done properly and could easily save your home (when used correctly), it’s best to call in a professional if you’re not entirely sure how to use this device.

Of course, if you happen to cut a pipe at the wrong angle, then you could cause flooding and expensive, irreversible damage (which will cost more than the hacksaw itself).

2. Tongue-and-Groove Pliers

These nifty devices are handy just about anywhere. The curved, multi-purpose jaws can twist, screw, tighten and loosen just about anything — which makes the perfect gift to have on hand if you need some assistance turning the water valve off underneath your sink, right before your plumber arrives.

3. Basin Wrench

If you’re ever fixing your bathroom sink, then you won’t want to do the job without a good basin wrench. Basin wrenches are a plumbing essential used on nuts in sink faucets. The long tool, with a curved clamp at the end, allows you to reach impossible spots with ease.

This is ideal to have in your toolbox if your sink fixture seems a bit looser than usual. However, if you’re not familiar with the anatomy of your sink, then you could wreak havoc on the fixture and cause damage. When you call a plumber in, they’ll be able to use this tool effortlessly, saving your sink in the long run.

4. Adjustable Wrench

Adjustable wrenches give you a firm grip on oddly shaped pipes, screws and more to make removal or installation a cinch. The jaws of an adjustable wrench are designed to apply just the right amount of pressure so you don’t wind up breaking or marring the brass/metal you’re working with.

Though wrenches are primarily used for plumbing problems, they’ll come in handy if you have other problems around the house, too. Certainly, if you do tighten a pipe or screw too hard, then this will become a rather expensive gift — since you’ll have to opt for a repair from a trusted professional to fix the problem at hand.

5. Closet Auger

Augers are typically drill bits used to go through drywall and other materials, but a closet auger is designed to act like a plumbing snake for clogged toilets. Rather than using your toilet plunger to release a blockage, the closet auger can easily clear out clogged pipes without leaving a scratch. But remember, this can be detrimental to your toilet if you use this device at the wrong angle.

Although these tools will make great holiday gifts, it is imperative to call a professional plumber to make repairs around your home, since using any of these toolbox essentials in the wrong manner can cause an extensive amount of damage to your plumbing.

If you run into any problems with your home’s plumbing, heating or cooling, and prefer to forgo the DIY route, our technicians are here to help! Visit our website to learn more about the services that we offer here at Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. or call (865) 583-3957 to speak with a representative directly.