I've found power banks pretty reliable too, but honestly, I still keep a small notebook and pencil handy. Learned that lesson the hard way after my tablet died mid-job and I had to redo an entire basement layout from memory. Tech's great until it isn't...sometimes old-school backups save the day.
Yeah, I totally get the notebook thing—been there myself. Tech is awesome until it randomly decides to quit on you. I once spent hours mapping out plumbing connections on a rental property renovation, took detailed photos, labeled everything digitally...and then my phone decided to take an unexpected swim in a puddle. Lost everything. Ever since then, I keep a small waterproof notebook in my toolbox. It's saved me more than once.
Honestly though, documenting plumbing connections is always tricky because you're dealing with hidden pipes, weird angles, and sometimes decades of previous DIY "fixes." I've found color-coded tape or labels help a lot when you're working hands-on. Snap a quick photo afterward just as backup, but the labels alone can be lifesavers when tech fails.
"sometimes decades of previous DIY 'fixes.'"
Ha, nailed it right there. Nothing worse than pulling out drywall and finding some ancient maze of pipes patched together with duct tape and prayers. The color-coded labels are smart, though—I usually just scribble shorthand notes on painter's tape and stick it to the pipes directly. Looks ugly, but it works...and I don't lose it when my phone decides to take a dive.
"Nothing worse than pulling out drywall and finding some ancient maze of pipes patched together with duct tape and prayers."
Haha, exactly this. I've lost count of how many times I've opened up a wall expecting a straightforward fix, only to discover some Frankenstein plumbing job from who knows when. Painter's tape notes are practical, but I worry about them peeling off or fading over time—have you had any issues with that?
I've tried snapping quick photos before sealing things back up, but inevitably, when I need them most, they're buried deep in my phone gallery. Recently, I've been thinking about sketching out a rough diagram and laminating it to stick somewhere near the main shut-off valve. Has anyone tried something similar, or is that just overkill? Curious if there's a simpler way to keep track of these plumbing mysteries without relying on memory or digital devices...
I've done the laminated diagram thing—honestly, it's a solid idea. Just keep it simple and clear. Beats scrolling through a thousand random photos when water's spraying everywhere... trust me, been there.
