That’s honestly a smart move with the diagram—sometimes the simplest backup is the best. I’ve had similar issues with tags just not holding up, especially when things get humid. Ever tried recycled paper tags with a laminate? Not perfect, but at least they’re less wasteful. Either way, as long as you can trace what’s what without a headache, you’re doing better than most.
I once tried using those fancy plastic tags—figured they'd last forever. Turns out, they just got brittle and snapped off after a year or two. Ended up scribbling notes on masking tape and sticking them right to the pipes. Not pretty, but at least I know which valve does what now... until the tape peels off in the next heatwave. Laminate sounds clever, but I always lose my laminator.
Those plastic tags never hold up as long as you’d hope—seen plenty crack or just fade out completely. Masking tape’s quick, but yeah, it’s not built for the long haul. I’ve had decent luck with aluminum tags and a punch set, if you don’t mind the extra effort. They don’t peel or get brittle, at least. Kind of old school, but sometimes that’s what works.
I’ve had decent luck with aluminum tags and a punch set, if you don’t mind the extra effort. They don’t peel or get brittle, at least.
Aluminum tags are solid, but honestly, I’ve had some get pretty grimy over the years—hard to read unless you wipe them down every so often. I actually switched to using heat-resistant cable markers for my boiler lines. Not as “classic,” but they’re tough and you can swap them out without much hassle. Just depends how much you wanna mess with it down the road, I guess.
I actually switched to using heat-resistant cable markers for my boiler lines. Not as “classic,” but they’re tough and you can swap them out without much hassle.
- Ran into the same grime problem with aluminum tags—once had to scrape one with a screwdriver just to read it.
- Tried zip ties and a Sharpie for a while... lasted until the first leak. Oops.
- Heat-resistant cable markers are way less hassle, but I kinda miss the old-school look sometimes.
- At the end of the day, anything’s better than guessing which line is which when you’re in a crawlspace at 2am.
