Essential Tools for Home Maintenance: What Every Homeowner Needs

Every home needs a well-stocked toolbox. A set of versatile tools enables you to take on a wide range of home projects and maintenance tasks, and performing your own home repairs will save you money over time. Let’s unpack the tools every homeowner should have on hand.

The Importance of Home Maintenance Tools for Homeowners

Investing in a home tool collection offers several rewards, material and otherwise. Consider the following benefits:

• Cost savings. A personal tool collection can help you save money in a few ways. First, when a minor issue crops up, you can fix the problem yourself and avoid paying a technician to fix it for you. Second, by staying on top of minor repairs and maintenance, you avoid bigger and costlier repairs down the road. And third, homeowner tool sets can help you maintain your home appliances, extending their life and efficiency.
• No wait time. If you have a reliable set of tools at hand, you can get started on fixing a problem as soon as it arises. Waiting for a professional to make a service call can be frustrating, particularly if the problem is causing some annoyance or discomfort.
• Convenience. Fixing a problem yourself can simply be more convenient. You don’t have to search for a qualified pro or coordinate schedules. You’re not beholden to your technician’s availability, and you don’t have to factor in the repair cost to your household maintenance budget.
• Self-sufficiency and independence. Having the means to effectively maintain your own home can be a source of pride. Many homeowners find satisfaction in not having to always rely on contractors and other home professionals. 

The Essential Tools for Home Maintenance

It’s helpful to approach the essential tools for homeowners in a series of categories. There are general-use hand tools and power tools that come in handy in all sorts of scenarios. Then there are specialized tools to help you with plumbing or electrical problems, outdoor maintenance, and so on. If you’re a first-time homeowner or just starting to dabble in DIY projects, here are the tools you should prioritize for home maintenance.

Hand Tools for Every Homeowner

• Screwdriver. The applications for flat-head and Phillips-head screwdrivers are virtually endless. You may need a screwdriver for everything from assembling and disassembling furniture and appliances to removing the battery cover on an electronic device.
• Hammer. One of the most basic tools to have at home is a claw hammer. You’ll need one to drive and remove nails, hang wall furnishings, and knock various items together so that they’re fitted securely.
• Hex key set. Home furniture and appliances may use socketed hex screws as fasteners instead of slotted screws or Phillips screws. You’ll need the appropriately sized hex key (also known as an Allen wrench) to tighten or loosen these.
• Tape measure. A 25-foot tape measure is indispensable for hanging pictures, arranging furniture and decor, and working on any home improvement project.
• Level. You’ll need a level when hanging wall decor and fixtures to ensure your furnishings aren’t crooked. 
• Pliers. A good pair of pliers will enhance your grip on screws, staples, nails, and other hardware that you wouldn’t be able to budge with your bare hands. Pliers can also help you cut through wire and other tough materials.
• Adjustable wrench. You won’t have the leverage you need to loosen nuts and some other fasteners without a basic wrench that adjusts to fit hardware of different sizes.
• Utility knife. You’ll find a sharp blade useful for opening boxes, slicing straight edges, or scoring building materials for a variety of home projects.

Power Tools Every Homeowner Should Own

• Cordless drill. If there’s one power tool to own, it’s a cordless drill. You’ll use it to mount furnishings and fixtures to the walls, drill holes for running wire, quickly tighten or loosen hardware, and much more. Enhance your drill’s utility with a range of drill bits, socket wrench fittings, and screwdriver heads.
• Oscillating multi-tool. A variety of attachments make an oscillating multi-tool a versatile piece of equipment. You can use it to sand, grind, scrape, and cut through wood, metal, hard plastic, and other materials.
• Orbital sander. Manual sanding can be a tedious job, especially over a large surface area. A sander can make short work of the task.
• Jigsaw. A jigsaw allows you to make clean linear or nonlinear cuts in no time at all. It’s very useful for a range of projects involving wood, plastic, or metal.

Crucial Plumbing Tools Homeowners Need

• Wrenches. In addition to a standard adjustable wrench, plumbing work may require a pipe wrench or basin wrench.
• Plunger. Every bathroom should have a plunger to manage toilet and drain clogs.
• Auger or snake. Sometimes a plunger alone can’t clear a clog. A hand auger or plumber’s snake can help you remove accumulated hair, gunk, and other debris.
• Plumber’s tape. If you’re working with threaded pipe joints, you should apply plumber’s tape for a proper seal.

Essential Electrical Tools for Safe Home Maintenance

• Voltage tester. If you’re working with electrical equipment, you’ll want a tester to confirm the power is off.
• Insulated hand tools. Electrical work may require screwdrivers, pliers, and other hand tools, but the handles should be insulated for safety.
• Wire strippers. Wire strippers help you pare back a wire’s coating without damaging the interior metal.

Yard and Garden Maintenance Tools

• Pruners or shears. If you want to shape or trim the plants in your yard, you’ll need a pair of basic pruners for small branches and stems. A large pair of shears can cut through thicker branches.
• Shovel or trowel. You’ll need a digging implement for any garden work.
• Lawn mower. Of course, a lawn mower is essential for keeping your grass in shape. The best mower for you may be dependent on the size and topography of your lawn.
• Garden hose. A hose with some good distance will help you keep your landscaping well watered. A hose helps with outdoor clean-up tasks as well. 

Safety Equipment Every Homeowner Should Have

• Respirator or face mask. Many home DIY projects put you in contact with harmful fumes or particulate matter. You need a filtration mask if you’re sanding, sawing, or handling toxic materials.
• Work gloves. Sturdy work gloves protect your skin from punctures, cuts, burns, and other injuries. 
• Fire extinguisher. Every home needs multiple fire extinguishers. Keep at least one extinguisher in your kitchen and garage, and at least one on every floor.
• Safety goggles. Especially when you’re working with power tools, safety goggles or glasses are essential.
• First aid kit. Always have a basic first aid kit on hand in case you do suffer an injury while working at home. 

Beyond DIY Maintenance

No matter how well equipped your toolkit, you’re bound to encounter a problem at home that requires professional assistance. When an appliance or system shuts down and leaves you stumped, you can tap your home warranty provider to have the problem resolved at minimal cost. Explore Liberty Home Guard’s top-rated plans by calling (833)-545-3434.