1) Streamlining workflows and business operations.
2) Making sure your plumbers have the right plumbing tools for the job.
Not only do professional tools help staff work faster and achieve better results, but they also keep your employees safe.
By nature, plumbers must handle rusted bolts and rounded nuts, so the right tools are essential to minimize safety hazards and avoid serious injury. As a business owner, it’s vital to make sure your staff can overcome any possible challenges on site, especially when working in tight spaces and under tricky time constraints.
When you provide the right plumbing tools, your plumbers feel confident and work better, customers are happy and perceive your brand as reliable for quality services, and your reputation thrives.
Give your plumbers a well-stocked toolkit and incorporate a user-friendly plumbing business management software, and productivity will skyrocket. Let’s see what tools and equipment your plumbers should carry in their toolkits to make the magic happen.
Plumbing wrenches
Wrenches are pillar tools for your plumbers, and having all types on hand is a must for handling a variety of plumbing issues. Your plumbers should make a habit of bringing several wrenches to a site to make sure they are prepared for any scenario and are equipped to complete the job successfully. Here are the plumbing wrenches you need to include in your toolkit.
1. Pipe wrench
The pipe wrench is the largest in the kit and helps plumbers tighten and loosen nuts and fittings on pipework. As a guideline, plumbers typically need two pipe wrenches for a job: one to hold the pipe in place and the other to rotate the nut or fitting in the right direction.
Pipe wrenches come in various lengths — you’ll want to order a complete set so that your plumbers are prepared for any situation.
2. Adjustable wrench
The adjustable wrench is used for tightening and loosening hexagonal nuts and fittings on pipes. Like most plumbing tools, this one comes in multiple sizes, so you should get a variety to facilitate work on site. As a guideline, the most popular adjustable versions measure 6 in. and 10 in.
3. Basin wrench
The T-shaped basin wrench (also known as a sink wrench) comes in handy when you need to work on faucets or flexible supply tube nuts in hard-to-reach places. It’s essential to have one of these for work in tight spaces, such as behind the sink.
4. Faucet key
A faucet key isn’t a wrench but a small X-shaped tool used to open and close spigots and sillcocks to control water flow. Each of the four ends fits a different square valve stem in the commonly found sizes of 1/4 in., 9/32 in., 5/16 in., and 11/32 in.
5. Internal pipe wrench
The internal pipe wrench is another plumbing tool that shouldn’t be missing from your toolkit. It’s necessary when working with rusted galvanized pipes. Plumbers use it to remove old fittings and nipples without leaving rusted threads stuck in the fitting.
Depending on the plumber and the type of intervention scheduled, you might have to invest in other kinds of wrenches. However, these five should be enough to get you started.
2. Pipe work tools
Plumbers work with pipes, so they need various tools to cut, fix, replace, and install them in the right places. Let’s see what makes the essential toolkit when it comes to these types of jobs.
6. Hacksaw
Plumbers should always carry a hacksaw and spare blades if they need to cut through metal or plastic pipes. If necessary, this tool can also be used to cut through wood.
7. Tubing cutters
Resizing pipes is part of a plumber’s daily routine, so having tube and plastic pipe cutters on hand is essential to complete almost any job. These tools come in various sizes, so you may want to have multiple versions available for your plumbers.
8. Hole saw kit
For more complex interventions, plumbers need to make holes in wooden studs, plasterboard, plastic, and sometimes even metal. A hole saw speeds up the process and enables plumbers to work faster and obtain precise results with minimal damage.
9. Plumber’s torch
A plumber’s torch is a relatively small, handheld tool that allows plumbers to apply intense heat in a specific area. It’s useful when they need to solder and seal new piping.
10. Pliers
Pliers are as standard as wrenches in any plumber’s toolkit. They serve to loosen and tighten nuts and bolts. They’re smaller than wrenches, which makes them ideal for use in tight spaces.
11. Hand auger
A hand auger (also called the plumber’s snake) is a circular device used for clearing drains. The hand-operated tool enables a plumber to quickly guide a cable down the drain and remove clogs obstructing a pipe, sink, shower, or tube.
12. Hydro jetting machine
The hydro jetting machine is a more robust alternative to the plumber’s snake. When handling problematic blockages, it’s necessary to use this type of machine to clear clogs and debris using 4000 PSI of water pressure without damaging the pipes.
13. Consumables
Ensure that your teams always carry materials like Teflon tape, thread-sealing tape, soldering paste and wire, sandpaper, and other consumables that facilitate interventions.
3. Safety equipment
For health and safety reasons, you and your staff should wear the right equipment while completing jobs on site. While plumbing isn’t necessarily dangerous, proper equipment is necessary to eliminate hazards.
14. Gloves
Add in your plumbers’ toolkits several heavy-duty gloves and encourage them to protect their hands. Gloves allow plumbers to avoid injuries and maintain a better grip when working with slippery tools.
15. Heat shields
When plumbers need to solder pipes, make sure they use essential safety equipment to protect themselves and the property where they operate. Heat shields are a must in any toolkit that includes a plumber’s torch.
16. Appropriate eyewear
Lightweight safety glasses protect you and your team from incidents in all circumstances. By encouraging your staff to wear personal protective equipment, you show them that you care about their health and safety, and protect your business while doing so.
4. Business tools
A job well done is essential for your reputation, but so is an excellent user experience from start to finish. That’s why, besides wrenches, pliers, and cutters, you need to provide your teams with the right tools to manage customer relationships on site.
To increase productivity, you should take your plumbing business digital with comprehensive but user-friendly plumbing business management software. It’ll allow you and your team to complete administrative tasks in seconds and communicate professionally and effectively with clients.
17. Mobile devices
When you use plumbing business management software, your employees should access it from mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets. This way, they can see appointments in real-time, send notifications, create invoices, and even receive payments on site, with no need for paper documents.
Plumbing business software allows you to:
- Schedule jobs in your calendar whenever clients book appointments online.
- Create workflows that automate communications with clients before and after jobs.
- Generate estimates and invoices automatically and remotely.
- Collect payments instantly.
- Track teams in the field and optimize routes for increased efficiency.
Adopting plumbing business software is a cost-effective way to automate time-consuming tasks that cause additional stress and bottlenecks for your employees. Moreover, by creating practical, paper-free processes, you improve customer experience and establish yourself as a professional business owner.
What’s next?
Innovative equipment is crucial for increasing business efficiency and delighting your clients every time you get hired. Whether you have a new plumbing business or are an established professional in the industry, you increase the risk of hazards and missed business opportunities without the right plumbing tools and equipment. Few things scream unprofessional services as loud as a plumber who can’t complete a job due to a lack of tools or a client who can’t pay for a job because your business doesn’t accommodate convenient payment options.
On the other hand, when you and your teams work with the best plumbing tools, employees are satisfied, and productivity increases. It’s the best approach to provide an excellent user experience for all your clients and improve customer retention.
