I get the appeal of color-coded zip ties, but honestly, I just use painter’s tape and a Sharpie. Cheap, fast, and if it gets gross, I just slap on a new piece. The phone pic idea is smart though—my memory’s garbage when I’m upside down in a crawlspace. I tried those fancy labels once... total waste for me. They lasted about a week before peeling off and clogging up the sump pump. Sometimes simple wins.
Painter’s tape and a Sharpie—can’t argue with that. I’ve tried all sorts of “pro” labeling systems, but honestly, most of them just don’t hold up in the real world. Tape’s cheap, easy to replace, and you don’t feel bad when it gets trashed. The phone pic trick has saved me more than once too, especially when you’re wedged behind a water heater and can’t remember which valve does what. Sometimes the low-tech stuff just works better.
Funny how the simplest stuff just works. I’ve tried those fancy label makers and they peel right off after a month in a damp basement. Painter’s tape sticks around just long enough, and you can slap a new piece on in seconds if you change something. One thing I do—if I’m working in a tight spot, I’ll use colored tape for hot and cold lines. Not perfect, but it saves me from second-guessing myself later. And yeah, snapping a quick pic before you button things up has saved my bacon more than once. High-tech isn’t always better.
Painter’s tape sticks around just long enough, and you can slap a new piece on in seconds if you change something.
Totally agree—painter’s tape is my go-to for quick labeling. I’ve had those “permanent” labels curl up and fall off after one humid summer. One trick I picked up: jot down the date on the tape too, especially if it’s a temporary fix or a shutoff valve you might forget about. That way, when you come back months later, you’re not scratching your head wondering when you last touched it. And yeah, snapping pics is a lifesaver... I’ve avoided more than one wild goose chase that way. Sometimes low-tech just wins out.
Painter’s tape is clutch, but I’ve had it leave a little residue if it sits too long—nothing major, just something to watch for on finished surfaces. I’m with you on the photos, though. I started a “plumbing mysteries” album on my phone after tracing the same shutoff three times... saves a ton of head-scratching.
