"Ever tried painter's tape with sharpie? Not perfect, but seems to hold up better than writing directly on copper."
Painter's tape is decent, but I worry about moisture eventually peeling it off. Lately I've been using plastic zip ties with labels—seems sturdier. Anyone tried that long-term? Curious how it holds up.
Zip ties with labels hold up pretty well, actually. Did a job about 3 years ago in a humid basement, and they're still readable. Just don't overtighten them—plastic gets brittle over time and can snap if you're not careful.
"Just don't overtighten them—plastic gets brittle over time and can snap if you're not careful."
That's solid advice right there. I've seen more than a few zip ties fail because someone cranked down way too hard, thinking tighter is always better. One thing I'd add from my own experience is to use a permanent marker or a paint pen for labeling. Even in damp areas, it holds up surprisingly well and doesn't fade as easily.
Also, taking a quick photo with your phone after labeling helps big time later on. I know it sounds like extra work at first, but trust me, you'll thank yourself when you're back there troubleshooting months or even years later. Anyway, good call on the zip ties—they're cheap, easy to handle, and pretty reliable if used right.
Gotta disagree slightly on the zip ties being reliable long-term. They're handy for quick fixes, sure, but I've had them snap or degrade after a couple of years, especially in humid basements or crawl spaces. Switched to Velcro straps a while back—bit pricier up front, but way easier to adjust later and they don't get brittle. Labeling's spot-on though...nothing worse than playing detective with your own plumbing setup five years down the line.
- Totally feel you on the zip ties. When I moved into my first place, the previous owner had zip-tied EVERYTHING. Thought it was genius at first until one snapped and scared the heck outta me at 2 AM. Not fun.
- Humidity is no joke either—my basement's basically a rainforest, so I can confirm zip ties get brittle real quick down there. Velcro straps sound like a solid upgrade, might have to steal that idea.
- Labeling though...man, wish someone had told me earlier. Spent an entire Saturday tracing pipes and valves, felt like Indiana Jones but way less cool. Ended up labeling everything with masking tape and sharpie—probably not the most professional look, but hey, it works.
- Also learned the hard way: take pictures! Seriously, snap a few quick phone pics before sealing things up or covering them again. Saved me more than once when my memory decided to peace out.
- Anyway, glad I'm not alone in plumbing detective misery. Makes me feel slightly better about my DIY adventures (or misadventures...).
