Homeowners can never know when an emergency plumbing situation will occur, but if you have these products you’ll be more prepared when disaster strikes!
Emergency plumbing situations can come at any time and in any given size, but the one thing that’s consistent with all plumbing emergencies is that they’re not fun!
Although it’s almost always necessary for home and business owners to reach out to the Beehive Plumbing team when they’re experiencing an emergency situation, there are still some minor issues that you can mitigate until our arrival with the help of an emergency plumbing kit.
These types of home improvement kits are full of a variety of items that can help out when things go awry within your residential plumbing system, and you’ll always be happy that you have one of these kits when disaster strikes!
Below are 8 items you should undoubtedly have within your own personal plumbing emergency kit:
1. A Large Bucket (5+ Gallons)
Simply having a really big bucket within your home can actually go a long way when it comes to mitigating plumbing emergencies and saving your property from potential structural damages. There are many different uses for a large bucket within your plumbing emergency kit, and it can even be utilized to store all of your other items!
2. Plumber’s Putty
Plumber’s putty is what plumbing specialists will utilize when in need of developing watertight seals for pipes, faucets, drains and a lot more. You can find large industrial sizes of this product at just about any hardware store, and this product can help with unexpected leaks and many different emergency situations pertaining to your plumbing appliances!
3. Replacement Cartridges/Washers
Rubber/plastic washer stops are always necessary when it comes to stopping the overall flow of water within closed faucets, so the washers within your home’s faucets and other plumbing appliances are likely to need replacing every once and awhile.
Cartridges are the valves that help faucets control the overall flow of water when you turn your faucets on, and these cartridges are also susceptible to leaks over significant periods of time.
It always goes a long way to simply have replacements for both your washers and cartridges so you can get to the source of certain issues when leaks occur, but it’s important to note that you’re going to need to make sure that your replacements are the exact same sizes as your existing washers/cartridges!
4. Multiple Plungers
Although this is considered just one section within this list of products, it’s important to have multiple plungers within your home just in case of several different plumbing emergency scenarios. So make sure your home/business has the following three types of plungers:
Sink Plunger
Usually a sink plunger is what people think of in terms of the ubiquitous plunger, and they’re very easy to recognize by their red rubber cups and wooden handles. This type of plunger is specifically for sinks (not toilets) because they’re meant for flat surfaces. This plunger will also work well with shower drains, but it’ll always pose issues when it comes to clogged toilets and toilet repairs.
Toilet Plunger
Another name for this type of plunger is a flange plunger, and the main distinction with this type of plunger is that there will be rubber flaps that fold out from the inside of the rubber cup. These flaps help in terms of adequately covering the curved toilet drain area and supplying the right type of suction for toilets.
In general, you shouldn’t be using the same plunger for your toilets and flat drain surfaces due to hygiene issues!
Accordion Plunger
This type of plunger is comprised of hard plastic, and they’re a little bit harder to use as compared to the above two types of plungers. It’s also important to note that this type of plunger must always be submerged fully in order to properly function.
But they’re really useful when your toilet is experiencing a rather stubborn clog and your regular toilet plunger isn’t quite doing enough!
5. Duct Tape
Duct tape is also a relatively useful item to have within your plumbing emergency kit because it can help when it comes to slowing down or stopping somewhat minor leaks prior to the arrival of our plumbing team.
Duct tape can certainly buy you a little bit of extra time when you need it, and although it’s never a permanent solution it’s definitely helpful when you’re in an emergency and need a quick fix.
6. Tools And Toolbox
Every emergency kit needs tools! Owning a versatile tool kit will always go a long way with all types of home repairs and improvements, and this is especially needed when it comes to turning, twisting, loosening and squeezing all types of plumbing components.
Here are a few tools you’re going to need to keep in mind:
Pipe Wrench
This type of wrench is specially designed for gripping round objects like pipes, and it’s through their rather sharp teeth that they’re capable of properly digging into surfaces and providing the necessary pressure to turn the wrench in all types of tight situations.
It’s important to note that this type of wrench will likely leave behind teeth marks, so be careful in terms of fragile pipes and shiny plumbing fixtures!
Adjustable Wrench
There’s always going to be a general need for loosening and tightening bolts and nuts, and because this wrench is adjustable it makes it very versatile for just about any type of emergency plumbing situation.
Slip-Joint Pliers
These pliers are also commonly referred to as tongue and groove pliers or Channel-Locks. They’re also very versatile and adjustable, and do wonders in terms of helping people adjust, twist and squeeze any stubborn plumbing appliance parts.
Screwdriver Set
It’s also important to have a whole variety of different screwdrivers so you’re prepared for needing to unscrew all different sizes of bolts and nuts. When you have a full set, you can be more rest assured that you’re going to have the right screwdriver for every job.
7. Flashlight/Headlamp
You’re more than likely going to need to conduct certain DIY plumbing repairs in places like underneath your appliances and sinks, and of course there’s little to no lighting in these areas. Having a flashlight within your plumbing kit will always go a long way in terms of helping you see what exactly is going on and what needs to be done, and not to mention what exactly you’re doing!
We recommend getting a hands-free flashlight like a headlamp that you can strap to your head or hat so you’re not fiddling with your flashlight in times when you most certainly need both hands!
8. Gloves
All types of plumbing repairs can get messy and will require proper hand protection like heavy-duty gloves. You’re also going to want to properly protect your hands from bacteria and other types of germs.
Reach Out To The Beehive Plumbing Experts To Learn More About How We Can Support You Throughout All Types Of Emergency Plumbing Situations!
Although having a good emergency plumbing kit is important for all homeowners to have, it’s still just as important to know when to call in the pros and have us fix your issues once and for all.
So feel free to reach out to us online or call us at 801-661-8155 to get in touch with our specialists and learn more about how we can support you throughout all types of emergency plumbing situations!
