Sharpie labels are hit or miss for me too. I've had some luck using clear packing tape over the writing—seems to keep moisture and grime out better. But yeah, phone pics can be a mess. I started adding quick notes directly onto the photos with an app, just arrows or short labels. Still not perfect, but at least fewer mystery elbows in my gallery...
Clear tape trick works pretty well for me too, but I've had a few labels still fade into oblivion after a year or two. Maybe it's my handwriting—looks like ancient hieroglyphics after a long day of plumbing chaos. The photo annotation idea is smart though, might give that a shot next time.
Speaking of mystery elbows...anyone else ever stare at their own plumbing pics months later and wonder if gremlins rearranged everything overnight? I swear some connections look nothing like I remember installing them. How do you guys keep track of changes or repairs over the years without losing your sanity?
I've definitely had those "gremlin" moments myself—especially when revisiting older plumbing setups. A few things I've found helpful over the years:
- Photos are great, but only if they're organized. I started using a dedicated folder on my phone labeled by date and job type. Makes it easier to track down later.
- Instead of handwriting labels (mine's terrible too), I switched to a cheap label maker. The labels hold up better than tape and marker, especially in damp areas.
- Quick sketches help a ton. Doesn't have to be fancy—just a rough diagram with notes on pipe sizes, fittings, and flow direction. I keep these in a binder in my truck.
- If it's a complicated setup, I'll sometimes record a short video walkthrough explaining what I did and why. Sounds overkill, but it's saved me from confusion more than once.
Even with all that, there's still the occasional head-scratcher. Plumbing just seems to have a mind of its own sometimes...
I've tried the label maker route too, but honestly, the replacement tape costs started adding up. Now I just use painter's tape and a sharpie—cheap and easy to replace if it fades or peels. Curious though, has anyone found a good app specifically for plumbing notes or diagrams? I've been using generic note apps, but they're not ideal for quick sketches or marking pipe sizes...
I've been using MagicPlan for a while now—it's not plumbing-specific, but it's pretty handy for quick sketches and marking pipe sizes. You can snap a photo, annotate directly on it, and even add measurements. It's saved me from scribbling messy notes on painter's tape more than once... might be worth checking out if you're tired of generic note apps.
