Aluminum tags have definitely saved me a ton of headaches, especially when I’m crawling around old crawlspaces. I tried the heat-shrink labels once on a sump pump line—looked great at first, but after a year it was just a smeared mess. The photo backup’s a good call, though. I started snapping pics of shutoff valve setups too, since my handwriting on tags is, uh, not the best...
I get the appeal of aluminum tags, but I’ve seen them corrode or get knocked off in tight spots—especially where there’s condensation or a lot of foot traffic. Honestly, paint markers right on the pipe have held up better for me in some cases. Photos are handy, but if you’re in a pinch and your phone’s dead or you can’t get a signal, nothing beats a clear, permanent mark right where you need it. Just my two cents...
I’ve run into the same problem with aluminum tags, especially in my basement where it gets damp. They just don’t last, and I hate having to replace them every couple of years. Paint markers are a solid workaround—cheap, quick, and you can see them at a glance. I’ve even used nail polish in a pinch when I couldn’t find my marker, and it’s still holding up on the shutoff valve.
One thing I’ve wondered about is whether anyone’s tried those colored zip ties as a backup? I saw someone use them to color-code hot and cold lines, and it seemed pretty clever for folks who don’t want to write directly on the pipe. Not sure how they’d hold up long-term though... Has anyone had luck with that kind of system?
Colored zip ties actually work pretty well for quick ID, at least in my experience. I’ve used them on PEX lines and they haven’t gotten brittle or faded after a couple years, even in a crawlspace. Only thing is, if you’ve got a lot of lines close together, it can get confusing unless you stick to a strict color code. Has anyone tried using heat-shrink tubing with labels? I’ve seen it on electrical but not much on plumbing.
Heat-shrink tubing with labels is something I’ve mostly come across in electrical too, but now you mention it, I’m wondering why we don’t see it more on PEX or copper. It seems like a solid way to keep things readable long-term, especially if you’re dealing with a rat’s nest of lines. The only snag I can think of is that it’s a bit more effort compared to zip ties, especially if you’re retrofitting—cutting the line, sliding the sleeve on, shrinking it down... not always practical when you just want to tag something fast.
Only thing is, if you’ve got a lot of lines close together, it can get confusing unless you stick to a strict color code.
I hear you there. I've had jobs where every color code system falls apart after the third guy touches it. Ever tried using those wrap-around cable markers? They’re not as neat as heat-shrink but you can slap them on after the fact and write whatever you need—hot/cold, zone numbers, whatever.
Curious if anyone’s run into issues with marker ink fading over time under crawlspace conditions. Do those hold up any better than colored ties?
