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For plumbers and pipefitters, the tools used on the job site can be just as crucial as the skills they bring to the job. From installing new systems to repairing leaks, the quality and reliability of a plumber’s tools can significantly impact the outcome of their work. Having dependable tools is essential for delivering top-notch service.

Mary-Anne Bowcott is one of two plumbers at Westcom Plumbing and Gas in Sooke, British Columbia, Canada. A 20-year veteran of the construction industry, she has been using Milwaukee Tool products since she began in the trades. After switching to plumbing in 2008, that’s when Bowcott switched to using almost strictly Milwaukee Tool cordless tools for all her jobs.

“Roofing was fine, but I started in residential, then once they put me on commercial jobs, I got really bored because we were stuck on the same jobs for months on end,” she says. “I just decided to start looking for something else at that time. And plumbing kind of ended up in my lap, really. The first power tool you’re supposed to buy for yourself, other than your own hand tools, is a drill kit. So that was an impact driver and a cordless drill. I originally bought another brand first because that’s what the journeyman training me had. I only worked for that company for a year, then switched to another company that was strictly Milwaukee cordless tools. At that point, I kind of transferred over and I’ve been rocking Milwaukee Tool ever since.”

Bowcott says that while she uses the impact drill the most, her favorite smaller cordless tools are the M18 bandsaw or the M18 hacksaw. “We cut such a variety of different things, and having either one or the other, you’re going to cut through whatever you need to for the job. As for the bigger tools on the MX line, the pipe threading machine is definitely my favorite right now. It’s a pretty awesome tool, and it’s a pretty big step up from the one I had previously.”

Bowcott notes she likes the Milwaukee Tool battery platform for its variety.

“For a small company in a small town, we do quite a variety of different jobs,” she says. “We do everything from new construction, plumbing and gas to renovations and service, drain cleaning and retrofit plumbing and gas. Because there's such a broad spectrum of jobs that we do, we need a broad amount of tools. And just having that one battery platform and the variety of different tools that Milwaukee has specifically for plumbing and gas, it's a no-brainer to be using their tools as kind of the No. 1. They're not the only tool that I carry, but they're definitely the most prominent of all, on top of having their PACKOUT system and being able to outfit a van with the PACKOUT system so nothing's flying off the shelves and drawers all over the place and nothing moves around. They're just next level when it comes to all those sorts of things.”

Joao Escorio, of San Lorenzo, California, has been a plumber for 25 years. He’s the lead plumber for Stanford University Housing. As such, he maintains the plumbing systems for 376 buildings on campus, ranging from single-family kind dwellings to 12-story dormitory-style, graduate-style housing.

“I’ve used RIDGID tools as long as I can remember — the RIDGID pipe wrench is iconic, right?

When you think pipe wrench, you think RIDGID. I've been using the RIDGID tools forever — the pipe threaders, the pipe cutters, and the wrenches, obviously. Those were always the staple of the plumbing industry and continue to be the top tool in that industry. Almost everything I do requires my trusty old pipe wrench.”

Escorio also really loves the RP 241 press tool. “Most domestic water distribution as well as hydronic water distribution — everybody’s using press fittings. It is probably the Mercedes Benz of press tools. It's just really well made, ergonomic-wise. It's just a great tool and it's been dependable – just like RIDGID. They’ve been around so long, their pipe ridge design hasn't changed dramatically so you know it's tried and true. If had 10 wrenches to choose from and my life depended on it, without a doubt, I'd be grabbing a RIDGID wrench because I know they're tried and true. I've actually broken a few of the other brands, but I know for sure that RIDGID tool is going to be dependable, and they're going to stand behind it if I have any sort of problem.”

Like many other plumbers in the industry, Escorio is embracing technology.

“Our industry is advancing more and more — getting away from the trusty old wrench,” he says. “Now, we need all these fancy tools to further diagnose and share information with our customers. The cordless technology is just great. I recently purchased a cordless pipe machine from RIDGID. It’s hard to believe when I first started out that they would ever have a cordless pipe drain machine because of the amount of power it used to require. You used to have to run a heavy gauge cord, you couldn't even run it on a small gauge cord because it wouldn't have enough power to get through the blockage. And now, I'm just grabbing a charged battery and going out to the job, not having to worry about where that outlet is or how thin my cord may be. It's pretty cool what battery technology is doing for us today.”

