Plumber's Tool Kit: What You Actually Need to Start

You're setting up as a plumber or refreshing your kit. What do you actually need? Not the fantasy list from a training course, but what working plumbers use every day. Here's the real breakdown.

The Power Tools That Earn Their Keep

Combi drill: You'll use this constantly - drilling through joists for pipes, fixing clips, occasional masonry for waste brackets. A good 18V brushless like the DeWalt DCD796 or Makita DHP486 handles everything. Don't cheap out here - you'll use it every single day.

Impact driver: Not essential but makes life easier. Driving screws into cylinder cupboards, fixing radiator brackets, any repetitive screw work. Once you've used an impact for an afternoon of bracket fitting, you won't go back.

SDS drill: For running waste through masonry, drilling for soil pipe brackets, any serious hole-making in brick or concrete. A compact SDS Plus handles 90% of plumbing work - you don't need the big rotary hammer unless you're core drilling.

Reciprocating saw: Invaluable for cutting out old pipework, especially in tight spots. Cutting cast iron soil pipes, copper in situ, even joists if you're remodelling a bathroom. Get one that takes standard blades.

The Hand Tools You'll Actually Use

Pipe cutters: Not just one - you need different sizes:

• 15mm and 22mm for copper (rotary cutters)
• Larger cutter for 28mm and above
• Plastic pipe cutters for push-fit and waste

Adjustable spanners: At least two - 8" and 12". You'll use these more than almost anything else for tap connectors, compression fittings, cylinder connections.

Pipe grips: Stilsons or similar. 12" handles most domestic work, 18" for stubborn stuff. These grip pipes for turning or holding while you work on something else.

Basin wrench: That awkward tool that reaches up behind basins to tighten tap connectors. Annoying to store but there's no substitute when you need it.

Pipe benders: If you're doing copper, you need benders for 15mm and 22mm minimum. Handheld springy type for quick bends, proper lever bender for neat work.

Soldering and Joining Kit

Blowtorch: MAPP or propane with a decent torch head. For soldering copper and sometimes freeing stuck fittings. Self-igniting is worth the extra money - no messing with lighters.

Soldering supplies: Flux (brush-on or paste), lead-free solder, cleaning pads, heat-resistant mat for protecting surfaces while soldering.

Press-fit tool: If you're doing much copper, a press-fit system is faster and safer than soldering. Not cheap but transforms your productivity on bigger jobs.

Testing and Diagnostics

Pressure gauge: For testing systems after installation or finding problems.

Multimeter: For checking immersion elements, central heating controls, thermostats. Basic electrical testing comes up constantly.

Pipe and cable detector: Before you drill into a wall or floor. Essential for avoiding disasters.

Torch: A good head torch for working in dark cupboards, under floors, in lofts. You'll use this every day.

Van Organisation

Plumbing means carrying a lot of fittings and spares. Think about:

• Organised boxes for copper fittings (elbows, tees, straights by size)
• Push-fit fittings separated by brand/system
• Waste fittings box
• Tap spares, washers, valves
• PTFE tape, jointing compound, silicone

A messy van costs you time on every job. Get it organised once and keep it that way.

What You Don't Need Starting Out

Don't buy:

• Pipe freezing kit (hire when you need it)
• Every size of pipe cutter (buy as jobs require)
• Expensive drain cameras (subcontract specialist work)
• Power threader (rare in domestic work)

Build your kit based on the work you're actually doing. Specialist tools can wait until you have jobs that need them.

Budget Starting Point

A realistic starting kit for domestic plumbing runs maybe £1500-2500 for tools (not including van or stock). You can start with less if you're careful about what you buy first and build up as you earn.