Never had much luck with marker ink under crawlspaces—humidity and dust seem to wipe them out after a year or two, especially the cheaper pens. The colored ties hold up better in my experience, but then you’re stuck remembering what each color means unless you label a legend somewhere. Anyone ever try the laser-printed labels with clear heat-shrink over them? Wondering if that’s overkill or worth the hassle for big jobs.
Laser-printed labels with heat-shrink actually aren’t overkill at all, especially if you’re dealing with a big job or want to avoid crawling back under there in a couple years just to redo everything. I’ve used them on some longer-term projects, and they hold up way better than marker or tape—no smudging, no fading, and the heat-shrink keeps out moisture and dust. It’s a bit more work upfront, but it pays off when you can actually read what you wrote five years later.
Colored ties are handy for quick jobs, but like you said, unless you keep a legend somewhere accessible, it’s easy to forget what blue or yellow was supposed to mean. I’ve tried sticking a laminated legend near the crawlspace entrance—helps jog the memory when you’re down there.
If you’re already investing time in labeling, might as well do it right the first time. The hassle is mostly in the setup, but after that, it’s smooth sailing.
Honestly, I thought the heat-shrink labels were overkill at first, but after crawling around under my house for the third time because my sharpie labels faded, I’m totally on board. The upfront hassle is worth it. Here’s what worked for me: I printed out a basic map of my plumbing layout and stuck it in a ziplock bag by the water shutoff. That way, even if I forget what “red tie” meant, I’ve got a backup.
One thing I’d add—if you’re doing this, take photos of each section as you go. It’s saved me more than once when I couldn’t remember which pipe was which after everything got covered up again. Just snap a pic with your phone and maybe jot a note on it. Doesn’t have to be fancy.
I do like the colored ties for quick fixes, but yeah, unless you’re religious about keeping that legend updated, it gets confusing fast. The laser-printed stuff is just more permanent. If you’re putting in the work now, might as well make life easier for future-you... or whoever has to deal with it next.
Here’s what worked for me: I printed out a basic map of my plumbing layout and stuck it in a ziplock bag by the water shutoff.
Heat-shrink labels are nice, but honestly, I’ve managed just fine with a combo of colored zip ties and a sharpie—if you use the industrial ones. Sharpie fades, sure, but if you wrap a bit of clear packing tape over the writing, it’ll last years. That map in a ziplock is a solid idea, though. I’ve had tenants call in a panic because “the blue tie” didn’t mean anything to them... so I get the backup plan. Photos help, but I still swear by just keeping it simple and updating as you go. Too much labeling and you end up second-guessing yourself anyway.
Heat-shrink labels are nice, but honestly, I’ve managed just fine with a combo of colored zip ties and a sharpie—if you use the industrial ones. Sharpie fades, sure, but if you wrap a bit of ...
That’s a good point about over-labeling—been there myself. I used to have every valve tagged and color-coded, but after a while, even I couldn’t remember what “green” meant vs “yellow.” The map in a ziplock is a lifesaver, especially for tenants who aren’t familiar with the setup. Ever tried QR codes? I stuck one by the main shutoff that links to a photo guide on my phone. Not perfect, but it’s helped in a pinch.
