Plastic tags have saved me more than once, especially in older houses where nothing’s labeled and the pipes seem to go every direction but straight. I tried color coding with tape for a while, but it faded or peeled off after a few months. Sharpie’s my fallback too, even if it’s not the prettiest. At the end of the day, I’d rather have a messy but functional setup than spend another hour with a flashlight and wet feet.
I hear you on the tape—tried that once and it just turned into a sticky mess after a year or so. What’s worked for me is using those little zip tie tags and writing on them with a paint marker instead of Sharpie. The paint holds up better, even if it’s not perfect. I’ll usually snap a quick photo of the setup too, just in case something gets knocked off or moved later. It’s not fancy, but at least I know what’s what when I’m crawling around under the sink...
I’ll usually snap a quick photo of the setup too, just in case something gets knocked off or moved later.
Yeah, photos are a lifesaver. I tried labeling with tape once and it just peeled off after a few months... total waste of time. Those zip tie tags are decent, but I still have trust issues with anything plastic under the sink—maybe I've just seen too many of them get brittle and snap. Paint marker's a good call though. I’ve started using metal tags with an engraver when I’m feeling motivated, but honestly, half the time I just end up tracing pipes by hand anyway.
Metal tags with an engraver? That’s next-level dedication. I tried those plastic tags once and they basically crumbled into dust after a year under my leaky kitchen sink. Honestly, half the time I just end up following the pipes like a detective, muttering to myself and hoping I don’t mix up hot and cold again... Paint marker’s been my go-to lately, but it does rub off if you’re not careful. Maybe I’ll try those metal tags if I ever get around to buying an engraver.
I hear you on the plastic tags—tried those myself and they didn’t even make it through one winter in my crawlspace. I’m not sure metal tags are in the cards for me though; the price of an engraver alone has me hesitating. Paint marker’s decent, but like you said, you brush up against it and suddenly everything’s a mystery again.
One thing I did last year was just wrap a bit of colored electrical tape around the pipes—red for hot, blue for cold. Not fancy, but it’s held up better than anything else so far, and cheap enough that I don’t mind redoing it every so often. Has anyone else tried that, or am I just setting myself up for a mess down the line if the tape dries out? I keep thinking there’s gotta be a perfect low-budget solution, but maybe I’m just overthinking it...