I've actually done something similar—zip ties for quick reference plus aluminum tags for specifics. Zip ties are cheap, but after a while I forgot what color meant what... typical me. The metal tags saved me more than once when I needed exact details. It's a bit more upfront work, but honestly worth it if you're dealing with older plumbing like mine.
I've tried zip ties too, and yeah, same issue—after a few months, I was staring at a rainbow of confusion wondering what the heck green meant again. 😂
A couple things I've found helpful:
- **Sharpie on duct tape**: Quick and dirty, but surprisingly durable. Just wrap a small piece around the pipe and jot down the basics. It holds up pretty well, even in damp basements. Eventually fades, but easy enough to redo.
- **Numbered tags + notebook**: I went full nerd-mode once and numbered each valve with a metal tag, then kept a notebook with detailed notes. Sounds tedious (and it kinda was), but man, it saved my bacon when I had a leak at 2 AM and needed to shut off the right valve fast.
- **Photos on my phone**: Honestly underrated. Snap a pic, scribble notes on it digitally, and save it in a dedicated album. Easy to update, easy to reference, and always in my pocket.
The aluminum tags you mentioned are solid though—especially for older plumbing setups. I've dealt with some ancient systems where the pipes looked like spaghetti, and having clear labels was a lifesaver. The upfront work is definitely worth it if you're dealing with anything older than your favorite pair of boots.
One thing I'd caution against is relying solely on memory or color-coding without backup. Learned that the hard way more than once...
I get why photos seem handy, but honestly, I've had mixed results. Last winter, I snapped pics of my basement setup thinking I'd be golden—until I dropped my phone in a snowbank shoveling the driveway. By the time I got a replacement, the pics were gone, and I was back to square one. Lesson learned: digital isn't foolproof, at least not for me.
Duct tape and Sharpie is decent, but after a few humid summers, mine turned into unreadable smudges. Now I swear by those aluminum tags too. Took an afternoon to set up, but they've survived two floods and still look clear as day. I keep a laminated cheat sheet pinned to the wall nearby—no notebook needed, and no digital disasters.
Color-coding always sounds great until you're standing there at midnight wondering if "blue" meant the upstairs bathroom or the garden hose...
Totally agree on the aluminum tags—seen too many Sharpie labels turn into blurry mysteries. Another trick I use is zip-tying the tags directly onto valves or pipes, saves hunting around in dim corners. Digital photos are handy backup but like you said, phones break or vanish at the worst moments. Nothing beats a physical reference that's flood-proof and doesn't need charging...
Zip-tying tags directly onto valves is a solid tip—I've done something similar myself. Still, I've found even aluminum tags can get scratched or bent in tight spaces, making them tricky to read. One workaround I've used is engraving labels lightly into the pipe itself with a small rotary tool. Takes a bit more effort upfront, but it's practically permanent and readable even years later. But yeah, digital backups are nice until your phone takes an unexpected swim...
