Yeah, QR codes are a decent workaround, but I still end up with half a dozen random laminated squares taped everywhere and forget which one goes to what. At least they don’t get soggy like paper, though. I started using a label maker for the pipes themselves—just slap a label right on the valve. Not high-tech, but when you’re in a crawlspace at 2am, sometimes old school wins. Still haven’t found a “perfect” solution... if that even exists.
Honestly, I’ve found color coding to be more useful than QR codes or labels, especially in low light or tight spaces. A strip of colored electrical tape on each line—red for hot, blue for cold, green for drain, etc.—saves me the headache of squinting at tiny writing or hunting for my phone. Not high-tech, but it’s hard to mix up neon orange and bright blue. It’s not perfect, but it’s a lot harder to mess up at 2am when you’re half-asleep and covered in dust.
I get where you’re coming from with the colored tape—it’s definitely quick and you can spot it from across a crawlspace. But I’ve run into issues when the tape peels off, gets covered in grime, or just fades after a couple years. Had a tenant call me once because they thought the “blue” was black from dust and almost shut off the wrong valve.
Honestly, I still prefer old-school engraved tags or even those laminated labels you zip-tie on. Yeah, they’re a pain to make, but they last forever and don’t depend on color vision (which, not for nothing, can be an issue for some folks). QR codes are a bit much for me—half the time I don’t have my phone handy or my hands are filthy anyway. But a solid, physical tag? Hard to beat for long-term rentals where you don’t want to redo the system every couple years.
Color tape is great for a quick fix or if you’re the only one using it, but for multiple units and different people, I’d rather over-document than risk a mix-up.
- I totally get the frustration with tape. I tried using it in my basement and after a year, half of it was just sticky gunk or faded out.
- Engraved tags seem like overkill for a single house, but I do like the idea of something that won’t just fall off or get gross.
- I’m always worried about someone (or me, honestly) shutting off the wrong thing in an emergency.
- Has anyone tried those metal keychain-style tags? Wondering if they hold up better than plastic ones under the pipes where it’s damp all the time...
Metal keychain tags are actually my go-to for rentals. The cheap plastic ones crack or get all grimy, especially near the water heater. Metal holds up way better—just make sure you use a zip tie or stainless wire instead of the ball chain, those rust out fast in damp spots. Engraved tags might seem fancy, but after a tenant shut off the main instead of just the hose bib, I stopped caring about “overkill.” Better safe than sorry when water’s pouring everywhere...
