• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sonoran Property Inspections

Home Inspections Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Scottsdale, Arizona

  • Prescott Home Inspection
  • About Us
    • Testimonials
    • Client Satisfaction / Comments Form
  • Services
    • What’s Inspected
    • Locations Serviced
    • Home Inspection Photos
    • Home Owner Information
    • Pricing
  • Book An Inspection
  • Pay for your inspection
  • Sample Report
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Book An Inspection
    • Client Satisfaction / Comments Form

15 Essential Tools for Every Homeowner

June 23, 2017 by spihomei

The following items are essential tools, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to ask your InterNACHI inspector – Jerry, at Sonoran Property Inspections in Prescott Valley, during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful.  Jerry does home inspections in the Prescott area.
 
1.  Plunger
A clogged sink or toilet is one of the most inconvenient household problems that you will face. With a plunger on hand, however, you can usually remedy these plumbing issues relatively quickly. It is best to have two plungers — one for the sink and one for the toilet.

 

2.  Combination Wrench Set

One end of a combination wrench set is open and the other end is a closed loop. Nuts and bolts are manufactured in standard and metric sizes, and because both varieties are widely used, you’ll need both sets of wrenches. For the most control and leverage, always pull the wrench toward you, instead of pushing on it. Also, avoid over-tightening.

3.  Slip-Joint Pliers

Use slip-joint pliers to grab hold of a nail, a nut, a bolt, and much more. These types of pliers are versatile because of the jaws, which feature both flat and curved areas for gripping many types of objects. There is also a built-in slip-joint, which allows the user to quickly adjust the jaw size to suit most tasks.

4.  Adjustable WrenchCaulking gun

Adjustable wrenches are somewhat awkward to use and can damage a bolt or nut if they are not handled properly. However, adjustable wrenches are ideal for situations where you need two wrenches of the same size. Screw the jaws all the way closed to avoid damaging the bolt or nut.

5.  Caulking Gun
Caulking is the process of sealing up cracks and gaps in various structures and certain types of piping. Caulking can provide noise mitigation and thermal insulation, and control water penetration. Caulk should be applied only to areas that are clean and dry.
6.  Flashlight
None of the tools in this list is of any use if you cannot visually inspect the situation. The problem, and solution, are apparent only with a good flashlight. A traditional two-battery flashlight is usually sufficient, as larger flashlights may be too unwieldy.
7.  Tape Measure
Measuring house projects requires a tape measure — not a ruler or a yardstick. Tape measures come in many lengths, although 25 feet is best.  Measure everything at least twice to ensure accuracy.

8.  Hacksaw
A hacksaw is useful for cutting metal objects, such as pipes, bolts and brackets. Torpedo levelHacksaws look thin and flimsy, but they’ll easily cut through even the hardest of metals. Blades are replaceable, so focus your purchase on a quality hacksaw frame.

9. Torpedo Level
Only a level can be used to determine if something, such as a shelf, appliance or picture, is correctly oriented. The torpedo-style level is unique because it not only shows when an object is perfectly horizontal or vertical, but it also has a gauge that shows when an object is at a 45-degree angle. The bubble in the viewfinder must be exactly in the middle — not merely close.

10.  Safety Glasses / Goggles
For all tasks involving a hammer or a power tool, you should always wear safety glasses or goggles. They should also be worn while you mix chemicals.

11.  Claw Hammer
A good hammer is one of the most important tools you can own.  Use it to drive and remove nails, to pry wood loose from the house, and in combination with other tools. They come in a variety of sizes, although a 16-ounce hammer is the best all-purpose choice.

12.  Screwdriver Set
It is best to have four screwdrivers: a small and large version of both a flathead and a Phillips-head screwdriver. Electrical screwdrivers areWire cutter sometimes convenient, but they’re no substitute.  Manual screwdrivers can reach into more places and they are less likely to damage the screw.

13.  Wire Cutters
Wire cutters are pliers designed to cut wires and small nails. The side-cutting style (unlike the stronger end-cutting style) is handy, but not strong enough to cut small nails.

14.  Respirator / Safety Mask
While paints and other coatings are now manufactured to be less toxic (and lead-free) than in previous decades, most still contain dangerous chemicals, which is why you should wear a mask to avoid accidentally inhaling. A mask should also be worn when working in dusty and dirty environments. Disposable masks usually come in packs of 10 and should be thrown away after use. Full and half-face respirators can be used to prevent the inhalation of very fine particles that ordinary facemasks will not stop.

15.  Duct Tape
This tape is extremely strong and adaptable. Originally, it was widely used to make temporary repairs to many types of military equipment. Today, it’s one of the key items specified for home emergency kits because it is water-resistant and extremely sticky.
by Nick Gromicko and Ben Gromicko (used with permission from the interNACHI  website)

Filed Under: Construction, Inspection Tagged With: Prescott area home inspector, Prescott home inspction, Prescott Valley home inspector

Primary Sidebar

Contact Info

Sonoran Property Inspections LLC
7639 E Traders Trail
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Office: (928) 756-2654
Cell: (480) 415-7977

Have me call you.

Latest from the Blog

New Construction Home Inspections

Are you building a new home in the Prescott area? If so, you may want to include an independent home inspection prior to closing, or at least before the one year builder warranty is over. You can’t assume that just because it is a new home that nothing is wrong with it. We provide new…

Read More

Relocation

So many people are relocating to the Prescott Arizona area, and as the home inspector I will meet them before the actual move, so figured this blog might have some helpful info to keep in mind prior to any move. Relocation is often stressful and time-consuming, but rarely do we wonder about the impact the…

Read More

Improve Your Indoor Air

In theses days of Covid19 we should all considered the air quality in our home. It’s easy to forget about something invisible, but clearing the air is worth a quick look. Obviously I can’t see air quality problems with a routine home inspection, but here are a few ideas you might consider to keep your…

Read More

Stay Informed

RSS Real Estate News

Footer

About Us

Jerry Spicer has over 30 years of experience in custom home building and home inspections of over 4000 properties ranging in size from 1,500 to 16,000 livable square feet. Jerry has built and inspected homes in Scottsdale, Phoenix and Prescott Valley.

He's on a mission to help every property owner feel happy and content by providing you a thorough quality home inspection or it's free. (YES, It's FREE! I Guarantee it.)

Latest from the Blog

New Construction Home Inspections

Are you building a new home in the Prescott area? If so, you may want to include an independent home inspection prior to closing, or at least before the one year builder warranty is over. You can’t assume that just because it is a new home that nothing is wrong with it. We provide new…

Read More

RSS Real Estate News

Copyright © 2023 Sonoran Property Inspections. All rights reserved.

  • Prescott Home Inspection
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Book An Inspection
  • Pay for your inspection
  • Sample Report
  • Blog
  • Contact Us