Handy shortcuts for finding plumbing info quick

Metal clamps are the old reliable, but man, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve dropped that tiny screw in a puddle or behind a water heater. The “three hands and a flashlight” thing is spot on - sometimes I feel like I need to grow an extra arm just to keep the clamp from spinning while I tighten it. And don’t get me started on trying to do it one-handed in a crawlspace with a mouthful of flashlight.

Velcro just gets gross, and those silicone bands never seem to stay put for me.

Couldn’t agree more. Velcro and water are like oil and vinegar - never really mix, and you end up with a fuzzy mess. Those silicone bands look slick in the package, but after a week under a sink, they’re halfway across the room or stuck to the bottom of the cabinet.

I will say, I’ve had a little luck with those big rubber twist ties for holding stuff out of the way, but yeah, wouldn’t trust them for anything under pressure. Once tried to use one to hold a dishwasher drain hose in place “just for a minute” and forgot about it... came back two days later to find the hose had popped loose and turned the cabinet into a swamp. Lesson learned.

Curious if anyone’s found a shortcut for figuring out which clamp size you need without running back and forth to the van? I’ve started keeping a little strip of painter’s tape in my pocket - wrap it around the pipe, mark it, then match it up to the clamp in the box. Not perfect, but better than eyeballing it and grabbing the wrong size three times in a row. Anyone got a better hack for that?

Honestly, I’m not sold on the painter’s tape trick. Tried it a couple times and ended up with sticky bits all over my pockets and tools. I just keep a cheap plastic caliper in my bag - nothing fancy, but it’s dead simple to get a quick measurement and saves me the guesswork. Plus, no sticky residue. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather measure once than mess with tape or eyeballing.

Honestly, I’m not sold on the painter’s tape trick. Tried it a couple times and ended up with sticky bits all over my pockets and tools.

Painter’s tape has never really worked for me either, to be honest. I get what you mean about the sticky bits - half the time I’d forget the tape was in my pocket until I found it stuck to my phone or a screwdriver. I’ve actually started carrying one of those little sewing tape measures. Folds up super small, and you can wrap it around pipes for a quick check. Not as precise as a caliper, but it’s been handy in a pinch. Different tools for different folks, I guess.

Funny, I used to swear by painter’s tape for marking pipe cuts, but after a few too many sticky surprises in my tool bag, I switched things up. These days, I keep a small flexible ruler tucked in my pouch - doesn’t stick to anything and works for quick measurements. I’ve seen some folks use zip ties as quick pipe sizers too, just mark the tie and snip it off when you’re done. Not perfect, but it gets the job done when you’re in a hurry.

Not perfect, but it gets the job done when you’re in a hurry.

I hear you on the painter’s tape - sticky residue is a pain, and it always seems to attract every bit of dust in the bag. That flexible ruler trick is underrated, honestly. I’ve tried the zip tie method too, but found it a bit fiddly for anything larger than 1" pipe. Still, like you said, “it gets the job done when you’re in a hurry.” For me, a small combo square has been a lifesaver for straight cuts and quick checks. Not as compact, but worth the space if you’re doing a lot of repairs.

Combo square is a solid call. I picked one up at a yard sale for a couple bucks, and it’s paid for itself over and over. It’s not the smallest thing in my toolbox, but I’d rather have straight cuts than save a little space, honestly. That painter’s tape trick - yeah, I’ve had that sticky mess on my hands too. Once, I left some on overnight and it felt like glue the next day. Lesson learned.

I tried using an old phone charger cord to mark pipes once (don’t ask), but it stretched just enough to throw off my line. Sometimes you just gotta work with what you’ve got, right? Anyway, shortcuts are lifesavers when you’re juggling repairs and trying not to spend a fortune on new gadgets. Glad to know I’m not the only one making do with whatever’s handy.

Combo squares really are the unsung heroes - mine’s been dropped more times than I care to admit and it’s still dead accurate. I hear you on the tape mess; I’ve started using blue tape, but even that can get gummy if you leave it too long. That phone charger cord idea is creative, though! I once tried using a shoelace to mark a pipe and ended up with a wavy line... not my proudest moment. Sometimes the “shortcut” just adds another step to clean up. Still, I’d rather improvise than run out for a single-use tool every time.

I get where you’re coming from with the improvising, and I’ve done my fair share of “make it work” jobs over the years. But I’ll say, there’s a line between creative shortcuts and stuff that can come back to bite you - especially with plumbing. I’ve seen tenants try to fix a leak with duct tape or mark pipes with whatever’s handy, and it usually turns into a bigger headache down the line. That gummy tape residue? It gets everywhere, and if you’re dealing with copper or PVC, cleaning it off without damaging the material can be a pain.

Combo squares are rock solid, agreed, but I’d argue for keeping a couple of basics on hand instead of always reaching for the nearest workaround. For example, a pipe marking tool isn’t expensive, and it saves so much time compared to fiddling with cords or shoelaces (which, yeah, never gives a straight line). Plus, some of those “shortcuts” can actually be safety issues. I’ve seen folks try to use a phone charger cord near water - nope. Not worth the risk.

I get not wanting to run out for every little thing, but sometimes that ten-minute trip to the hardware store saves hours cleaning up a mess or fixing a mistake. I’m all for working smarter, but I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that certain tools exist for a reason. If you’re managing multiple properties or even just your own place, it pays off in the long run.

That said, I do keep blue tape in my kit - just don’t leave it on overnight if you want to avoid scrubbing later. And as for marking pipes, those wax pencils are cheap and wipe off clean. Might not be as “creative” as a shoelace, but my back thanks me later.

Shortcuts are fine until they aren’t - that’s my two cents.

