Metal tags are about the only thing I’ve seen survive down there too. Even then, I’ve had a couple get so caked in mud or spider webs that I couldn’t read them until I scraped them off. I started taking photos of everything before I close up—just in case something gets lost or unreadable. Not perfect, but it’s saved me a few headaches when trying to remember which line goes where. Crawlspaces really are their own little ecosystem... nothing stays clean for long.
Photos have definitely saved me more than once, but sometimes I worry about relying too much on them—phone batteries die, or the angle’s just off and you can’t see what you need. Ever tried using colored zip ties as a backup? They’re not perfect, but if you keep a legend somewhere safe, it helps when tags get nasty or fall off. Also, do you ever run into issues with condensation down there messing up your labels? I’ve had permanent marker just fade right off after a few months... makes me wonder if there’s a truly foolproof way to mark things in crawlspaces.
Colored zip ties have been a lifesaver for me, especially on jobs where there’s a mess of pipes running close together. I keep a little chart in my van, but sometimes I’ll just snap a pic of the legend and stash it in my tool bag. Still, I totally get the frustration with condensation—labels just don’t last. I tried using those “industrial” permanent markers on plastic tags, but after a season in a damp crawlspace, most of them faded to nothing. Even those supposedly waterproof label makers aren’t immune if the surface wasn’t bone-dry to start with.
One trick I picked up from an old-timer was using a punch to stamp numbers into aluminum tags, then zip-tying those on. They’re a pain to make, but nothing seems to erase them—not even years of moisture and dust. Not exactly quick, but it’s about the only thing I’ve seen that holds up long-term. Still, I wish there was a less tedious solution... there’s gotta be a better way, right?
Man, I hear you on the “permanent” markers—total scam when it comes to crawlspaces. I’ve spent way too much time trying to decipher half-faded scribbles. Those aluminum tags are solid, but yeah, they’re a pain. I keep thinking someone’s gotta invent a tag that’s both fast to slap on and immune to moisture... maybe we need a plumber to moonlight as an engineer?
maybe we need a plumber to moonlight as an engineer?
Wouldn’t that be something? I’ve tried zip ties with laminated labels, but even those get gross after a year or two. Honestly, half the time I just end up sketching a map and taping it inside the access panel. Not high-tech, but at least it survives the damp.
