Since buying our first house about a year ago, I’ve gotten really into DIY home repair, home improvement, etc. As a software engineer, I find that working with physical tools on physical problems is a refreshing change of pace after staring at a screen all day!
Plus, it’s an excuse to buy a bunch of tools!
Speaking of tools, I’ve been thinking about diagnostic tools that would be helpful for a homeowner to own. Here’s a list of the ones I own, organized roughly in order of importance.
- Smoke detectors (I got mine from Home Depot, Kidde brand)
- Carbon monoxide detectors (I got mine from Home Depot, Kidde brand)
- Non-contact voltage tester (this one from Klein Tools)
- Wall scanner / stud finder (like this one)
- Measuring tools
- OBD code reader (for getting vehicle error codes; I’ve got this cheap one from Autel)
- Combustible gas leak detector (this one)
- Multimeter (I really like this clamp-style one)
- Inspection camera (for getting a close look at hard-to-reach spots; I’ve got this affordable one)
- Moisture detector (this one, from Klein tools)
- Infrared thermometer (I have this one from Harbor Freight)
- Thermal camera (I got the HF96 thermal camera on a good sale)
Anything you would add or change about this list? Let me know!