The pipe wrench serves as a plumber's largest wrench. Plumbers use these heavy tools to tighten and loosen nuts and fittings on pipework. They typically use two of these wrenches together — one to hold a pipe in place and the other to rotate the nut or fitting in the appropriate direction.
Standard plumbing tools include plungers, hacksaws, cutters, pliers, augers, and wrenches. Exploring the right materials for your specialization is also essential in developing your plumbing business. Choosing the suitable materials depends on the particulars of the job at hand.
Essential supplies for a successful plumber include pipework tools, wrenches, pliers, drain tools and select power tools. Your role as a plumber serves various purposes as you face new challenges. From finding and fixing leaks to installing water heaters, each day on the job differs.
Needle-nose and tongue-in-groove pliers, for instance, are the most common among plumbers' tools. Needle-nose pliers are handy because their narrow, pointed form can access hard-to-reach places. Tongue-in-groove pliers adjust to fit nearly any object. You can slide its jaw and lock it in place.
Adjustable Wrench. The 6 and 10-inch versions are the most common for plumbing jobs. Pipe Wrench. Plumbers typically use two of these wrenches together; one to hold a pipe in place, and the other to rotate the nut or fitting in the appropriate direction.
The most commonly used types of pliers by plumbers are slip-joint pliers, needle-nose pliers, and tongue-and-groove pliers. Slip-joint pliers have adjustable jaws that can be adjusted to grip different sizes of nuts and bolts. They are also useful for gripping pipes and fixtures when plumbing repairs need to be made.
Plumbers install and repair water, gas, and other piping systems in homes, businesses, and factories. They install plumbing fixtures, such as bathtubs and toilets, and appliances, such as dishwashers and water heaters.
Brown Friday FAQ
Black Friday, or as plumbers often call it, Brown Friday, is the busiest day of the year for plumbers because people often overuse their plumbing system during the Thanksgiving holiday.
In addition to great plumbing skills, you'll need good tools if you want to offer consistent, high-quality service to your customers. Brands like Bosch, Milwaukee, Makita, Evolution, and Dewalt have served professionals well for many years, so they are excellent choices.
Pliers. Like wrenches, plumbers use pliers (also called water pump pliers) every day. These specialty tools are among the best tools for plumbers because they allow professionals to loosen and tighten nuts and bolts too small for a wrench to grip.
Working in Tight Spaces
Pipes, boilers, and drain lines are usually hidden in walls, floors, and crawl spaces. This is bad news for the plumber, who must squeeze into tight spaces to reach a leaking pipe, clogged elbow, or broken valve.
You might be surprised by this new class of millionaires: Plumbers and HVAC entrepreneurs. How are they doing this? Private equity firms across the country are scooping up plumbing and HVAC businesses and offering them 7 or 8 figure buyouts.
Pipe Wrench:
A pipe wrench is a classic plumbing tool recognizable by its distinctive toothed jaw. It's used for gripping and turning threaded pipes and fittings. To use it, place the wrench's jaw on the pipe or fitting and turn it in the direction you want to tighten or loosen.
Specialized Skills: Plumbing is a specialized field that requires specific technical knowledge and expertise. Plumbers often undergo extensive training and certification programs to become licensed professionals. As such, their skills are highly valued in the market, which can contribute to higher salaries.
What Is The Average Age Of A Plumber? The average age of a male plumber in the United States is 41 years old, based on information from Data USA. Meanwhile, the typical age of a female service plumber is 40 years old.
The nation celebrates "Hug a Plumber Day" on April 25 every year to acknowledge the men and women who perform the difficult-- and often unpleasant--tasks of keeping our plumbing systems clean and functional. As the holiday's name implies, people are encouraged to hug plumbers as signs of gratitude.
The best Plumbing jobs can pay up to $107,000 per year.
These are typically for industrial operations, such as at manufacturing or power plants or gas pipelines. Steamfitters perform similar jobs, installing, maintaining and repairing piping that carries steam or other pressurized materials.
In 2024, the average annual salary for plumbers in the US is $63,215. That's not too shabby, especially considering it's above the national median for all occupations. This figure, however, comes with a range. Plumbers can expect to earn anywhere from $29,500 on the low end to $100,000 on the high end.
In the United States, the average wage for a plumber is $28.79 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which comes out to around $59,880 per year.
Plumbers commonly use slip-joint pliers, needle-nose pliers, and tongue-and-groove pliers. Slip-joint pliers, with their adjustable jaws, are perfect for gripping various sizes of nuts, bolts, and pipes. Needle-nose pliers, with their long, slender design, allow for precision in tight spaces.
Makita. Makita is a global leader in the power tools market, providing high-quality equipment to tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts alike. While Makita's product range is broad, many professional plumbers swear by the company's tools.
Like the Cobra®, the Alligator® has self-clamping properties on pipes and nuts, which prevents slipping off the workpiece and saves effort. However, it has fewer setting positions - compared to the 25 locking positions of the Cobra® at 250 mm, the Alligator® only has 9.