Sharpies fade, but tape or tags stick around. Just don’t go overboard with too many colors or you’ll forget what’s what...
Honestly, I get the appeal of color coding, but I’ve had mixed luck with tape sticking long-term—especially in damp basements. I started using metal tags with etched labels for main lines. Not as colorful, but they’re basically indestructible. Guess it depends on your setup.
Metal tags are a solid idea, especially if you’ve got a lot of turnover or contractors coming through. I used to rely on colored tape, but after one too many floods, half the labels peeled right off. Now I keep a laminated map of the plumbing runs taped inside the utility closet—nothing fancy, just a quick sketch with valve locations and what they control. It’s saved me from a few headaches when something goes sideways at 2am.
Laminated maps are a lifesaver, especially when you’re half-awake and knee-deep in water. Ever had someone move a valve or swap a line and forget to update the map, though? That’s bitten me before—ended up shutting off the wrong section and got a face full of cold water for my trouble. Do you ever double-check your map against the actual setup, or just trust it’s still accurate? I’m always paranoid someone’s changed something without telling me...
Do you ever double-check your map against the actual setup, or just trust it’s still accurate? I’m always paranoid someone’s changed something without telling me...
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I don’t always double-check unless something feels off. Most of the time, if the map’s been reliable before, I’ll trust it—otherwise you’d spend half your day tracing lines. That said, I’ve definitely been burned by someone “fixing” a line and not marking it. Once had to drain a whole section twice because of that. Still, I’d rather risk it than crawl around every time, unless it’s a new site or something’s acting weird.
I’m with you on being cautious—trust but verify, right? I usually check the main shutoffs and anything that looks recently touched. Had a neighbor swap a valve once and not mention it... cost me an afternoon. It’s worth a quick look if you’ve got doubts.