Greg Schalk works for a commercial plumber in Mansfield, Ohio. He often works on large commercial jobs such as schools and jails. He has trusted DEWALT tools for 25 years because of brand’s reliability.

“I use the press tools every day — they speed up the process a lot,” he says. “It’s a lot faster than sweating copper anymore. I like the feel of them, and they’re starting to come out with a lot more tools now, which helps a lot.”

Press technology for faster, safer pipe joining

Over the past decade, companies have been making significant investments into pipe connection technology in order to help increase installation efficiency for plumbers, including Milwaukee Tool.

“Contractors didn’t want to deal with an open flame, having to pull hot work permits or arranging additional resources for fire watch,” says Alec Dietzel, senior product manager at Milwaukee Tool. “For repair jobs, contractors did not have the time to waste draining and drying a system before the work could begin. Press offered a safe, flameless alternative to sweat and solder that was consistent and up to 50% faster. Milwaukee invested heavily in press tool technology then and continues to double down today, driving press technology to tackle more of the pipe materials and systems contractors need to install, such as black iron, stainless steel, PEX, ACR and more.”

Dietzel notes that Milwaukee Tool is laser-focused on its commitment to the plumber and mechanical contractor and driving innovation for the trade.

“Press as a technology has fundamentally changed the way contractors install pipe on the job site,” he says. “Press offers a faster alternative to traditional methods such as sweat and solder, is flameless, and delivers consistent connections. For these reasons, press tools have become staple installation tools for all plumbers, mechanical contractors, and HVAC technicians trying to maximize productivity on the jobsite. As Milwaukee continues to push the bounds of press technology beyond copper installations, bringing the same benefits of press to more of the systems contractors install, the press tool market continues to grow with it.”

According to Michael Provenzano, director of marketing, press connection for RIDGID, safety is always a constant trend for plumbers and pipefitters.

“Our goal has always been to provide plumbers with quality tools for every job; tools that help them do quality work; tools that help them go home safe every night,” he says. “Plumbers know that their greatest assets are their own hands and body, so preventing injuries is critical. From a tool perspective, ergonomic designs can help with this.”

Provenzano uses pipe joining as an example — having to work with tools overhead or in an awkward position can lead to fatigue. “So having lightweight, compact — yet rugged — tools is important. In 2024, we’re celebrating our 25th year as the industry leader in pressing, and that leadership is due in part to constantly evolving our tools to help professionals work safer and more efficiently. Our pressing tools allow for secure pipe connections in less than five seconds — wet or dry, allowing professionals to hold the tools for less time. RIDGID pressing also creates a secure connection with no flame, for added safety.”

Plumbing pros are dependent upon their bodies for their livelihood, so staying healthy is important for both their careers and for their families, Provenzano adds.

“Pressing technology is a good example of innovation addressing this issue for plumbers,” he explains. “Our RP 350 and 351 pressing tools feature an ergonomic design that provides better weight distribution of the tool for an easier hold with less fatigue. These tools also feature a 360-degree swivel, helping plumbers access tight spaces easier without having to strain their backs or bend in uncomfortable — and potentially dangerous — ways. We are on our 7th generation of press tool with the RP350. Each platform upgrade comes with substantial steps forward in technology, reliability and we incorporate plumber insights for tool performance. The newest RP 350 is engineered to be 5% lighter and almost three inches shorter than its predecessor. Recently, we launched the RP 115 Mini Press Tool, the smallest, lightest hydraulic press tool on the market, allowing more tradespeople than ever to take advantage of pressing technology.”

Justin Burke, senior product manager for DEWALT, also notes that safety is a big driver when it comes to plumbing tools.

