Honestly, anything that survives a basement flood gets my vote.
- Used a label maker too, but the adhesive peeled after a few months in my damp crawlspace.
- Ended up using zip ties with plastic tags—sharpie on those lasts longer, and I can swap them out if the layout changes.
- Drew a rough map of the lines on my phone, just in case. Not pretty, but at least I know which valve does what now.
- Still, wish there was a universal color code for pipes... would make life so much easier.
Totally get the struggle with labels peeling off—humidity just destroys anything sticky down there. I tried color-coded electrical tape once, but it faded or got grimy fast. Why isn’t there a standard for this stuff? Seems like every plumber does their own thing. I’ve even found old pipes labeled in pencil, which is basically invisible now. Is there some trick I’m missing, or is it just always going to be a mess?
Honestly, I’ve wrestled with this in every rental I’ve owned. What’s worked best for me is using metal tags (like those keychain ones) and a zip tie—write on the tag with a paint pen. Doesn’t peel, doesn’t fade, and you can still read it years later. Not pretty, but way better than tape or pencil.
Doesn’t peel, doesn’t fade, and you can still read it years later. Not pretty, but way better than tape or pencil.
That’s a clever workaround, and I can see the appeal. I’ve tried color-coded zip ties before—cheap and easy, but I’ll admit, they don’t hold up like metal tags. Have you ever run into issues with the tags getting knocked off or corroding over time? I’m always a bit wary about metal in damp crawlspaces, especially on a tight budget.
I’m always a bit wary about metal in damp crawlspaces, especially on a tight budget.
Yeah, I hear you on that. I once used those cheap aluminum tags in a basement and came back a year later to find them looking like they’d been through a war. Half the numbers were gone, and one tag had just... vanished. Ended up switching to those plastic plant markers with a Sharpie—ugly as sin, but at least they stick around. Sometimes you gotta pick your battles with the crawlspace gremlins.
