The Best Plumbing Tools: A Pro Plumbing Tools List

Every good plumber knows one thing: the job is only as good as the tools. The right tools save time, protect the pipework, and keep customers happy. The wrong ones cost you hours and money.

This plumbing tools list walks through the gear that belongs in a pro plumbing tool kit. We start with the hand tools every plumber needs. Then we cover cutting, drain, and specialty tools. At the end, we look at the one tool that truly sets pros apart in the plumbing industry: leak detection equipment from LeakTronics.

Let's build your kit.

Hand Tools Every Plumber Needs

Hand tools are the base of any plumbing tool kit. These are the pieces you reach for on almost every plumbing job.

A good set of pliers and a heavy-duty pipe wrench will handle most jobs. Add a basin wrench for sink work, and you are ready for most calls.

Cutting and Joining Tools

Next come the tools that cut pipe and join it back together. A plumber works with copper pipes, PVC pipes, and other plastic pipes, so you need tools for both metal and plastic.

• Tubing cutters. These make a clean, square cut on copper tubing. Many have a ratcheting mechanism for tight spots.
• Pipe cutters. A larger cutter for bigger lines. One good cutter beats a rough saw cut every time.
• Hacksaw. A hacksaw is a simple handheld saw for cast iron pipe and other tough cuts. Keep spare blades on hand, since hacksaws dull fast.
• Hole saw. A hole saw cuts clean openings through wood and drywall for new lines.
• PEX crimp tool. Work with PEX? A crimp tool locks a fitting onto the pipe for a fast, tight joint.
• Press tools. Press tools make a press fitting with no torch, which speeds up copper work.
• Thread sealant. To thread and seal joints, use plumber's tape, also called PTFE tape (polytetrafluoroethylene). It makes a clean, watertight seal.

With these tools, you can cut, thread, and join almost any pipe you meet.

Drain and Clog Tools

Clogs are daily work for a plumber. These drain cleaning tools help you clear clogs fast.

• Cup plunger. A cup plunger clears simple clogs in sink drains.
• Flange plunger. A flange plunger seals around a toilet for more power.
• Drain snake or auger. A drain snake, also called an auger, reaches deep clogs in drains and sewer lines.
• Extractor. An extractor pulls out a broken part or a stuck object from a line.

For hard-to-reach clogs, a longer auger does the job a plunger cannot. Keep both on the truck.

Specialty Tools

Some jobs call for specialty tools. These are the pieces that separate a full plumbing kit from a basic one.

• Faucet keys. Faucet keys open and close outdoor spigots and hose bibs.
• Faucet installation kits. These bundle the small parts you need to set a new faucet fast.
• Inspection mirror. A small mirror lets you see behind a pipe or flange.
• Handheld tools. A handheld light and other small tools help in dark, tight spaces.

Specialty plumbing work goes faster when you carry the right tools for the odd jobs. Professional plumbers keep these on the truck, because a short trip to the truck beats a long trip to the plumbing supplies store.

The Tool That Sets Pros Apart: Leak Detection

Here is the tool most plumbers skip, and the one that wins the best jobs: leak detection equipment. Wrenches and cutters fix a leak. But first you have to find it. That is where the Plumbers Complete Leak Detection Kit comes in.

This kit finds hidden leaks in pools, spas, and plumbing systems without tearing out walls or floors. It uses sound, pressure, and video to pinpoint the exact spot. That means a small, clean repair instead of a big, messy one.

The deck plate listens through the tile and pinpoints the leak. The blue X marks the exact spot to open.

On the job: A plumber gets a call about a high water bill and a warm spot on the floor. Instead of breaking up concrete to guess, they run a pressure test to confirm the line is losing pressure, then sweep the slab with the LT-1000 amplifier and deck plate. In under an hour, they mark the exact leak, an 18-inch cut instead of a torn-up floor. One visit, one clean repair, one happy customer.

One small cut, not a torn-up floor. Because the leak was pinpointed first, the repair stays clean.

Want to see the gear in the field? Read reviews and meet real pros who use this equipment at Level Up Leak Detection.

Here is what comes in the kit:

The kit also comes with headphones, static test cones, an inspection mirror, a five-year warranty, and unlimited support. Add detection to your service, and you turn a simple call into a full, high-value job.

Why Leaks Happen (and Keep You Busy)

Leaks are not rare. In fact, the EPA's WaterSense program reports that household leaks waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water nationwide each year. The ground moves, pipes age, and water finds a way out. This is true all across the country, so demand for detection stays strong.

Clay soil, common in Texas and much of the South, swells when wet and shrinks when dry. That push and pull cracks pipes and slabs. Sandy soil along the coasts shifts and lets lines settle. In the Midwest and Northeast, freeze and thaw cycles burst pipes when water inside them expands. In hot, dry states, long dry spells pull soil away from the line.

Every one of those cracks is a call for a plumber. With the right tools, you find it fast and fix it clean.

Build Your Plumbing Tool Kit

Use this quick plumbing tools list as a checklist when you build or restock your kit.

The best plumbing tools are the ones that save time and win trust. Every tool above earns its place. But the leak detection kit is the one that helps you charge more and stand out from other plumbers. To see how the right tools grow your bottom line, read our guide on essential tools for plumbing business success.

Get the Tool That Wins the Job

Great tools for plumbers do more than fix pipes. They help you find the problem fast and prove it to the customer. That is how you grow.

Shop the Plumbers Complete Leak Detection Kit on LeakTronics and add the one tool most plumbers are missing. Questions first? Call LeakTronics at (818) 436-2953.

LeakTronics | 28436 Roadside Dr. #1, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 | (818) 436-2953

We help plumbers and leak detection pros across the USA and beyond find leaks the smart way.