Email: tami@palmersplug.com
Palmer's Plastics: Invented for plumbers by a plumber
If you live in the West, you may have already heard about the "Palmer's® Plug". The Palmer's® Plug is a plastic cup shaped device designed to fit into a test tee. Our competing product is the Blow-up-ball, A rubber product, not plastic. Knock-out Test Plugs & End Caps are an altogether different product. They fit on the end of a pipe not a clean-out fitting.
The Plug was developed in the mid 1980's by Denny Palmer, himself an apprentice plumber. After testing drainage lines on a cold day in Utah, and once again finding himself soaking wet, it became apparent to Denny that a product needed to be created that directed the water down the drain rather than onto the technician. In addition to keeping the plumber dry, the Palmer's® Plug provides the added benefit of releasing the 35 lbs. of water pressure it holds before the plumber is required to reach his hand into the tee, thereby reducing the risk of injury. Because of these benefits, once a plumber discovers the Palmer's® Plug he rarely returns to the blow-up-ball.
Once Denny Palmer had perfected his Palmer's® Plug, local supply houses reluctantly began to stock it. By the time the apprentice plumber became a journeyman, 4 sizes of the plug were introduced. (1½ , 2, 3, 4) and demand for the product was spreading throughout the Intermountain West.
As news of the product began to filter to others parts of the nation, and realizing that plumbing testing needs vary in different regions of the country, Denny Palmer created a new plastic disc called the Palmer's® Rip Plug, connected to a four foot strap. It fits into a double clean out. When the test is completed, the strap is pulled and the entire disc is removed.
Using the same patent by applying it to another fitting, the "Palmer's® Closet Rip" was also invented. This "Rip Plug" designed to install into a closet flange. When testing is completed, pulling on the tab with a pair of pliers removes the entire plug, thereby eliminating the possibility of knocking the plug down the drain and clogging the system.
"Necessity is indeed the mother of invention," according to Denny Palmer and chances are this Plumber/inventor will continue looking for creative ways to solve the problems he encounters on the job. If you are a plumber, his solutions could be your solutions too.
Denny and his wife would like to take an opportunity to thank all of the plumbers who have requested that the Palmer's® Plastics products be stocked at their local supply house. They could not grow without the support and recommendation of plumbers everywhere!
More Palmer's Plastics plumbing test solutions:
Please contact a Palmer's Plastics representative today at 1-702-346-6569, or send us an e-mail for more information.