"Personally, I prefer detailed labels on painter's tape—easy to remove later without damaging surfaces or leaving faded marks behind."
Painter's tape is definitely handy, but have you ever had issues with it peeling off prematurely in humid or damp conditions? I've found that in certain plumbing setups—especially under sinks or near water heaters—the humidity can make the adhesive fail sooner than expected. Then you're left with a half-attached label that's barely readable, which kind of defeats the purpose.
Also, what about situations where space is super tight? I've had to document connections tucked way back behind cabinets or appliances, and there's just no room to stick a readable label. In those cases, photos—even imperfect ones—have saved me more than once. Sure, lighting can be tricky, but a small flashlight or even your phone's flash usually does the trick. Plus, you can always snap multiple angles quickly and sort through them later.
One thing I've started doing recently is combining both methods: quick photos for visual reference and shorthand labels on tape for clarity. That way, if one method fails, you've got a backup. Has anyone else tried this hybrid approach? Curious if it's just me being overly cautious or if others find it helpful too.
And speaking of labels... have you ever tried using waterproof markers directly on PVC or copper pipes? I know it sounds risky, but I've seen some plumbers do it successfully. It seems to hold up better over time compared to tape, especially in damp environments. Just wondering if anyone has experience with that method and how well it actually works long-term.
I've tried waterproof markers directly on pipes before—honestly, mixed results. On PVC it's decent, but copper tends to oxidize over time, making the writing fade or blur. I'd stick with your hybrid method...photos saved me more than once too.
Tried markers myself—same issues. What worked better for me:
- Printed labels wrapped in clear packing tape (PVC holds great, copper...iffy).
- Quick phone pics saved in a dedicated album.
Honestly, it's still messy, but at least I know what's what now.
Yeah, markers fade way too fast, especially on copper. I've had decent luck with printed labels too, but you're right—copper seems to reject pretty much everything eventually. The photo album idea is smart; I do something similar, but I scribble notes on the pics themselves with an app. Still ends up messy, but at least now when I open a wall a year later, I'm not completely lost...just mostly.
I've tried the photo thing too, but honestly, half the time I forget to take pics until after I've closed everything up...then it's just guesswork later. Ever tried painter's tape with sharpie? Not perfect, but seems to hold up better than writing directly on copper.
