- Had the same issue with paint markers—total waste in damp spots.
- Tried those metal tags with wire, but the edges are sharp and I sliced my glove once. Not worth the risk.
- Plastic tags + Sharpie seem safest, but I always double up in crawl spaces (one tag on each end).
- For anything critical, I snap a pic on my phone and save it to the job folder. Not perfect, but at least there’s a backup if the tag fails.
- Engraving would be ideal... but yeah, who’s carrying an engraver around all day?
but yeah, who’s carrying an engraver around all day?
Ever tried those biodegradable paper tags? I know they sound flimsy, but in my experience, they actually hold up pretty well if you’re not dealing with constant leaks. Plus, no sharp edges or plastic waste. Curious why more folks don’t use them—are they just too easy to overlook?
Paper tags are fine until you get a surprise drip or someone’s elbow knocks into them. I’ve seen them turn to mush in a day if the humidity’s up. Maybe they work better in commercial setups, but in crawlspaces? Not so much. Ever tried zip ties and a Sharpie on a scrap of plastic? Not pretty, but at least it survives the mess.
I hear you on the paper tags—total disaster in my basement, especially during the rainy season. I tried using old yogurt lids as labels once (don’t judge), just punched a hole and wrote with a marker. Not exactly pretty, but they held up way better than anything paper-based. Still feels kinda weird zip-tying trash to my pipes, but at least it’s not turning into pulp every time the humidity spikes. Plus, reusing plastic feels a bit better than tossing it.
- Totally get where you’re coming from—paper tags just don’t stand a chance in a damp basement.
- Using yogurt lids is actually pretty clever, even if it feels a bit odd at first.
- Just a heads up, though: if you’re zip-tying anything to pipes, make sure it’s not blocking valves or covering up any important info.
- I’ve seen people use shrink tubing with labels inside, but honestly, your method sounds way more practical for reusing stuff.
- At the end of the day, if it works and you can still read what’s what, that’s a win in my book.