“Now more than ever, plumbers must work efficiently while maintaining a high level of safety,” he says. “Tools designed around improving speed of application to get the job done faster while never sacrificing safety or performance are a primary focus in design so that modern plumbers’ needs are met. As most are aware, there is an immense shortage of skilled, professional tradespeople which is especially true in the pipe trades. This dynamic drives more responsibility and volume of jobs to the existing contractor base amplifying the need to be more efficient in order to meet customer needs and ensure the success of their business.”

Burke adds that DEWALT spends an enormous amount of time doing observational research with plumbers on real job sites to determine how tool design, weight, feel and user interface can improve workflow, comfort and safety.

“Repetitive actions that result in heavy fatigue and can lead to chronic injury are target areas of improvement to make the plumber’s job less physically straining,” he says. “Tools that traditionally require manual, repetitive motions such as pipe cutting have been made easier by DEWALT’s copper and plastic pipe cutting solutions. Another example that speaks to DEWALT’s attention to detail are our easy-actuation press jaws for plumbing press tools. Our jaws utilize a small spring force allowing the jaws to be opened by pressing on just one side as opposed to the need to actuate both sides of the jaw as is commonly seen in the industry.”

Smarter tools than ever before

Plumbing contractors’ needs are evolving every day, Dietzel notes.

“Milwaukee’s research and development teams spend countless hours in the field on job sites with hundreds of contractors to uncover these needs and deliver press solutions that disrupt workflows and drive productivity and safety on the job,” he says. “Whether it’s tool intelligence features like Milwaukee’s prepress battery check that prevents contractors from beginning a press that the battery doesn’t have enough charge to complete, ONE-KEY cycle tracking and tool tracking for enhanced tool management or Milwaukee’s new pivoting press ring blocking system that physically prevents jaw and ring mismatches, Milwaukee takes a comprehensive approach to design to deliver innovation to all aspects of the contractor’s installation workflow. While we can’t reveal the future roadmap, we can assure that many disruptive press innovations, such as self-adjusting tools are under constant consideration and development.”

One of Milwaukee’s recent expansions to the press portfolio includes its new CTS-V Pivoting, IPS-P Pivoting and NIBCO Press Rings. These new pivoting press rings, combined with M12 or M18 FORCE LOGIC Press Tools, deliver access in tight spaces and around installed pipes, providing users with controlled, flameless connections for unmatched productivity. The press rings also feature blocking systems to prevent ring and ring jaw mismatch and markings on both rings and ring jaws to denote proper compatibility.

Provenzano agrees that smart technology has become more important on today’s job sites as a way to help professionals work smarter — not harder.

“Whether that’s utilizing software to keep track of battery status or tracking a tool’s location via a special app, technology is becoming completely integrated into the plumbing profession,” he notes. “We recognize that many tool platforms are an investment for tradespeople, and they want to manage that investment wisely. They want to know where their tools are, how much they’re being used and when it’s time to get scheduled service. Many of our tools, including pressing tools and drain cleaning equipment, are equipped with Bluetooth compatibility. The tools interface with RIDGID Link, an app that shares valuable insights about the tool. RIDGID Link helps you locate tools, monitor usage and check battery status quickly and easily via a phone or tablet with real-time data.”

Many of DEWALT’s plumbing tools also integrate or are compatible with DEWALT Tool Connect technology, according to Burke.

“This technology equips contractors with the power to virtually track tools and equipment through DEWALT’s Site Manager software,” he says. “Certain tools equipped with Tool Connect minimize downtime with features such as the “Last Seen” notification that provides the tool owner with the GPS location where your tool was last in range of your Tool Connect-enabled device. Additional diagnostics on the tool like internal coin cell battery life, temperature, number of trigger pulls and how long the tool has been running may also be available on these tools.”

For plumbing contractors, reliable tools are not just a luxury — they are a necessity. Precision, efficiency, safety, durability, professional reputation and adaptability all hinge on the quality of the tools used. Tool manufacturers are constantly work closely with plumbers in the field in order to identify industry trends and provide solutions for pain points. These new and advanced tools represent an investment in delivering exceptional service, achieving customer satisfaction and ensuring long-term success in the plumbing industry.