Underwater lighting gives your pool a charming, romantic look at night. It also makes swimming after dark more enjoyable. Such lighting can be a big help when you’re trying to test your pool water after dark. However, changing these underwater bulbs when they burn out isn’t quite as simple as changing a household light bulb.

When you go to replace a pool light bulb, keep in mind that working with water and electricity requires special attention to safety. Be sure to switch off the electricity to the pool area, either at the breaker box or the main shut-off switch. You will need your new bulb, a lens gasket that fits your pool light fixture, both a Phillips-head and a regular screw driver, a couple of towels, and a circuit tester.

The type of bulb you need is generally written on the edge of the fixture. If this information is worn, you can measure the diameter of the existing bulb and compare that number to common replacement bulbs. It’s important that the replacement bulb be the right size to prevent water from entering the bulb fixture and shorting out the bulb.

After you have the right equipment assembled and the electricity off, it’s time to switch out the bulbs. Start by removing the bulb from its casing. Most light fixtures have a screw at the top that holds the unit together. Next, pull the bulb assembly from its casing. There should be a long enough cord so that you can set the whole thing on the deck outside of the pool while you work.

Now that you have the light out of the pool, gently remove the face ring, gasket and lens so that you can get at the bulb. Once that is done, the next part of your pool light repair is to carefully unscrew the bulb and wipe off any moisture. Clean the entire assembly gently to remove any corrosion, but don’t scrape it or the unit may not seal properly when it’s put back together.

Finally, insert the new bulb, install the new lens gasket and put everything back together. Return the light fixture to its casing and replace the set screw. Turn the electricity back on and make sure that the light is working properly.

At Kolb Electric, we want you and your family to enjoy your swimming pool—at night as well as in the daytime. If you don’t feel comfortable replacing the pool lights yourself, we’re here to help. In fact, our licensed electricians are experienced in all aspects of pool light replacement, so we can help you with any service you require. To schedule an appointment for your Maryland, Northern Virginia, or DC-area home, call us at 877 287-1179.

Electrical systems need to be maintained over the years to retain their functionality and safety. Because of that, it’s a good idea to have a Pasadena electrician take a peek at it every now and then. A poorly maintained electrical system is much more than a hassle to use. It can be a real hazard. Time takes its toll on everything, including electrical systems. As wires and connections age, there can be cracking, breaking, and assorted other little damages that interfere with function and safety. Extreme temperature changes or household pests moving around inside of the walls can contribute to damage as well.

Because so much of the action of an electrical system happens behind the scenes, in those out of sight and out of mind places — behind the walls, in the attic, in the basement — potentially hazardous damage often isn’t seen. The first clue that there is a problem is typically when something doesn’t work right. Sometime a person will make a repair, such as install new electrical outlets, but that may not really be the main issue. Why the outlets went bad is the real issue, something that an electrician Pasadena CA professional would probably recommend tracking down and repairing.

There’s a reason for that. Shorts in your electrical system can cause a lot of problems. Sensitive, expensive electronics can be damaged. Broken, sparking wires can cause house fires, as can overloaded circuits that allow wires to get too hot. Sometimes a broken outlet is just a broken outlet. Other times, however, it isn’t. A professional electrician in Pasadena, such as those at the Electric Connection, has the experience to know, and a deeper understanding of the overall system. The Electric Connection has been handling electrical maintenance and repair projects of all types throughout the region for 30 years.

If you’ve let your electrical system get a bit run down, and it’s time to consider electrical upgrades or perhaps even a whole house rewiring, the Electrical Connection can help. They offer a lifetime guarantee on all of their work, and they also offer a free home safety assessment with every job they do. During that assessment, they check your main electric panel, grounding, GFI protection, as well as surge protection, and smoke detectors, if they are wired into the main electrical system. Having smoke detectors installed like that is a good thing, as there are no batteries to worry about.

