Honestly, I get the hesitation on the metal tags, but I’ve seen folks get creative with other stuff that holds up better than masking tape.
Funny how fast you learn that lesson, right? I’ve used zip ties and those plastic garden tags with a paint pen—cheaper than metal and they actually last. Not the prettiest, but they do the job. The puzzle never ends with old plumbing, though... sometimes even the pros have to scratch their heads.“At least now I know not to trust anything that isn’t waterproof in that closet.”
Yeah, those plastic tags with a paint pen are kind of underrated. I’ve used them too, and they hold up way better than tape—especially in damp spots. Metal tags are nice but honestly, overkill for most home setups. The real headache is when you find a pipe that isn’t labeled at all... then it’s just trial and error. Old plumbing always has a surprise waiting.
Man, I hear you on the mystery pipes. I once spent half a Saturday tracing a line that turned out to be capped off behind the wall—totally useless, but it had me convinced it was some critical feed. I’ve tried all the labeling tricks, too. Honestly, I stick with plastic tags and a Sharpie now. Metal tags just rattle around and look over the top for what I need. The real pain is when you’re dealing with pipes from three renovations ago... you never know what’s still live.
Yeah, those old lines are a headache. I’ve seen folks get a nasty surprise when they assume a pipe’s dead and it’s actually still live—water everywhere or worse. Ever run into any pipes that were mislabeled or just plain confusing? Sometimes even the tags don’t help much if someone used shorthand only they understood...
Man, tell me about it. I once spent an afternoon tracing what I thought was an old heating line—turned out it was still tied into the main. Nearly flooded the basement. Honestly, half the time those tags are more confusing than helpful. I just started making my own notes with a Sharpie right on the pipe. At least then I know what’s what next time I’m crawling around down there.
