a fire hydrant wrench is used to access the water valves inside a fire hydrant

During firefighting, a fire hydrant wrench is used to access the water valves inside a fire hydrant. Hydrants are found in many different locations, including the streets, parking lots, and even in buried hillsides. In some places, hydrants are covered by overgrown shrubs, making them nearly impossible to access. The wrench can be used to access the hydrant and to shut off the hydrant. Using a hydrant wrench can be a dangerous task because of the potential for hydrants to get stuck or to close. The wrench must be used in a specific manner to avoid damaging the hydrant. Several types of wrenches are available. Some wrenches have curved parts and are used to loosen stuck caps and tighten hose couplings. Other wrenches are used to loosen the nuts and bolts on a hydrant.

A fire hydrant wrench is different from shop type wrenches in that it is larger. It is made of heavy-duty materials and is designed to be adjustable. A fire hydrant wrench also has a long handle to provide leverage. The hydrant wrench also has a ratcheting feature to help it open the hydrant valve. This allows firefighters to open the hydrant in a safer position.

Another feature of a fire hydrant wrench is a "chatter thread" arrangement. This feature enables the firefighter to quickly remove the wrench from the hydrant without having to turn the handle. The firefighter can then thread the handle back into the head to grip the fixture. The firefighter then turns the handle to tighten the end cap 37 against the fixture. This feature eliminates the need to reposition the valve or to turn the handle in order to tighten the end cap.

The "chatter thread" arrangement also speeds the wrench's operation. Typical fire hydrant wrenches have coarsely spaced threads. This means that the threads are slow to thread and to unthread. This can be especially difficult if the firefighter must perform a sequence of operations. In order to prevent this, the firefighter needs to be able to withdraw the wrench from the hydrant quickly.

A further feature of a fire hydrant wrench includes gripping teeth that are positioned inside the opening. These teeth provide gripping force to help prevent the wrench from dropping off of the hydrant. They are fastened inside the opening by recessed bolts. These teeth are oriented parallel to the principal plane 34 a of the head.

The hydrant wrench's head can also be made of a different material than the handle. For example, it can be made of a malleable iron head. This allows the wrench to be adjusted to fit different pentagon-shaped bolts. In addition, a steamer port may be provided on the hydrant wrench head.

In another feature, the handle of a fire hydrant wrench is designed to provide maximum leverage for opening hydrants. This is a benefit that other wrenches do not have. This feature allows the firefighter to repeatedly open and close the hydrant without the wrench falling off the hydrant.