Plumbing is a profession that requires a wide range of tools. This is because there are so many plumbing tasks, with most of them being very unique and specific. Because of this, special tools are often required for small parts of larger plumbing jobs.
One of the complex and unique plumbing tasks we specialize in is water system installation. If you are planning to install a hot water system, there are specific plumber’s tools that make the job much easier. Below is a list of some of the tools a water heater installer often uses.
Pipe Wrench
A pipe wrench is crucial for hot water system installation, as we are always dealing with metal pipes when installing these. We use a heavy-duty wrench to tighten joints. Pipe wrenches are adjustable and handle a range of pipe sizes. This is one of the essential tools for water system and plumbing installation work.
Cordless Drill
A cordless drill is another essential plumber’s tool. These drills have a wide range of applications during installation, including boring holes and driving in screws quickly so we can get to the next job sooner. Being cordless enables us to do installation even in places without power, as saves us time because we don’t need to mess around setting up cabling connections.
Cordless drills running on lithium-ion batteries so they stay charged for longed. They are commonly used on plumbing sites and you won’t find a hot water plumber without one.
Copper Tubing Cutter
Water heaters use copper pipes because they don’t rust and can hold hot water with no qualms. Cutting these pipes with the typical hacksaw however is quite difficult. That’s why a copper cutter is regularly needed. This is a special tool for cutting copper tubing using a sharp wheel and adjustable jaw grips. We use this cutter for cutting PVN and CPVC pipes as well.
Tape Measure
For complex plumbing projects such as hot water installations, measurements are crucial. That’s we always need to pack a tape measure as one of our essential tools. We do a lot of precise cutting of pipe, so this where a tape measure becomes very useful. Usually, we’re not measuring more than a few meters but sometimes we need a long measure for those odd jobs we get on occasion.
Plumber’s Tape
Plumber’s tape, also known as thread sealing tape, is a daily necessity as a hot water system installer and we go through a lot of it. Most hot water unit plumbers we know use Teflon Tape, although there are many other good types available on the market. This tape is wrapped around pipes’ threads to help seal the joint to prevent water leaks. It can also act as a lubricant during joint tightening.
Shifting Spanners
A shifting spanner also called an adjustable wrench or adjustable crescent, and is another key plumbers’ tool. During different types of hot water system installations these tools are used for loosening or tightening bolts and nuts. Since they’re adjustable, they can handle almost all water heater bolts and nuts sizes. A definite necessity not just for plumbers but for almost every type of tradie.
Multigrip Pliers
A plumber must have a few sets of pliers for their work, but multigrips are the most commonly used. Also known as tongue and groove pliers, they are great for getting a grip when wrenches can’t be used. The angled jaws enable us to get into tight spaces with ease, and grip on to the item we’re working on to make the rest of the task easier to handle.
Copper Benders
Last in our list of plumber’s tools we commonly used for a water heater installation is a copper bender. We regularly need to bend copper pipes at various angles to fit with the existing layout of the home the water system is being installed into. This tool bends these tubes to any angle with ease without breaking them.