How to make it easier to turn water main?

[Tonze]

When I go on holiday I turn my water off.

I have two of these nozzles. 1 is easy to turn the other is hard. Is there a gadget I can buy to make it easy?

 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Tonze. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about tap wrenches.

There are special tools that councils and water authorities use for their own shut-off valves, but those valves are a completely different design with a matching tap wrench head. The style of taps you have beside your meter does not use that type of fitting, and as far as I am aware, there isn’t a purpose-made tool that will make those particular valves any easier to turn. If one turns freely and the other is stiff, it may simply be ageing or mineral build-up inside the mechanism rather than anything you can solve with an attachment. I will tag @Dave-1 and @Noyade to see if they have any thoughts on whether there is a workaround.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @Tonze 

I am thinking of a piece of steel pipe 30mm inside diameter or 40mm (depends on how big those Blue caps are)

Cut a notch out of the pipe that is as wide as the handle arm. Make sure that the depth of the notch is at least the depth of the handle itself.

Make the pipe 1m long,  at the other end of the pipe drill a 8mm hole straight through the pipe.

So now you have a long style notched spanner. You can drop it over the taps head and it will lock into place with the arm. Use a screwdriver shaft through the 8mm hole to enable the pipe to be turned. Please note that you will be able to put a LOT of force on the tap itself so go easily.

Also Note, when using a grinder to wear safety gear, goggles and gloves plus something to hold the pipe in place (pipe clamp or vice). For the sides of the spanner cut you can use a grinder, for the flat part you could use a smaller drill and dot it across the line with holes.

Dave

[Dave-1]

Morning @Tonze 

Just bumped into my plumber mate at work and asked him what tool he would use, those taps are starting to be used on installs apparently. 

 

So the tongs fit over the arm of the tap and you turn the tong so it locks and then turn the whole lot in a small ark. 

He also said you only need to turn off one tap not both to isolate the water to your building. 

The last one he suggested was to get a tap installed somewhere before it goes into your house so you can easily isolate your water. Costs $$$ but it's an option.

Dave