Painter's tape, really?
I've tried painter's tape before, but it just didn't hold up for me—got soggy and peeled off after a few months. Those plastic tags are honestly pretty solid once you get the hang of attaching them. Bit fiddly at first, but worth it long-term.
Painter's tape is an interesting choice—never thought of using that for plumbing connections. Did it actually hold up at first, or was it a quick fail? I've seen people try duct tape (I know, classic plumber joke incoming...), but honestly, anything adhesive-based usually ends up peeling or getting gross after a while.
Those plastic tags you mentioned can be pretty solid, agreed. But has anyone tried those metal stamped tags? They're pricier upfront, but man, they're durable. I worked on a building where someone had labeled every valve and connection with metal tags years earlier, and it was like finding buried treasure—saved me hours of guesswork. Sure beats playing the "turn it off and see who screams" game.
Curious if anyone else has found a labeling method that's stood the test of time...or at least survived a few surprise basement floods.
Painter's tape sounds sketchy to me... I tried labeling my basement valves with masking tape and sharpie when I first moved in—big mistake. After one humid summer, everything was peeling off or unreadable. Switched to plastic zip tags, and they've held up okay so far, but metal tags sound tempting. Might bite the bullet and upgrade next time I have to redo it all (hopefully not after another flood).
Yeah, masking tape's definitely not built for humid basements. At my last place, the previous owner had labeled everything with duct tape—thought it was genius at first, but after a couple years, same issue: unreadable sticky mess. Metal tags seem solid, though...might be worth the peace of mind.
Metal tags are definitely durable, but honestly, they're not always as convenient as they seem. I worked on a job recently where the homeowner had meticulously labeled every pipe with metal tags—looked impressive at first glance. But when it came time to actually trace connections or make quick adjustments, those metal tags became a bit of a hassle. You had to twist and turn them constantly to read the info clearly, especially in tight spaces or awkward angles.
Have you considered paint markers directly on the pipes? I've seen some plumbers use oil-based paint pens that hold up surprisingly well against humidity and grime. You just clean off the pipe surface first, write clearly, and let it dry completely. Sure, it's not as permanent as metal, but it's way easier to read quickly and doesn't get sticky or messy like tape. Plus, if you ever need to update or correct something, a quick wipe with solvent and you're good to go again. Just throwing another option out there...