If having a large project, such as whole house rewiring, is more than your budget can bear, then it may be a good idea to have your electrical rewiring done a section at a time, as you can afford it. Be sure to keep an eye on the Electrical Connection web site, as they offer specials and discount coupons periodically. They also offer free over the phone estimates, based on what you tell them about the symptoms you are experiencing or the project you are considering. This Pasadena electrician company also offers free over the phone help and varieties of tips on their web site to help you better care for and understand your electrical system.

Excellent customer service is as important to The Electric Connection as is the fine quality of work they’ve become known for through the decades. If you schedule an electrical service call with a Pasadena electrician from the Electrical Connection and the technician that is handling that service call arrives late, your service call is free. That, however, is rare. What usually happens when you make an appointment with an electrician in Pasadena CA from the Electric Connection, is that your technician arrives at the appointed time, in a well supplied service vehicle, ready to meet the work goals of the day.

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Overlamping is when a lamp-holder socket has a bulb with a higher wattage than the socket is designed for. Not every lamp-holder socket in your home is rated for the commonly used 100-watt incandescent light bulbs. This is a code violation and a highly dangerous fire hazard.

For instance, if you connect a100-watt light bulb into a 75-watt lamp-holder socket, the intense heat coming from the bulb can melt or scorch the socket, potentially exposing the electrical wires underneath. This is a possible fire hazard as it increases the risk of arcing. Arcing is when sparks jump through the air from one wire to another, and research has shown that it is one of the most common causes of electrical fires.

The United States system of safety standards requires that electrical equipment be listed. Listing is a tool used to facilitate acceptance of electrical equipment. Most lamp holders are listed up to a particular wattage depending on the type of fixture used. This rating is derived from things such as the types of materials used in the construction of the fitting as well as where it will be placed. This causes varying levels of wattage, although most common lamp holder sockets are rated 75 watt.

You may find that some sockets in and around your home are listed at 40 watts or even 25 watts. An electrician can test the sockets in your home and confirm the maximum wattage for each one.

Most experts agree that using a bulb with a maximum wattage of 75 watts is the safest option, but you can always ask your electrician for help to be certain. Modern high-efficiency lamps are much safer because the majority do not exceed 75 watts of energy consumption. For older and unmarked fixtures, it is best to use a 60-watt bulb instead.

If you notice a lamp-holder socket in or around your home that looks as if it is scorched or melted, it is best to ask a professional for help before using it. If you would rather not seek an electrician’s assistance and choose to do the repairs yourself, ensure that you have switched off the electricity at the mains and that you have the correct tools for the job.

Install the service panel at a convenient location that is also secured so that only authorized people have access to it. The electrical panel is sized according to the environment as well. In many commercial wiring schematics, where each tenant has separate cabling and metering, the panel should provide for this. All panels and metering are typically installed in one location with an outline of which components are related to each apartment, floor or condo. There should be adequate electrical outlets to avoid using extension cords. It is important to ensure the layout and spacing complies with the relevant electrical standards.

A tenant may carry out renovations and wish to add electrical outlets to other locations not served by the initial outlets. Before making the modifications, the tenant should confirm that the panel and conductors have the capacity to handle extra outlets, lights or additional loads. This can be confirmed by the building owner, a qualified electrician, or electrical contractor who carried out the initial wiring. If the wiring is not adequate, additional cabling and protection may be required.

Electrical Safety in a commercial building is usually very critical to any building owner or caretaker, as well as business owners or tenants. They must ensure the safety of the people working on the premises as well as the visitors and customers. To minimize the risk of accidents and injuries, the building owner should make sure that the electrical wiring is up to date. This includes regular maintenance. Three phase power should comply with all electrical and building codes for that area. In particular, the people responsible must focus on ensuring that:

A comprehensive inspection of a commercial installation of electrical wiring should be carried out every 5 years by a qualified electrician. However, it is important to have regular inspections in between that identify defects and enable prompt repairs. A building owner must ensure the safety of the tenants, employees, and visitors while also guaranteeing uninterruptible supply to the premises.