I had a similar issue when I labeled my basement plumbing with metal tags—looked great initially, but quickly became frustrating when I needed to check something fast. I switched to paint markers eventually, and they've been surprisingly effective. Just make sure you prep the pipe surface properly (I used rubbing alcohol), and let the paint dry thoroughly. It's not perfect, but honestly, it's saved me a lot of headaches crawling around in tight spaces trying to read those tiny tags...
Paint markers are a solid choice, but have you ever tried color-coding with electrical tape? I found that wrapping different colored tapes around pipes at key connection points made it super easy to spot things quickly. Plus, you can write directly on the tape with a sharpie if needed. Prep is minimal—just wipe clean and wrap—and it's held up surprisingly well in my damp basement. Curious though, does the paint marker fade or chip over time, especially in humid areas...?
Paint markers hold up okay, but yeah, they can fade or chip after a while, especially if it's humid or pipes sweat a lot. I've used electrical tape too—works pretty well until someone decides to peel it off or it gets snagged on something. Honestly, I've started using both: tape for quick visual ID and paint markers as backup. Plumbing documentation is always gonna be a bit of a headache though...seems like no matter what you do, something eventually smudges or fades.
"Honestly, I've started using both: tape for quick visual ID and paint markers as backup."
That's pretty much where I've landed too. Paint markers alone never lasted long for me, especially in my basement where humidity is a constant battle. I tried label makers once—looked great at first, but eventually the adhesive gave out and labels ended up on the floor. Now I just snap a quick photo on my phone as extra insurance...saved my sanity more than once when everything else faded or peeled off.
Have you ever considered using zip ties with those little plastic tags? I get that humidity wrecks adhesives, but zip ties seem pretty resilient.
"Now I just snap a quick photo on my phone as extra insurance..."
Photos are handy, but don't you ever get lost scrolling through your gallery months later...?
