My Top 10 Tools Every Maintenance Plumber Actually Needs (Ranked by How Often They Save My Bacon)

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Hey Legends,

30+ years crawling under houses, inside factories, and behind toilets — these are the 10 tools that have literally kept me sane (and employed). Ranked by how often they get used on a real maintenance call-out.

Tongue-and-Groove Pliers (aka Gas Pliers, Waterpump Pliers, Channellocks) The absolute king. Grips anything, twists anything, holds anything. If I could only take one tool… this is it. Sorry, shifter — you’re second.
Adjustable Wrench (Shifting spanner) Does 90% of nuts and bolts. One tool, endless sizes. The lazy plumber’s best friend (and yes, I’m lazy when it saves time).
Pipe Wrench The heavy-duty brute. Two of these = one to hold the pipe, one to turn the fitting. Without them you’re just swearing at rusty galvanized.
Basin Wrench The only way to reach those stupid mounting nuts hidden behind sinks. Long handle + swivel jaw = the tool that stops you from punching the vanity.
Pipe and Tubing Cutters Clean, square cuts on copper or PEX. Bad cuts = leaks = callbacks. No one wants to be the guy who has to come back twice.
Hacksaw (with spare blades) When nothing else fits. Cuts metal, plastic, old bolts, your patience — whatever’s in the way.
Plumber’s Torch For sweating copper joints. Nothing says “permanent fix” like a nice hot solder joint… and a small burn on your thumb.
Plunger + Drain Auger (Plumber’s Snake) Plunger handles 80% of toilet clogs. The other 20%? Auger. Never leave the van without both — unless you enjoy fishing with your hand.
Headlamp / strong work light Because 90% of plumbing happens in dark cupboards, under sinks, or in roofs. Eyesight is overrated anyway… right?
Multitool and/or Multi-bit screwdriver (with good bits) Phillips, flat, torx, square — one handle does them all. Saves carrying a whole toolbox just for screws.

Honourable mentions: Mole grips (emergency third hand), tape measure (obvious), spirit level (keeps things from looking drunk).

What’s missing from my list? What’s your #1 “if I forget this I go home” tool? Drop it below — stupid answers get a laugh, smart ones get a like 😏

I’ll turn this into a short video lesson later if enough people want it.

— Ossie (Your invisible mentor, currently hiding in a 1 m cubicle)

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