Orbit 53034 5’ Steel Water Main Curb Valve Key, Grey

I ended up not needing this item but will keep it around anyway just in case. It looks to be well made and doesn't look like it would be prone to failure. No wrench is indestructible on a valve frozen due to corrosion.

Having this thing in the house is like a keeping shotgun behind the kitchen door or umbrella in your car - if you have them you may never need them, and that's a good thing. Then one day if you have to shut down water meter main and you find out it is either too deep or too stuck, having this thing will be most appreciated home emergency gizmo wrench you ever wished you purchased. Anyway, it is good and strong wrench, well worth the money and must-have item at home.

I am a very "Picky" consumer. "UP Front Value/Worth" may be "assessed/estimated only" ... whereas "Endurance or Effective Long term Workmen-ship will be determined over time ! We consumers, or most of us, can/may only be able to estimate an item's OVERALL VALUE, from the seat of our pants (or so to speak) ! With that said: This device , as received "Curb Stop Wrench "initially functions as hoped for. "Long Term Functionally" is yet to be determined. However; I can share with you... THIS CURB STOP WRECH GETS THE JOB DONE AS HOPED FOR."THIS wrench" is not a solid rod, whereas the wrench's extended length (reach) and top handle are both tubular and lighter than my original wrench. It.. and, at this point & time, it functions as needed and as hoped for. The wrench finish appears to be "Black Powder Coated". FOR MY APPLICATION, a "U joint knuckle at the business end of this wrench would have been inevitable, because my meter's overall opening by compared to the meter's pit "cap"/opening size or (Access Diameter) may be smaller than it should be for my or this "larger 1" service sized meter. So much to be said for our local county code/rules and guidelines.

My plumbing is old enough that the bathroom sink doesn't have built-in cutoffs, so when it developed a leak, I needed to cut off the water at the curb to replace the faucet core and washer.The only water key I could find in town was a 24" "multi purpose" key at Lowes. It was flimsy and not long enough to reach the cutoff and leave enough key above the meter box rim for leverage. I didn't accomplish anything beyond scraping the skin off my knuckles.This key is one piece and *very* solid and sturdy. At 5 feet, I was able to really put my back into turning it, which was good as the cutoff hadn't been worked in 20 or so years and it was really reluctant to turn.The only caveats I would list are that if you are smaller than an average adult male and/or your cutoff is not at least a foot (or more) below ground, this key may be too tall for you.

... But I chose to pay for the convenience of having it shipped to me due to the then-higher COVID counts in my city. It was the right length to shut off the water spigot which is three feet below ground, and the bottom part is the perfect size to turn the flat lever shut off valve. Now I'm set for winter and spring to turn on/off the hose spigot, and it's also good to have in case of an emergency (frozen, split pipe, which initiated the need to have a shut off installed three feet deep).

We have a dual leach field switch that sits roughly 50 inches below grade. We purchased this device for $18.98- well below what everyone else is asking. It is sturdy, it works. What more can one ask for!

Works but super thin metal.

Great tool for the money! There are some higher end curb keys made for daily professional use but this one is very well made and good enough quality, and inexpensive enough, for the homeowner who may need emergency or occasional access, to a recessed valve. I have dearly wished I had one of these twice now and only bought after the fact. If you think you could ever possibly need one of these, get it now before hand - an emergency call to the Fire Department may be your only other option. Check local ordinance before using on utilities, such as a water main, other than in an emergency.