- I’ve tried a bunch of “permanent” markers and they all faded or just washed off after a season, especially anywhere damp.
- The aluminum tags are solid, but I’m always worried about sharp edges under the house—easy to snag a hand or arm if you’re not careful.
- Lately, I’ve been using those metal embossing labelers—letters stay readable, and no ink to fade. Downside is they’re pricier and a bit clunky to use in tight spots.
- Curious—how are folks keeping track of which tag goes to what line when you’ve got a mess of pipes in a crawlspace? I’ve had to redo my whole system after a tenant accidentally pulled off half my tags during a repair...
I’ve run into the same headache with tags getting mixed up or just plain lost, especially in crawlspaces where everything’s a tangle. The embossing labelers are solid, but yeah, they’re not cheap and I’ve definitely scraped my knuckles trying to get them on in tight spots.
What’s worked for me is a combo approach—color-coded zip ties as a backup. I’ll put a red tie on hot water, blue on cold, yellow for gas, etc. Even if the main tag gets yanked off, the color gives me a quick clue. Not perfect, but it’s saved me a few times when things got confusing under there.
I’ve also started keeping a rough sketch or photo on my phone showing which line is which, just in case. It’s not fancy, but it helps when you’re staring at a mess of pipes and can’t remember what you did last year. The only real downside is remembering to update it if you change anything, but it beats starting from scratch every time.
I’ve also started keeping a rough sketch or photo on my phone showing which line is which, just in case.
That’s actually genius. I tried the zip tie thing too, but then I got paranoid about mixing up colors if I ever had to redo something. My worst fear is accidentally turning off the wrong valve and flooding the place... so now I keep a laminated “map” taped inside the utility closet. It’s not pretty, but at least it won’t get lost in my phone’s photo abyss.
Laminated maps are underrated, honestly. I did something similar but used recycled cardboard and a bit of clear tape—definitely not winning any design awards, but it’s held up for years. I like that it’s always right there, no scrolling through my phone or worrying about battery life. One thing I added was a quick note about which valves are safe to shut off if there’s a leak. It’s saved me a lot of stress, especially when I’m in a hurry or someone else needs to help out.
I like that it’s always right there, no scrolling through my phone or worrying about battery life.
Couldn’t agree more with this. I’ve seen too many folks rely on their phones for everything, but when you’re ankle-deep in water and your hands are covered in grime, a laminated map or even a taped-up sketch on the wall beats any app. I’ve got a beat-up old diagram in the utility closet—nothing fancy, just marker on printer paper with packing tape over it. It’s ugly, but it’s saved me more than once.
One thing I’d add: color code your shutoff valves if you can. I use cheap colored stickers from the dollar store—red for “never touch,” green for “safe to close.” Makes a world of difference when you’re in a rush or someone else is helping out who doesn’t know the system. Honestly, digital tools are great until they aren’t. Sometimes low-tech just works better, especially in emergencies.
