Title: Handy shortcuts for finding plumbing info quick
Honestly, I’ve found that snapping a bunch of pics can actually make things more confusing sometimes. You end up with a dozen nearly identical shots and still miss the one angle you really need. I get what you mean about hidden stuff—those little details always seem to hide right when you need them most.
I’ve tried doing video walkthroughs, but half the time my hands are in the way or I’m mumbling to myself and forget to focus on the important bits. What’s worked better for me is just slowing down and making a quick sketch, even if it’s rough. Doesn’t have to be fancy, just enough to remind me where things go or what’s tucked behind what. Sometimes old-school pen and paper beats tech, at least for me. Photos are great, but they don’t always tell the whole story, you know?
I get where you’re coming from with sketches, but I’ve actually had the opposite luck. There was this one time under a kitchen sink—tightest spot ever—and my quick phone pics saved me when I had to run out for parts. I could zoom in and catch a label or fitting I’d totally missed in person. Granted, half my camera roll is blurry nonsense, but every now and then, that random shot bails me out. Guess it depends on the job and how much coffee I’ve had...
Granted, half my camera roll is blurry nonsense, but every now and then, that random shot bails me out.
I hear you on the blurry nonsense—my phone’s full of mystery pipes and “what was I even aiming at?” shots. What’s worked for me is snapping a wide shot first, then close-ups of labels or tricky spots. If I remember, I’ll even stick a sticky note with a quick scribble in the frame, just for context later. Not perfect, but it’s saved me more than once when I’m staring at a wall of fittings at the store, totally blanking on what I needed... Coffee definitely helps, but sticky notes don’t forget!
Sticky notes in the frame—now that’s clever. I’ll admit, I’m usually too impatient and just snap whatever angle I can before I forget what I was supposed to be doing. But you’re right, it’s a lifesaver when you’re standing in the aisle, staring at a hundred nearly identical elbows and connectors, trying to remember if you needed 3/4" or 1/2".
That said, I’m not totally sold on the sticky note method for every job. Sometimes I’ll take a picture thinking “I’ll know what this means later,” only to realize my scribble looks like chicken scratch and the sticky note’s half folded over. Plus, if it falls off somewhere between the basement and the store, you’re back at square one.
What’s worked best for me—especially since I’m pinching pennies—is using a cheap little whiteboard marker right on the pipe or wall. Quick note, wipe it off later, no paper waste. It’s not perfect, but at least it doesn’t get lost in my tool bag or blown away by the dryer vent.
If I remember, I’ll even stick a sticky note with a quick scribble in the frame, just for context later.
I get the logic, but sometimes old-fashioned pen and paper (or even a voice memo) saves more headaches. My phone is always full of blurry nonsense too, but at least when I mumble into a voice memo, “leaking under kitchen sink—looks like 1/2” PEX to copper,” I have something to go on when my camera roll fails me.
Coffee definitely helps though. Or maybe it just makes me take more blurry photos... Either way, anything that keeps me from making yet another trip to the hardware store is worth a try.
- I totally get the sticky note thing, but I’m always worried I’ll forget to take it off and it’ll end up in the drain or something.
- The whiteboard marker idea is smart—never thought of that. I usually just write everything down in a little notebook, but then I’m paranoid about losing the notebook...
- Voice memos are great, but I always forget what I said or mumble too much.
- My biggest thing is double-checking pipe sizes before I leave the house. I’ve bought the wrong one more than once and it’s such a pain.
- Also, I always shut off the water and label everything before I start. Not exactly a shortcut, but it saves me from a mess later.
- Coffee helps, but sometimes I think it makes me overthink the whole process...
