As for labeling pipes, I just use a sharpie—works fine for me, and it’s faster than keeping a whole map updated.
Yeah, I hear you on the sharpie trick. It’s quick, but have you ever come back a year later and found the writing faded or smeared? I’ve had that happen in damp basements. As for dielectric unions, I’m with you—seen too many rusted out despite “doing it right.” Sometimes the simplest solution really is just sticking to one metal if you can swing it. Not always possible, but it does save headaches down the road.
I totally get the appeal of just grabbing a sharpie—quick and easy, right? But yeah, in my old house, the writing pretty much vanished after a winter in the crawlspace. I started using those aluminum tags with wire for anything I really need to remember. Not as fast, but at least they stick around. And I agree, mixing metals is just asking for trouble if you can avoid it... sometimes the “by the book” way still ends up being a pain.
Those aluminum tags are a lifesaver, aren’t they? I used to rely on colored electrical tape and a Sharpie—looked great for about three months, then everything faded or peeled off and I’d be down there scratching my head, trying to remember which valve was which. I swear, crawlspaces eat labels for breakfast.
Mixing metals is one of those things that feels like it shouldn’t matter until you’re dealing with a corroded mess a few years later. I learned the hard way with some old galvanized pipe tied into copper—let’s just say it was a costly lesson in “do it right or do it twice.” Sometimes the code feels like overkill, but when you’re staring at a leak at 2am, you start to appreciate why those rules exist.
I still grumble about the extra steps, but at least now I can sleep at night knowing the pipes won’t turn into a science experiment.
