Are pool lights worth it?

Author: Enrico Ferry MD  |  Last update: Thursday, June 30, 2022

Are pool lights worth it? Pool lights are worth it because they provide the necessary lighting for a pool especially during the night, which prevents accidents because you can see every area of your pool. Moreover, they are considered a necessity most especially if you want to get maximum usage out of your pool.

Are LED pool lights worth the money?

An LED light will save you roughly 75% on your energy usage compared to a comparable incandescent light. REMEMBER, that LED pool lights cost more, on average, than a simple incandescent light so your cost savings will not start till you recoup the additional money that you spent on the LED lights.

How many lights should a pool have?

The number of lights you need depends on the size of your swimming pool. 15' x 30' pools only require one light. 20' x 40' pools require two lights. 20' x 42' pools and up require three or more lights.

Why do pool lights cost so much?

It costs a lot of money to have sales people to go to all the different pool store chains that must be covered in the bulb price. You aren't paying for a better bulb, you are paying for expensive overhead and multiple mouths to feed when each bulb is sold.

How long do pool lights usually last?

Your pool lighting should give you few problems overall. Most incandescent bulbs will burn for 1,000 hours before bulb replacement is necessary. LED bulbs can burn for 25 years or more (or so they tell us).

Pool Lighting - Cost and Other Common Questions

How do you know if a pool light is bad?

If the bulb tests well (3-20 ohms) the fixture is probably bad. Try a new bulb without closing the fixture. It probably will not light, and the fixture will have to be replaced. If the bulb tests poorly (overflow, open, no continuity, infinite ohms), the light most likely will work fine with a new bulb and gasket.

How much does it cost to put lights in a pool?

Fiber optic pool lights are usually around $1,300 to $1,700 installed. Full size incandescent pool lights are typically in the range of $450 to $650.

What happens if water gets into pool light?

Water inside the Pool Light? If there is water inside the lens of the pool light, which you can usually see from on-deck, that doesn't mean that the light is leaking, but it does mean that the lamp gasket has failed, letting water leak inside and surround the bulb.

Can you change a pool light without draining the pool?

Fortunately, the answer is no—the water typically does not need to be drained! Because the electrical cable is sealed, it's impervious to any water that will get into the conduit when the bulb is being replaced.

Where should pool lights be placed?

Place lights at a uniform depth, between 9-12 inches below the waterline, throughout the pool. Possible exceptions would be if the lights need to be placed on a step or bench or extremely deep pools (see Pro Tip). Lights should be positioned 4 inches beneath the waterline.

Should pool lights face the house?

Always try to have the lights point away from the house. By doing this you will avoid the headlight effect of the lights shining in your face. If you build a spa with your pool you will want a light in it also.

Are pool lights safe?

Loose pool lights are dangerous. Pool lights that are not properly installed into the pool can send electricity directly through the water. When this happens, it can shock those who are swimming in the pool.

Are inground pool lights worth it?

Pool lights are worth it because they provide the necessary lighting for a pool especially during the night, which prevents accidents because you can see every area of your pool. Moreover, they are considered a necessity most especially if you want to get maximum usage out of your pool.

Can you get electrocuted by a pool light?

You can get electrocuted by a pool light in a swimming pool. It can cause serious injury and even death. An experienced electrocution lawyer can help victims and families recover the pain and suffering compensation or wrongful death damages they are entitled to under the law.

Do LED pool lights get hot?

The Most Energy-Efficient Lighting Available

Since there is no filament, an LED does not heat up the way an incandescent bulb does, which wastes up to 80% of the electricity routed to it to produce heat rather than light.

Why is my pool light not working?

Check the circuit breaker panel that's usually found on the side of your house. If the breaker that your pool light is on has been tripped, unplug whatever you just turned on or plugged in and then reset the breaker by turning it all the way off and then back on again. If that doesn't work, you may have a bad breaker.

Can you replace halogen pool light with LED?

Most of the older incandescent and halogen pool lights can be changed to the newer LED color changing lights by replacing the entire light fixture. But there are a limited number of old lights that can be converted to LED light by simply replacing the old light fixture bulb with a color changing LED light bulb.

Why does my pool light keep tripping?

This can be due to a small amount of water being inside your light fixture which the light may heat up and vaporize. This can then cause the GFCI to trip. GFCIs are also known to trip from extreme humidity. Be sure that the outlets that may be on the same GFCI circuit are covered to help prevent this.

Can I add lights to my inground pool?

Technically, yes. You can add pool lights to your existing pool, but it might mean that your pool needs to be remodelled, which requires a considerable amount of work. If you have an older pool, it could be a good chance to combine your need for lights with the need for a pool refresh.

How do you install pool lights?

With the pool at least half full of water, water level up to the bottom of the light, float the light in the shallow end, and walk the other end of the cord to the deep end. Tie and tape the end of the light cord to a fish tape, or to a wire that you have pushed from the junction box into the light niche.

How much does a pool light repair cost?

Pool Light Replacement Cost

Pool light repair costs between $65 and $150 per light, which is more cost-effective than replacement. If you do have to replace a light, it'll cost an average of $625 per unit. Replacing the bulbs alone costs between $20 and $100.

How much does it cost to replace a pool light bulb?

A pool light bulb retails for about $30-40. A new pool light gasket for the fixture is about $25. Labor for the repair would be $100-150. Profit on a successful job would be about $120.

Does a pool light need a GFCI?

The pool light must be installed on a GFCI circuit. That means that the wires coming to the pool light J-box must come from a GFCI breaker. These are often easy to spot by the yellow Test button, and are usually 20 amp breakers.

Are LED pool lights as bright as incandescent?

Many people are turning to LED lights as an alternative to incandescent pool lights. LED bulbs are brighter, more efficient and last longer. They also offer more color and installment options.

How many watts are LED pool lights?

LED bulbs can run off of 37 watts. This can be compared to incandescent bulbs, that require 161 watts to reach the same output.

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