What's in your toolbox for home emergencies?

momoney

Recycles dryer sheets
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What are some things every "handy" homeowner should have around for emergencies? Some things I was thinking..
  • Supplies to fix a broken pipe. Pipe cutter and a Sharkbite fitting to cap it off.
  • A spare air conditioner capacitor.
  • A siphon to get gas out of the car for a generator
  • Tarps for a roof leak
 
If it’s not a left over from a prior job, I don’t have anything particular on hand for potential emergencies. I do have basic things like tarps, wood, nails, etc, but if something breaks or goes wrong, I’d be having to go to the store.
 
I'm going to the beach house my kid and husband live in. I'll show them how to replace dishwasher. So I got my smaller green bag and started throwing things in there. The primary I was looking for was a voltage tester. When we turn off the breaker, I want to make sure, ya know?

You might also have a plug-in circuit tester that shows faults for 3-wire circuit.
 
- a good toolkit and power tools, minimally a decent drill - can serve multiple purposes with attachments
- screws/nuts/bolts/washers/accessories
- electrical/duct/masking tape
- an assortment of wire nuts
- a good shop vac

for those with a basement:
- a pump of some sort
- spare garden hose
- hose adapters

We have a French drain with two sump pump holes in the basement, with a pump in each. I always have one or two spare pumps along with some length of 1 1/4" PVC pipe in case one, or heaven forbid both pumps die.

I think most DIYers are able to think creatively to solve an immediate/emergency scenario with what they have on hand, at a minimum good enough to hold them over until they can go and purchase proper supplies or call a pro to come and fix.
 
I have a very complete set of tools, was just brought up to fix things (thanks Dad). When I graduated from college, my Dad gave me a very full set of Craftsman (hand) tools, at least 300 pieces, to which I have added to over the years. Every time a job came up that I could reasonably do myself, I compared the cost of new tools needed to the cost of hiring a professional - and quality tools were usually cheaper, sometimes even at one use. Top quality tools, like Craftsman used to be, are invaluable IMO. When I buy tools, I never go cheap unless I know it's a one time use.

Bonus: DW is always impressed that 'I can fix stuff' - unlike many other men she knows - who have to 'call a guy' for anything/everything. Besides the satisfaction of being able to fix stuff, I am too impatient to wait for a guy - if something isn't right in our household, I want it fixed NOW. :)

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Like Midpack, I have a pretty full assortment of tools and have bought what the job has needed over the years. It's 30 miles to the nearest small hardware store and 55 miles to Home Depot or Lowes so I have a pretty good supply of nuts/bolts and nails, etc...
 
Other than screw drivers and a drill, not much. We just call a handyman to come over to fix stuff.
 
Cash

I already have just about any part and tool I'll ever need.
 
I have got lots of tools to cover various situations. In fact I have multiple sets of things for our cars as well as our shed. My workshop is in the basement, but I have a toolbox on the 1st and 2nd floor of our homes, too lazy to run down there every time.

Some of the tools were BTD choices, others were gifts from participating in conferences, or via the Megacorp employee rewards catalog.

Within 5-15 minutes I can get to Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, or Harbor Freight, so no issues running out to pick up or rent something I might not have.
 
My tools lean heavily into woodworking type tools as I have a pretty complete wood shop in my walkout basement with joiner, router table, table saw, band saw, table sander, planer, pen lathe, industrial scroll saw, drill press and various handheld tools which I have accumulated over the past 35 years.

I also do most of my own car maintenance but don't mind farming out the bigger jobs like when the rear seal went out on my Silverado and I didn't feel like pulling the transmission. My days of serious work under the car without a lift are behind me.

I don't often run into a situation where I need a tool I don't have and if I should have that need, my next door neighbor probably has two of what I need. His tool collection is amazing. I was chatting with him last week while he was charging a new A/C compressor he just put in one of his Jeeps and saw a brand new farm jack leaning against his garage wall. I was going to go out and buy one at Harbor Freight so I could pull up a rotted fence post to fix a short section of fencing but now he just saved me a bit of cash.
 
