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.

Can I get a Free Estimate over the phone? If you want a Free Estimate, call us at (800) 990-9490. We give Free Estimates either over the phone, or, if needed, after looking at your job. We can almost always give you a Free Estimate over the phone if your job is installing new items such as: • And all other installations of new electrical components (as opposed to repairs)

How can you give me an over-the-phone estimate for a job as big as a house rewire or an electrical panel upgrade? We’ll do a brief interview with you to find out the size of your house and some other basics. We can give you a rough estimate over the phone. Then if you want to take the next step, we can send an electrician to your home or business. He’ll look over your electrical system and give you a firm bid in writing. If the bid is acceptable, we’ll schedule the job with you.

Can you give me an over-the-phone estimate for installing a charger for an electric car? Yes, these can be as low as $200, and they go up from there. We’ll ask you the distance of your garage or carport to your electrical panel. If you’re interested, we’ll then send an electrician out to see the job. He’ll determine where the charger could go and also check that your electrical panel has sufficient power. The price of the job will depend on the distance from the electrical panel and whether your panel needs to be upgraded for more power. He can give you a firm written bid after looking at the job.

Are there times when you can’t do a Free Estimate? If you need something fixed that used to work, we’ll need to do on-site troubleshooting of your electrical system and charge for the electrician’s time. Within a half hour to an hour, we’ll know the extent of the problem. At that point, if he hasn’t already fixed the problem, the electrician can give you a firm bid in writing before doing more work. Often, by the time the electrician has figured out the problem (within a half hour to an hour or so) — let’s say it’s a loose wire — it will take another minute or so to fix it. In fact, he may not be certain that the loose wire was the entire problem until he tightens the wire, the circuit now works, and the job is done.

Why can’t you give an estimate for troubleshooting jobs? When a component in your electrical system no longer works, there can be variety of reasons, each requiring a different amount of time to fix.

Let’s say you have a swimming pool and the pool light no longer comes on. If the light switch has broken and needs replacing, we’re talking about an inexpensive part plus half an hour of labor. If the light fixture or the circuit breaker is broken, these parts are bigger expenses. If the wire feeding the light has a short circuit, that could mean digging up the wire that runs underground, cutting the concrete pool deck, replacing the wiring and its protective housing (electrical conduit), cutting a new trench and re-burying the wire, and finally, patching the concrete pool deck. That could be hundreds of dollars.

So, the symptom of the pool light not working doesn’t tell us the cost. We’ll need to troubleshoot on-site for a half hour to an hour, find the cause, and then we’ll be able to give you a firm bid price.

What is the difference between an estimate and a bid? We can give you a Free Estimate over the phone without seeing the job if your job is a new installation. If the estimate is acceptable and you want to move ahead, we’ll set an appointment with you to see the job. Once we’ve seen the job and checked out the details, we can give you a firm written bid in writing. It’s a firm price with no surprises for you.

How can I get started? Call us at (800) 990-9490 and ask for a Free Estimate.

For more about my company, The Electric Connection — all the stuff you wanted to know but were afraid to ask — click here. If you’re interested coupons for electrical work, for example, $50 off installation of a Whole House Surge Protector in the L.A. area, click on our coupon page.

Kim Hopkins, Owner The Electric Connection

Twilight Designs in Las Vegas, flush mount (recessed) step lights are often the fixture of choice when used indoors. He credits this to how easy it is to cut into and run wiring through drywall, especially when installing step lights after construction is completed. “While planning ahead is helpful,” says Bilik, “there are many products available for running wires post-construction.” He recommends 110v wiring to fish through walls and attics or low voltage wiring when 110v is not an option.

For less penetrable surfaces like concrete and stone, surface mounted fixtures are ideal because they mount directly to a wall or flat surface. These step lights commonly have a profile of as little as 3/4-inch up to 3-inches and a trajectory that directs light at the wall or at the surface below.

Regardless of whether you are using a flush or surface mounted step light, you must consider the type of cover (or faceplate) the fixture has. Bilik says that in his experience, most covers will fall in one of three categories, each with its own series of benefits:

Deciding whether or not to install solar panels is a big decision for anyone who owns a home or commercial building. The good news is that solar power is becoming more common, meaning that there are more installers and other companies that work with solar power. Because of this, you have more options when it comes to purchasing or financing your solar panels. Kim Hopkins, the owner of Solar Panel Info has set up this website to share his extensive knowledge of acquiring and installing solar panels. One of the most interesting things that discussed is the relatively new opportunity of the solar lease. Options such as this make the cost of solar panels attractive to many more buyers than ever before.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

One of the greatest barriers to solar installation has always been the huge up-front investment that can be required. In recent years, however, there are many companies that offer alternatives to this, such as the solar lease. Programs such as this allow you to actually lease the panels for a monthly fee. This fee is typically based on the size of the system installed, your credit and other factors. The company leasing the panels will send their own solar installers to install the system on your home or business, and maintain ownership of the system. All of the electricity that you generate, however, is your own. In most cases, according to www.solar-panel-info.com, your new (lower) electric bill, plus the solar leasing costs will be less than your electric bill before your panels were installed. This means that you can start saving money during the first month of ownership.

If you wish to do so, you can also purchase solar panels outright. This can be done through the same companies that lease, or through other solar panel installers in your area. One of the benefits of purchasing your own solar panels is that you can take advantage of many tax benefits, rebate programs and other incentives. While this option may not work for everyone, you still have the ability to finance the purchase of the equipment, as well as the cost of installation.

Will Solar Panels Save Me Money?

According to the experts at www.solar-panel-info.com, most homes and businesses will start saving money during their first month of solar power generation. This is especially true if you choose to take advantage of a solar lease. In addition to lessening your dependence on electricity from your utility company, many utilities also give you the option to sell your electricity back to them. This can be incredibly beneficial on days that you can generate much more than you use. In most areas, especially during the summer, you will be generating the most electricity during peak hours, and drawing electricity during off-peak hours. Because of this, you will use lower-cost off-peak power from your utility and sell them back higher-cost peak electricity. This is perfect for offsetting cloudy, stormy days that will generate little to no electricity.

If you are looking for a great way to lower your energy bills, while also helping the environment, solar panel installation may be perfect for you. Now is an ideal time to start looking into this type of technology. There are many different incentives, rebates and leasing options that make getting started easier than ever before. If investing in the purchase of your own solar panels has been holding you back, take some time to look into companies that offer solar leasing. Experts in this field, such as Kim Hopkins, can give you some valuable insight and information into the options that you have in your area. If you have any additional questions, you can visit for more great information on solar installation.

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