Every installer knows the feeling: you’re on site, ready to crack on with the job, and you’re one fitting short. One missing coupler or valve means wasted time, an extra supplier run, and a project that slips behind schedule. The most profitable installers aren’t just good on the tools, they’re prepared. And that starts with keeping the right stock in the van.
Here’s a no-nonsense look at the bathroom installation essentials every trade van should carry, from fittings to fixings, so you never get caught short on site.
Compression Fittings You’ll Always Need
Compression fittings are the bread and butter of bathroom installs, and the small pieces that hold up big jobs when they’re missing. A few that always earn their place in the van:
-
28mm compression coupler – perfect for joining larger pipework in older properties or multi-unit projects.
-
32mm straight connector – essential for waste systems, keeping installs tight and leak-free.
-
8mm to 15mm compression reducer – because mismatched pipework sizes still show up on refurb jobs.
Having a range of reducers, elbows, and couplers to hand means you can deal with whatever pipework you find when you lift the floorboards.
Blanking Plugs and Caps
Temporary fixes are sometimes the difference between handing over a working bathroom and chasing parts for days. A simple 32mm blanking plug or a 15mm end cap can isolate unused runs and keep jobs moving until the final fit. They take up almost no room in the van but save hours of hassle on site.
Bath Panels and Screens
It’s not just pipework that holds jobs up, finishing details matter too. Keeping a spare bath panel or a 700mm bath screen in stock gives you options if a supplied panel arrives damaged or a client changes their mind at the last minute. Bath screens are especially worth having as a backup, as sizes like 700mm are standard enough to cover most shower-bath installs.
Valves and Connectors
From float valves to non-return valves, these are the small components that can derail a day’s work if they’re missing. A 40mm non-return valve, for example, is a staple for waste systems and avoids the risk of backflow in high-use bathrooms. Likewise, keeping a few 15mm to ½ inch male connectors in the van ensures you can always adapt pipework without holding up a project.
Takeaway
The difference between a smooth job and a snag-filled day often comes down to the little things. Stocking up on compression couplers, blanking plugs, bath panels, bath screens, and valves means fewer delays, happier clients, and more profitable projects.
At Allbits, we supply trade-ready fittings and bathroom products designed to make your life easier on site. From reinforced baths and bath panels to the small parts that keep jobs moving, we’ve got the essentials covered.
Browse our full range of trade fittings and bathroom products and keep your van stocked for whatever the next job throws at you.