Plumbing Appointment Preparation
Before the start of your appointment, have all the necessary tools ready! If you ordered a replacement part, verify the correct part was sent.
Plumbing Appointment Preparation
Before the start of your appointment, have all the necessary tools ready! If you ordered a replacement part, verify the correct part was sent.
We highly recommend these tools for plumbing repair.
Tools you will need:
- Phillips Head Screwdriver #2 tip
- Flathead Screwdriver
- Pipe Wrench
- Adjustable Wrench
- Basin Wrench
- Tongue-and-Groove Pliers
- Flashlight
- Plunger
- Hacksaw
- Metal File
- Plumber’s Snake
- Tubing Cutter
- Plumber’s Tape
- A fully charged phone!
*Your Neli Plumber will tell you what exact tools you will need if you do not have one on hand for your repair.
A stable connection.
Ensure the internet connection you are using for your chat session has enough bandwidth. Others that are also using your internet service may interfere with the repair session if they are using online activities such as live gaming, live movie streaming, or downloading large files at the same time as your repair session.
Our Top Tools For Plumbing Repair
We recommend the tools listed below for your virtual appointment. Not all tools are required, but the ones listed under necessary tools are a must-have! Having these tools makes your appointment with any technician go smoothly and as quickly as possible, giving you the confidence you need to repair your project! While some repairs demand specific tools, many just require basic tools you might already own. We’ve put together a list of the top tools every do-it-yourselfer should have.
Pipe Wrench
A pipe wrench tightens and loosens pipes and fittings. The serrated teeth of these wrenches help the wrench keep a firm grasp on the fixture. You can wrap a cloth around the jaws of the wrench, so you don’t damage your fixture’s finish. Hardened steel hex nuts or other fittings, will ruin the head, so don’t use it on those.
Adjustable open-end wrench
Just as its name suggests, the jaw on the wrench is adjustable to accommodate various sizes of nuts and bolts.
Basin Wrench
Basin wrenches tighten and loosen hard-to-reach faucet and toilet nuts. They fit Fits 3/8 in to 1-1/4 in diameter nuts on faucets, supply lines, valves, and drains. It has a spring-loaded jaw adjusts to size and prevents slippage.
Screwdrivers
Make sure you at least have a flat-head and a Phillips screwdriver. Consider buying a screwdriver that has an interchangeable bit. They are inexpensive and prepare you for most jobs!
Metal File
Metal files take out the burrs and shavings from the edges of a pipe so you have a tight fit preventing leaking. You can smooth or file down rough edges on pipes, other pieces of metal, soldered joints, burrs, and sheet lead.
Flash Light
You will want extra lighting when looking into certain parts of your repair. We suggest an inexpensive LED flashlight for brighter but cool light.
Safety goggles or glasses
Safety eye-wear is a necessity for protecting your eyes from particles or chemicals during repairs.
Work Gloves
Even the simplest repairs can expose you to sharp edges or hot surfaces, so wear work gloves to protect your hands.
Rags and towels
Rags and towels have many uses besides cleaning up any water spills and grease or dirt when working on a plumbing project. You can also use them to place small parts and screw on for visibility so you do not lose them.
Tongue and Groove Pliers (Channel Locks)
Tongue-and-groove pliers (commonly known as channel locks) are used for turning and holding nuts and bolts. You can grip irregularly shaped objects and clamp materials. It is also used to rotate objects while keeping them in one position.
Hack Saw
Hack saws are designed to cut a variety of materials, including PVC, CVPC, PEX, PE, aluminum, plastic, and sheet metal.
Plumber's Snake (Drain Snake)
A plumber’s snake (drain snake) is a thin, flexible auger used to dislodge clogs in plumbing. The plumber’s snake is often used for difficult clogs that cannot be loosened with a plunger. You can use it to clear a clogged drain pipe or sanitary sewer.
Plunger
Buy a plunger with a good grip that is comfortable to use. It is difficult to unclog a toilet without a plunger.
Tubing Cutter (Pipe Cutter)
A tube cutter’s blade is made out of stainless steel and cuts less hard materials such as PVC tubes. The cutting wheel of a pipe cutter is made from hardened and tempered steel needed to cut through tougher materials such as metal pipes.
Plumber's tape
Plumber’s tape (often called Teflon tape) wraps easily around threads to seal pipe connections. It helps you get a watertight seal on threaded pipe joints.
Want more help preparing to repair an appliance?
Book an appointment with our Neli technicians and they will walk you through the diagnosis and prep you for the project using video screen sharing, texting and phone conversations!