There’s no better feeling than grabbing a drink and heading outside for a relaxed evening swim. The calming night air and the dim lighting of your pool— it’s a scene of pure tranquility. What happens when you’re all ready for relaxation, but you just realized your pool lights are not working? It can ruin the evening vibe, but more importantly, it can be a serious safety hazard. Fortunately, there are several signs you can look for to identify if your pool lights are working properly before it ever gets to this point. Let’s examine a few of the most important ones.
Dim or Flickering Lights
If your lights are dim or begin to flicker, it can be a sign that the wiring is loose or the bulb is nearing the end of its life. If this happens, you’ll want to check the wiring or replace the bulb before the light gives out completely.
Your Lights Won’t Turn On
When you hit the switch and nothing happens, that can cause a feeling of true frustration. Don’t panic if you hit the switch and the lights don’t come on— there are a few simple things you can check before losing hope. If the bulbs are in good repair and you still catch yourself thinking ‘my pool lights aren’t working’, make sure the breaker hasn’t been tripped. If everything seems okay on that front, your issue may be a blown fuse, or potentially something more complicated.
Water Inside the Light Fixture
Maybe panic isn’t the word… but if you see this, take care of it immediately. Water inside a light fixture usually means there’s a crack or leak. You’re probably aware that water and electricity don’t mix well, so this is an issue that goes beyond pool lights not working— it’s seriously dangerous. Don’t take the risk of overlooking this one.
Color Change Errors
If you have color changing pool lights that don’t change colors, that’s an issue. It’s usually a sign that the controls are experiencing some type of malfunction. You didn’t buy those color changing lights just to be stuck with one color, did you?
Random Shut Offs
There are a number of reasons your pool lights might shut off randomly and they need to be addressed. This could be a sign of a power surge, a timer error, or overheating. If this is happening, you might need to have an expert come take a look.
Physical Damage
If your light fixtures are cracked or corroding this is more than just an aesthetic misfire. Certainly these issues are unsightly, but they’re also dangerous. Additionally, these types of issues often lead to more expensive repairs being needed in the future, so take care of this right away.
Buzzing or Humming Noises
If you’re hearing a buzzing or humming sound coming from your light fixture, you’re probably having an electrical issue. Get a pro to check it out before it becomes a serious safety problem.
Remote Control Not Working
If you have a remote for your pool lights, but the lights don’t seem to respond when you use it, you need to look into this further. Sometimes the solution is as simple as popping in some new batteries, but you should look into it to be sure.
Increased Energy Use
If you’re noticing a spike in your electric bill, faulty wiring can be the culprit. Lights with electrical issues often waste energy, which causes them to consume more energy than they typically need. Fixing this issue can lower your electric bill and keep your family safe when it’s time to dive in.
Circuit Breakers Trip
It’s not normal for your circuit breakers to keep tripping. If this happens when you turn on your pool lights, there’s an issue. Look into it before it becomes a more serious problem.
In general, if your pool lights are not working, there are a few root causes: physical damage to the light fixture, a dying bulb, or electrical problems such as faulty wiring.
By keeping a close eye on these main things and looking for the signs that your pool lights need repair, you can keep your pool a safe haven of fun and relaxation for the whole family. If you have other questions about your pool lights, check our frequently asked questions for more information. If you are experiencing any of these problems, reach out to PoolLights.com today.