While you likely don’t want to give it much thought, your plumbing system will experience issues from time to time. While having a licensed plumber on speed dial is imperative, so is having an emergency plumbing kit. If you don’t have one yet, it’s high time to consider putting one together.
What Is an Emergency Plumbing Kit?
An emergency plumbing kit is comprised of various tools and products that can allow you to address plumbing emergencies that happen in your home. While your kit won’t be able to include products for every plumbing failure you may experience, it should include items that can help to prevent the problem from getting worse until a licensed plumber can address the issue.
This plumbing kit should be kept in an area where everyone in your home has easy access to it in the event of an emergency. For example, keeping it in a utility closet or under the kitchen sink can ensure you have access when you need it the most.
What Goes Into a Plumbing Emergency Kit?
While every homeowner’s emergency plumbing kit is going to vary from the next, there are some basic items that all kits should have. We’re going to address these below so that you can add them to your list.
Bucket
When you’re dealing with water, it’s helpful to have somewhere to contain it. A five-gallon bucket can be a great option. It’s typically small enough to fit under most sinks and makes a great place to store all the items in your emergency plumbing kit. Furthermore, with a to-go handle, it’s super easy to move throughout any location in your home.
Plungers
There are two main types of plungers that you’ll want to have in your kit. A traditional standard plunger has a singular rubber cup attached to a wooden or plastic pole. This plunger is ideal for unclogging sinks, showers, and tubs, as they have smaller drains.
When it comes to unclogging toilets, you’ll want to have a flange plunger. This particular plunger has a small cup at its bottom that attaches to the larger cup. This works to create more suction to handle bigger drains, like your toilet.
Wrenches
Wrenches are a necessity when it comes to working with plumbing fixtures. You should have a variety of them inside your kit. Aim for a pair of channel locks, adjustable wrenches of different sizes, a pipe wrench, and even a set of Allen keys.
Teflon Tape
Teflon tape is a specialized white-colored type of tape that is used to help waterproof plumbing connections. It’s applied directly around the threads on metal piping before the connection is made. This way, as the connection threads into the pipe, it can have a watertight seal.
Screwdrivers
Another must-have in your kit is screwdrivers. You’ll want both flathead and Philips. A great tip is to get a multi-bit screwdriver, so you don’t have to carry around an assortment of screwdrivers in your kit.
Flashlight and Gloves
Apart from the main tools in your kit, you don’t want to forget a flashlight. When you’re dealing with plumbing issues underneath sinks, it can be quite dark and hard to see. Additionally, having a good pair of rubber gloves can help to protect you from unsanitary wastewater when remedying plumbing problems.
Top Reasons to Get an Emergency Plumbing Kit
You should highly consider constructing an emergency plumbing kit for your home because it’s extremely convenient to have. Whenever you experience a problem, you can have peace of mind knowing that your kit has what you need to repair it. You won’t have to waste time gathering tools or searching your entire garage to find the right one.
When you have a kit already prepared, you can respond quickly to any plumbing emergency. Whether it be a backed-up toilet or a leaky connection to one of your fixtures, you’ll have the tools you need to remedy the problem quickly. The quicker you can deal with household plumbing issues, the less likely your home will experience the effects of water damage.
Offering Exceptional Plumbing Services
TYCO Plumbing provides exceptional plumbing service for the whole Brighton, CO, community. We can help with all your drain, water heater, leak detection, sump pump, gas pipe, water filtration, water softener, kitchen plumbing, remodeling, bathroom plumbing, and garbage disposal needs. Call us today to schedule your next service appointment with one of our highly skilled plumbers.