What are some things every "handy" homeowner should have around for emergencies? Some things I was thinking..
  • Supplies to fix a broken pipe. Pipe cutter and a Sharkbite fitting to cap it off.
  • A spare air conditioner capacitor.
  • A siphon to get gas out of the car for a generator
  • Tarps for a roof leak
I would solve those things with:
The name/number of a good reliable plumber
A hotel
Another hotel
Tarps, yes.

I far prefer throwing a little money at an occasional problem, vs. sweating how to solve it myself.
 
I would solve those things with:
The name/number of a good reliable plumber
A hotel
Another hotel
Tarps, yes.

I far prefer throwing a little money at an occasional problem, vs. sweating how to solve it myself.
Me too!
 
We have everything listed in the basic tool kit Midpack posted, just not all in the same place!
Neither DH or I are handy.
DSIL is and will fix anything for us if we ask. We usually call a repairman, though. I don't want to take up his weekends. He repairs all of the equipment for his company and climbs trees during the week, so needs some down time--lol.
 
... I don't often run into a situation where I need a tool I don't have ...
My story too. Heliarc welder? Check. Press Brake? Check. Woodworking Band Saw? Check. Drawers full of nuts and bolts, sorted by size? Check. German precision milling machine? Check. Hand tools? Hundreds. ... and so on. These days the bigger and more expensive tools tend to not get used very often but when one is needed it is essential to the project. I could sell all this stuff but I don't need the money and it would severely cripple my ability to fix and make things.
 
Can't make a list. Way too much stuff, tools, parts.
Will be scroungers heaven after am gone and auctioner puts it all out.
 
I have more tools than 99% of people. Plus a lot of various hardware, supplies, and raw materials. I can fix most things myself, or even fabricate something. I don't have an emergency kit, per se. I have my whole garage. I certainly don't call a repair person until I have investigated first, and then only when I am unable to do the repair myself.

I will agree having a spare sump pump, A/C capacitor, or other specialized item may come in handy, especially since things like that seem to always crap out on a holiday :mad::rant: It is more the convenience of having it while doing the repair, vs having to make a trip to buy what you need.
 
I have more tools than a guy who ever used them for work needs. Especially since Dad gave me a bunch of his, and will probably give me more. It needs organizing. Dad did HVAC work etc but is long retired.
 
Cash

I already have just about any part and tool I'll ever need.
LOL, I will say credit card!!

I do have tools and do fix a lot of small things... but if not that important I can skip fixing it quickly....

My sister sent me a joke.. I cannot find it but is was something like 'If you husband says he will fix it, HE WILL FIX IT... you do not have to nag him every six months"...
 
In the world I grew up in we either fixed it ourselves or did without so I learned to fix stuff at an early age. Like ls99, when I'm gone it'll be scrounger's heaven here when the auctioneer puts out all the tools. DW has in the past asked what to do when that happens, and my response was to call a couple of relatives to see what they can use, then call the auctioneer to make it all go away.
 
My sister sent me a joke.. I cannot find it but is was something like 'If you husband says he will fix it, HE WILL FIX IT... you do not have to nag him every six months"...
Seems reasonable to me... :)
 
Duct tape.
In addition to phone numbers for whatever professional is needed.

I do have some bolt cutters- used only once in 25 years but I’m prepared should I need to cut bolts.
 
Duct tape & bailing wire is all you really need.;)
But really I have about every tool you would ever need to fix anything in the house. There is no job, electrical, plumbing, or carpentry that I cannot do. I don't keep spare parts but I do have a large assortment of hardware.
 
Oh- I forgot to mention my glue gun. The kind used for crafting. It’s pretty handy to have.
 
I have lots of tools. A 24' x 22' detached workshop full. And yard tools in the attached garage. I handle almost all home/ property emergencies, and I can't remember the last time that I didn't have the tools I needed to do the job. But I do have to go to a hardware store on occasion for hardware that I don't have. I also have a tool set in my truck in case I need to work on something on the road. And a tool set in the basement for minor house repairs.
 
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