Stainless steel tags are definitely the way to go if you want something that’ll last and not smudge or fall off when you least expect it. I’ve seen too many plastic ones turn into mystery blobs after a few months in a damp crawlspace. The only thing I’d add—if you’re using steel, make sure the edges aren’t sharp. Had one slice my glove open once and it wasn’t fun at 3 AM. Laminated maps are underrated, too... simple, reliable, and you don’t have to fumble with your phone when things are already going sideways.
Man, you’re speaking my language with the plastic tags turning into “mystery blobs.” I tried to save a few bucks with those once and ended up playing a game of “guess that pipe” in my basement. Not fun when you’re half-awake and ankle-deep in water. Stainless steel’s definitely worth the extra couple bucks, but yeah, those edges can be sneaky sharp. I wrapped a bit of electrical tape around mine—probably not the most professional fix, but hey, it saved my fingers and my wallet.
Laminated maps are genius, too. My phone always seems to die or lose signal right when I need it most. Plus, nothing beats being able to slap a map on the wall and just point at stuff when you’re trying to explain your plumbing maze to someone else. My only gripe is that I always lose dry-erase markers, so half my notes end up being in pencil anyway.
Anyway, props for thinking ahead. It’s always the little things that make the difference when chaos hits at 2 AM.
Yeah, those stainless tags are a pain if you’re not careful. I actually switched to reusable silicone bands—no sharp edges, and you can write on them with a grease pencil. As for maps, I just tack mine inside the utility closet door. Out of sight but always there when I need it. Dry-erase markers? I swear they vanish into thin air... I just keep a regular pencil tied to a string nearby now.
I get the appeal of silicone bands, but I’ve had mixed luck with them—sometimes the writing smudges if there’s condensation. I’m still partial to old-school metal tags, but I wrap a bit of electrical tape around the edges to avoid those nasty cuts. As for maps, I laminated mine and stuck it behind a clear panel on the wall. It’s not pretty, but at 2 AM when water’s spraying everywhere, I want zero guesswork. And yeah, dry-erase markers are like socks in the dryer... always disappearing.
As for maps, I laminated mine and stuck it behind a clear panel on the wall. It’s not pretty, but at 2 AM when water’s spraying everywhere, I want zero guesswork.
That’s honestly the smartest move. When things go sideways, you just want the info right there, no fiddling. I’ve tried silicone bands too—same issue with smudging, especially in a damp basement. Metal tags last longer, but yeah, those edges are brutal. Electrical tape’s a good fix. I’d rather have something ugly and reliable than “nice” and useless in a pinch.
