Gotta admit, I tried the whole “set a reminder on my phone” thing and ended up snoozing it so many times I might as well have just ignored it. The checklist on the utility door idea is genius—mine’s a sticky note that’s seen better days, but at least it’s there when I’m hunting for the plunger. I do like the visual cue trick, too. Maybe I’ll start hanging my least favorite wrench on the doorknob as a not-so-subtle reminder. Low-tech, but at least it doesn’t need charging...
I’m with you on the phone reminders—mine just end up getting lost in the sea of notifications. I’ve found that keeping a laminated checklist with a dry-erase marker on the water heater works better for me. It’s not fancy, but at least it’s hard to ignore when I’m down there poking around. The wrench trick’s not bad either... sometimes low-tech just wins out over apps and gadgets.
I hear you on the low-tech stuff. I tried those fancy smart home leak sensors and half the time they’d just chirp at me for no reason. Ended up sticking a big, ugly “CHECK PIPES” sticky note right on the breaker box. Not pretty, but I haven’t missed an inspection since. Sometimes simple is just less hassle.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Those smart sensors sound great in theory, but the false alarms can drive you nuts. I tried one of the “top-rated” ones last year—thing went off every time humidity jumped, like after a shower. Ended up disconnecting it after a week. Sometimes the old-school reminders just work better.
I’ve started keeping a checklist on my phone calendar for pipe checks—monthly reminders, nothing fancy. It’s not exactly high-tech, but at least my phone doesn’t start beeping randomly at 3am. Plus, I added photos of the shutoff valves and joints so I remember what to look for. Not pretty, but it’s made me catch a couple of slow leaks before they got ugly.
One thing I learned: code compliance isn’t just about inspections or reminders—it’s knowing what to look for when you do check. Corrosion around fittings, weird smells, even that little greenish tint on copper... it all adds up. I keep a cheap moisture meter in the toolbox now; not “smart,” but it’s saved me from tearing into drywall more than once.
At the end of the day, tech is cool if it works for you—but if sticky notes or calendar alerts keep your pipes safe (and your sanity intact), that’s just as valid. Sometimes “ugly” is underrated if it gets the job done.
I hear you on the false alarms—had one go off during a tenant’s dinner party once, not fun. I’m with you on the basics: regular checks, photos, and a cheap moisture meter have caught more issues for me than any “smart” gadget. Out of curiosity, do you ever run into trouble with tenants moving stuff around and blocking access to shutoff valves? That’s been my biggest headache lately...
