Why Most Spanners Aren’t Designed for Real Plumbing Work
If you’ve spent any time on the tools, you’ll know this simple truth:
most plumbing jobs don’t happen in wide-open, comfortable spaces.
They happen under boilers.
Behind kitchen units.
Between pipes, walls, insulation, and awkward fittings that were never designed with access in mind.
Yet most spanners on the market are still designed as general-purpose tools. They’re thick, bulky around the jaw, and fine on a bench — but frustrating in real-world installs.
At Heatlab, we didn’t start by asking “how do we make another spanner?”
We started by asking a better question:
What actually makes plumbing jobs harder than they need to be?
The Real Problem: Tight Spaces and Thick Spanner Jaws
For plumbers, heating engineers, and gas engineers, one of the biggest frustrations is access.
When tightening or loosening compression fittings, especially 15mm and 22mm pipework, the spanner jaw is often the limiting factor. Standard spanners are simply too thick around the head to fit comfortably in confined spaces.
That’s where most plumber’s tools fall short.
You can have all the leverage in the world, but if the tool doesn’t physically fit where you need it — it’s useless.
Designing a Better Plumber’s Wrench (Working Backwards)
The Heatlab 24mm and 32mm compression spanner set was designed by working backwards from the problem.
The goal wasn’t to make a “nice looking” tool.
The goal was simple:
Create a plumber’s wrench that fits where others don’t — without sacrificing strength.
To do that, we focused on three key areas:
• A slim-profile jaw that genuinely fits into tight spaces
• A material hard enough to handle torque at reduced thickness
• A manufacturing process capable of holding tight tolerances consistently
This isn’t easy. Slimmer jaws usually mean weaker tools — unless the material choice and manufacturing are right.
Why 24mm and 32mm Matter for Plumbers
If you’re working with compression fittings day in, day out, you already know why these sizes matter.
• 24mm spanner – commonly used on 15mm compression fittings
• 32mm spanner – essential for 22mm compression fittings
These are two of the most used spanner sizes in domestic plumbing and heating work. Having a dedicated, slim-profile spanner for each size makes a noticeable difference on the job.
Rather than using adjustable wrenches or oversized tools that slip or chew fittings, a correctly sized plumber’s spanner gives you:
• Better grip
• More control
• Less risk of rounding fittings
• Faster, cleaner work
Slim Profile Doesn’t Mean Weak
One of the biggest misconceptions about slim spanners is that they won’t hold up under load.
That’s only true if the tool isn’t engineered properly.
The Heatlab compression spanners are manufactured using a high-strength steel and a controlled process that allows the jaw to be slimmer without compromising durability.
This means you can apply real torque when needed — even in awkward positions — without worrying about flex or failure.
It’s the difference between thin for the sake of it and thin because it’s engineered that way.
Built for Real-World Plumbing, Not Just a Toolbox
These spanners weren’t designed in isolation.
They were tested in real installs — under boilers, around Magnaclean filters, next to insulated pipework, and in the kinds of spaces plumbers work in every day.
That’s why the profile, length, and balance feel right in the hand.
They’re not oversized.
They’re not gimmicky.
They’re just practical, dependable plumber’s tools.
From Problem-Led Design to Sold-Out Product
When we launched the Heatlab 24mm & 32mm compression spanner set, we didn’t expect the response to be quite so fast.
The product sold out in a single day.
That wasn’t because of flashy marketing — it was because plumbers immediately recognised a tool that solved a genuine problem.
We’re now relaunching due to demand, and continuing to refine tools using the same problem-first approach.
Are These the Best Spanners for Plumbers?
Every plumber has their own preferences, but if you regularly work in tight spaces and deal with compression fittings, a slim-profile 24mm and 32mm spanner is one of those tools you don’t realise you need until you use one.
If you’re tired of:
• Fighting access
• Swapping between adjustable wrenches
• Scraping knuckles in tight cupboards
• Rounding fittings with oversized tools
Then these spanners were designed for exactly that kind of work.
Final Thoughts
Good plumber’s tools don’t need to be complicated.
They just need to be designed properly.
By starting with the problem — tight spaces — and working backwards, we’ve created a compression spanner set that fits real-world plumbing, not just a catalogue description.
If you’re looking for a dependable 24mm spanner, 32mm spanner, or a purpose-built plumber’s wrench that actually makes your job easier, this set was built with you in mind.
You can get yours here: https://heatlab.uk/products/spanner-set?srsltid=AfmBOorHa3o38pTQHOcJMDYh0Z69v6j9xtgEREjcx08Cg2xSwZXUwYxm