Couldn’t agree more about the “shortcuts are fine until they aren’t” bit. I’ve seen way too many “temporary” fixes turn into permanent headaches - especially when someone thinks electrical tape is a universal solution. One thing I’d add: investing in a decent pipe deburring tool is underrated. It’s not just about marking or measuring; rough edges can mess up seals and lead to leaks later. I get the urge to improvise, but nine times out of ten, having the right tool saves your sanity (and your knuckles).

I get where you’re coming from about using the right tool, but honestly, sometimes it feels like the “proper” tool is just another thing to buy and store. I’ve used a file or even sandpaper to deburr pipes in a pinch, and it’s worked out fine - maybe not perfect, but no leaks so far. Not saying it’s the best way, but if you’re only doing a couple of cuts, it seems overkill to buy a specialty tool you’ll use once every few years.

That said, I totally agree about electrical tape - seen some wild “fixes” with that stuff. But sometimes improvising isn’t the end of the world if you know what you’re doing and keep an eye on it. Guess it depends how much you trust your own handiwork... or how much you hate trips to the hardware store.

Honestly, I get that. If you’re only making a couple cuts, grabbing whatever works makes sense - no point in buying a tool that’ll just collect dust. I’ve used sandpaper to clean up copper edges before, too. It’s not textbook, but as long as you’re careful and check for burrs, it usually does the trick. Sometimes, the “right” tool is just about saving time or effort, but it’s not always necessary if you’re patient.

Funny thing about electrical tape - seen it wrapped around leaks like some magic fix. Never ends well. Improvising can work in a pinch, but I guess it comes down to knowing when you’re pushing your luck. If you’re confident in your work and keep an eye on things, shortcuts aren’t always a disaster. Just gotta know where to draw the line between clever and risky...

Yeah, I’ve definitely seen some creative “fixes” over the years - duct tape on a pinhole leak comes to mind. It’ll hold for a day or two, but you’re just setting yourself up for a mess later. I get the urge to improvise when you’re in a pinch, though. Once used an old toothbrush handle to wedge open a stuck valve because it was all I had on hand... worked surprisingly well, but I wouldn’t recommend making a habit of it. Sometimes you just gotta make do, as long as you keep safety in mind and don’t expect miracles from quick fixes.

I get the whole “make do with what you’ve got” thing, but honestly, those quick fixes can end up costing more in the long run. Duct tape on a leak is just asking for water to find its way somewhere worse. I’ve seen folks try to MacGyver stuff and then call me when it’s a full-blown flood. Sometimes it’s worth taking an extra hour to track down the right info or part instead of risking a bigger headache later. Not saying I haven’t improvised in a pinch, but I’d rather avoid it if I can.

Couldn’t agree more about the dangers of quick fixes. I’ve patched a pinhole with tape before, thinking it’d buy me a week, and ended up with a soaked cabinet the next day. It’s tempting to just slap something on and move on, but water always finds a way. Taking the time to look up the right part or method usually saves a lot of hassle - and money - in the end. That said, sometimes you’re in a bind and have to improvise... but I try to treat those as temporary, not permanent solutions.

I get the hesitation around quick fixes, but sometimes a temporary patch is all you need to buy a little time - especially if you’re waiting on a part or a plumber. I’ve used epoxy putty on a small leak and it actually held up for a couple weeks, no drama. Not saying it’s ideal, but in a pinch, it can work better than expected. Maybe it depends on the type of leak or pipe? I guess I’m just not always convinced that every shortcut is a disaster waiting to happen.

I’ve used epoxy putty on a small leak and it actually held up for a couple weeks, no drama.

Yeah, epoxy putty can buy you some time, but I’d still be careful. Here’s what I’ve seen:

- Works okay for pinhole leaks on copper or steel, not so much for bigger cracks or plastic pipes.
- Water pressure matters - a patch might hold on a low-pressure line, but not if you’re dealing with mains.
- If you use it, keep an eye out for swelling or more leaks nearby. Sometimes the patch just moves the problem down the line.

Temporary fixes are fine in a pinch, but I always tell folks to treat them like a band-aid - don’t forget about the real repair. Seen too many “quick fixes” turn into bigger headaches when left too long.

Honestly, I’ve seen folks slap epoxy putty on leaks and think they’re set for life - until the next morning when they’re mopping up the kitchen. It’s like duct tape for water: great in a pinch, but don’t trust it forever. I’d say if you’re using it, maybe start looking up local plumbers or at least keep a mop handy. Water’s sneaky... it always finds a way out eventually.

I hear you on the epoxy putty - used it once on a leaky pipe under my sink, felt like MacGyver for a day. By the next morning, though, it was basically a water feature. If you want a greener fix, try a clamp and some recycled rubber as a temporary patch. Still, nothing beats a proper repair... water’s just too crafty.

I get the appeal of a quick patch, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with the putty than with clamps and rubber - at least for overnight fixes. Maybe it depends on the pipe material or water pressure? That said, you’re right about water being sneaky. Even a tiny drip can turn into a mess if you don’t get to it fast. For anyone searching plumbing fixes, I’d say always double-check the pipe type before grabbing whatever’s on hand... some shortcuts just don’t work on old galvanized lines.

Totally get what you mean about water being sneaky - one minute it’s a drip, next thing you know, you’re starring in your own indoor waterfall show. I’m with you on the putty for emergencies. Tried those clamp kits once and ended up with a bigger mess (and a soggy sock). Pipe material really does make all the difference, especially with those old galvanized beasts. Sometimes I feel like they’re just waiting for an excuse to spring a leak.

Honestly, I wish more folks would double-check what they’re working with before slapping on a “universal” fix. Not every hack is eco-friendly either - some of those quick-fix tapes are landfill fodder after one use. If you can patch it up and keep things dry until a real repair, that’s already a win in my book. And hey, if you can do it without adding more plastic waste, even better.