"Felt like overkill at first, but now it's my go-to reference."
I get the appeal of having everything documented, but honestly, plumbing setups change more often than you'd think—especially in older homes. Last year I meticulously cataloged all my fittings and connections, thinking I was set. Then I had a pipe burst behind a wall and discovered previous owners had done some creative DIY fixes... My carefully documented inventory was suddenly useless. Sometimes adaptability beats detailed records, at least in my experience.
I see your point about adaptability, but I still think documentation has its place. Sure, older homes throw curveballs—mine certainly has—but isn't it easier to adapt when you at least have a baseline reference? Even if things change, knowing what was originally there can save some guesswork. Curious though, how detailed did you go with your records? Maybe there's a sweet spot between meticulous notes and winging it...
Your point about a baseline reference hits home for me—when we bought our house, the previous owner left some handwritten notes taped inside the cabinet doors. They weren't perfect by any means, but man, they saved me from a few plumbing meltdowns...definitely worth the effort, even if it's minimal.
Handwritten notes, huh? Never thought of that...but do you really think a few scribbles can save you from serious plumbing chaos? I mean, how detailed were these notes exactly? Still, gotta admit, even minimal effort beats guessing blindly under the sink.
You're spot on about minimal effort beating blind guessing...trust me, I've seen enough flooded kitchens to vouch for that. Scribbles might seem basic, but even a rough sketch or a quick note like "hot line left, cold right" can save hours of frustration later. Sure, detailed diagrams would be ideal, but realistically, who has time for that when you're elbow-deep under a sink? A few simple pointers can be the difference between a quick fix and an all-day headache.
