Pool Lights

Whether you want to spend a romantic evening with that special someone, or throw a late-night party pool party, or just for purely aesthetic reasons, everyone seemingly wants to install pool lights into their swimming pools. Lighting in swimming pools has been a technology that has lived on for nearly a century, although prior to 1968 there were no standards or regulations for the installation, use, or maintenance of pool lights. That changed when the National Electrical Code decided that swimming pools needed to have regulations on both electrical heaters as well as lighting fixtures. If you own a pool that was constructed before 1968, it is still quite possible that your pool does not live up to these guidelines and you should have your light fixtures replaced immediately.

The easiest way to check to see if your lights are up to par is to look for water behind the lens. Yes, pool lights can operate even if the entire bulb is submerged in water. If this is the case, be sure to remove this fixture immediately and replace it with a new one.

If your pool does not have lighting installed, not to worry. There are many options for those of you who want your pool water to shimmer long after the sun goes down. One option, depending on what kind of pool you own, is to install lights along your pool's walls. This option is primarily for in-ground pools, and can run upwards of several thousands of dollars to install the lighting, however it does provide the most luxurious look, and over time is much easier to maintain than having to fish out other light sources to simply replace a battery.

For those of you who own above ground pools, you're not out of luck. There are many different options you can choose from to illuminate your private ocean. Several brands offer above-ground pool lights that are affordable to anyone with an above ground pool. Many of these above-ground lights work by hanging on the sides of the pool, with the light itself just above or below the water's surface. They primarily come in 50 and 100-watt units. The size of the pool will have a direct impact on what wattage you need. If you use a 100-watt light in a smaller pool, instead of having the warming glow of the ocean replicated in your backyard, your pool will shine like the sun.

Whether it be above-ground or in-ground, another option you always have are submersible lights. These lights are more for decoration purposes than for practical swimming. All you have to do with these is turn them on, and then drop (or lower, in a shallow pool) them in the water. Many have bearings that balance them when they hit the bottom, to guarantee that they're always shining up at the surface.

Of course, if all you want is something for use on special occasions, such as parties or outdoor barbecues, you can always invest in some floating light sources. There are many different kinds of floating lights, including some that use solar power so that during the day their batteries charge and they shine brightly all night.

No matter your need or budget, there are many different options to bring the gift of light to your swimming pool.