As a homeowner, you’re ultimately responsible for the maintenance and care of your home. And even if you’re not an expert in plumbing, electrical work, or basic carpentry, you should keep a few tools in your home emergency repair kit—just in case disaster strikes. In some cases, you simply need enough tools to perform triage until someone else can come along with greater expertise and better resources to provide a long-term solution.
There’s no telling exactly when this kit will come in handy. A pipe could burst in your basement, a winter storm could cut power to your home, or a heavy thunderstorm could send a tree branch through your back door. During construction on our home, part of the foundation collapsed! We were lucky that we weren’t living in the house at the time, but it was an important reminder: Anything could happen!
If disaster strikes your home, do you have everything on hand necessary to deal with an emergency in Pittsburgh until a professional can visit?
How to Assemble Your Home Emergency Repair Kit
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of tools to keep in your emergency kit. This list is admittedly long, but you likely already have much of it around the house in junk drawers and toolkits!
Everyday Tools
Hammer - A sturdy hammer can quickly turn into a versatile multi-tool. Be sure yours is heavy enough to hang boards and pull nails.
Level - Although most emergency home repairs aren’t occasions for beautiful craftsmanship, an accurate level can help you in forging temporary repairs.
Tape Measure - Measure twice and cut once, as they say!
Box of nails - While there are many types of nails with many different purposes, a box of common nails will likely suffice for most home emergencies.
Box of screws - As with nails, there are countless different types of screws on the market. If you’re preparing for emergency repairs, though, keep a box of multi-purpose screws nearby. Multi-purpose screws can fill a variety of needs, plus their hardened tips mean you can skip pre-drilling.
Screwdrivers - Keep at least one Phillips-head screwdriver and one flathead screwdriver in your emergency kit. Although size could be important, a medium-sized screwdriver should suffice in most situations around the house.
Electric Drill - An electric drill combines the abilities of a hammer and a screwdriver, but be sure to keep it charged, and consider having an extra battery on hand.
Hacksaw - An electric saw can work as well, but the important thing is to have something that can help you quickly cut through obstacles or problems around the house.
Super Glue - A quick-drying adhesive is useful in a pinch. Be sure to have gloves handy so you don’t get the glue on your skin!
Duct tape - A roll of high-quality duct tape can serve numerous purposes and can withstand heavy abuse.
WD-40 - This popular lubricant and protectant is useful whenever you come across stubborn rust.
Prybar - A strong prybar is useful in pulling out nails, peeling back floorboards, and general demolition.
Extra Batteries - Before buying and storing extra batteries, check your electronics around the house to see what kind you’ll actually need.
A few planks of 2x4 - Wood may be expensive at the moment, but having a few lengths of 2x4 ready in the event of an emergency can be invaluable, especially if you suddenly need to board up a window, prop up a counter, or replace a broken wall. 2x4 is versatile, so it never hurts to keep some around!
A tarp - A versatile tool, a tarp is great for catching falling debris, protecting surfaces, and also serving as a makeshift wall in the event of a broken window or door.
Plumbing Emergency Tools
For plumbing-related emergencies, keep the following tools nearby:
Sink Plunger - Many people confuse their plungers, but sink plungers and toilet plungers are designed differently and serve different purposes. A sink plunger is one with a simple suction cup on the bottom, making it the ideal shape for unclogging backed-up sinks.
Toilet Plunger - You can tell a toilet plunger from a sink plunger because a toiler plunger has a flange on the end of the cup.
Plumbing Putty - Plumbing putty can help in hard-to-fix plumbing issues, as it’s designed to set and cure even when it’s wet.
Caulk - A high-quality caulk can quickly seal up cracks, assisting in waterproofing while also lending a hand in heating and insulation.
Wrench - If a pipe is leaking around the nut, a wrench can be your first defense. Tightening the nut slightly may stop the leak completely.
Five-gallon bucket - A five-gallon bucket is perfect for catching leaking water under the sink or in the attic, but it can also assist in bailing water out of the basement in a pinch. Bonus: A five-gallon bucket is useful for storage when it’s not in use.
Spare sump pump - Even if your basement already has a sump pump, having a backup pump can help if your sump pump struggles to keep up with rising water—or if it completely breaks under the strain.
Lighting Emergency Tools
If you suddenly lose power in a storm or if your bulbs suddenly burn out, these items can help:
LED lantern - If you lose electricity during a storm, an LED lantern can illuminate a room.
LED flashlight - While you don’t necessarily need to choose a flashlight with LEDs, the LEDs will last significantly longer while consuming less battery life.
Extra lightbulbs - Go around your home and look through your light sockets to see what each one requires.
Car Emergency Tools
If you have a car-related emergency, these two tools can be especially helpful:
Car jumpstart kit - Having a jumpstart system at home can get your car started in an emergency—even without another car present.
Fix-a-Flat or similar sealant - This spray can give your tire a few extra miles until you can have the tire professionally repaired or replaced. Important note: Only rely on these sealants in an emergency. Visit a mechanic or replace the tire as soon as possible.
While you’re at it, it also wouldn’t hurt to have an extra quart of oil, a gallon of antifreeze, and a bottle of washer fluid. And if you have the budget for it, an air compressor can assist in refilling deflated tires!
Safety Gear
For your own safety while working on emergency repairs around your home, be sure to keep the following handy:
Heavy Duty Gloves - Heavy work gloves should be enough for most residential purposes.
Safety Glasses - Safety glasses are useful in a variety of situations. Although these are generally most useful in woodworking applications, they can be helpful in any sort of construction—especially when power tools are involved.
A Dust Mask or Respirator - A high-quality mask is useful if you’re working with a lot of debris or dust, and they’re also helpful if you’re moving around in an old basement or attic.
Miscellaneous Supplies
Two more items to consider adding to your emergency kit:
Cash stash - This is one of the most important and overlooked tools in your emergency kit! If stores suddenly lose power, cash can help you buy goods or services without using a credit card or an ATM. If you can spare it, keep $100 in $20 bills in an envelope with the rest of your emergency gear. This can help you in the event of a true emergency, but it can also provide you with the funds necessary to replace anything from your emergency kit.
Fire extinguishers - You may already keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen—and that’s excellent. A good ABC fire extinguisher can help you fight off fires related to wood, flammable liquids, gasses, and energized electrical equipment. Remember: ABC extinguishers should receive maintenance every six years and a hydrostatic test every 12 years for best performance.
Storing Your Home Emergency Repair Kit
We’ve listed more than 30 important tools and types of equipment above, and it certainly won’t fit neatly into a kitchen drawer!
Instead, you may find better luck separating these supplies into a couple of tool bags or storage totes.
During storage, choose a cool, dry location on a shelf or workspace at least a few inches off the ground to prevent damage from flooding or moisture.
If your emergency kit spans multiple bags or boxes, carefully label each container with a list of its contents. In an emergency, you won’t want to waste time tearing through boxes to find the supplies you need!
Stay Safe
We’ve always said that when great people love where they live, great things will happen. But emergencies happen! And it’s better to be prepared than to be helpless. If you have questions, feel free to contact us at theblocks@blocksintheburgh.com!
Cheers,
Julie & Ted