Do you spend a lot of time in the pool in the evenings? If so, pool lights are a safety feature that you don’t want to do without! Colliding with someone in the water could immediately turn a fun family swim into a dire emergency. There’s a much greater chance of that happening if you’re swimming in the dark. Moreover, you don’t want people wandering around in the dark and falling in!
Lighting up the area in and around your pool certainly lessens the likelihood of these things happening. Pool lights can be used to create dramatic effects or a cozy atmosphere. The choice is yours, but we suggest mixing things up a bit so that you can go either way with the flip of a switch.
So, pool lights make the environment safer and more attractive. That’s a win-win any way you look at it!
Popular lighting options
As with all other aspects of our lives, technology has changed our lives for the better. And, that includes the options we have available to light up the pool at night. Practical and colorful lighting—that’s fairly affordable as long as we don’t go overboard—enhances night swimming. If your family didn’t already look forward to the night swim experience, they will soon!
There are three main options to choose from when lighting your pool area.
They are:
- Incandescent
- Halogen
- LED
Let’s take a closer look and then you can decide which options work best for you.
Incandescent
Incandescent lights are much like the standard light bulb that most people used in their houses before Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) came on the home lighting scene in the 80s. Light is produced in incandescent bulbs by heating a filament while heat radiates from the bulb. However, these lights cast a yellow shade which tends to cause even the cleanest of pools to have a greenish look.
Changes in the manufacturing process have shortened the lifespan of incandescent bulbs. It used to be that the bulbs lasted for about a year. These days, though, homeowners are lucky to get by with only having to change out the bulbs twice a year. When you consider the number of bulbs you’ll be using to complete your lighting design, you may shy away from incandescent lighting.
Halogen
Halogen lighting became the trend of the 90s. It had a longer lifespan using approximately 20% less energy than its predecessors. Halogen bulbs use filament technology to light the bulb which then takes advantage of halogen gas stored inside the bulb. The lights operate at a higher temperature inside a much smaller bulb. Homeowners were quick to try out the new light source, however, many soon decided they may not have made the right choice. The bulbs’ original cost was more than double that of incandescent bulbs and they have a relatively short lifespan.
LED lights
LED lighting has become the standard go-to for lighting up the pool and surrounding area. They’re long-lasting and operate at a fraction of the cost compared to either halogen or incandescent lighting. LED lights are long-lasting so homeowners aren’t changing bulbs as often. In fact, it’s estimated that the lifespan of an LED light bulb is more than 50,000 hours!
They’re cheaper to operate but that’s not the only draw that LED lighting offers. They can also provide an array of colorful light causing “oo’s” and “ahs” of delight amongst pool goers. That thought becomes even more appealing when you consider the fact that thanks to technology, programmable lighting makes it easy to create your own light show as easily as clicking a button on a remote—or even on an app on your phone!
In and out of the pool
You’ll want to ensure that pathways near the pool are well-lit. Wrapping trees or shrubbery in LED lighting has become a popular trend. Installing solar lighting stakes along walkways, in planters, and around seating areas is another option that is growing in popularity.
As far as lighting in the pool itself, you may want to consider:
- LED flood lights—These lights can be used for any type of lighting. They look great around your swimming pool! They light up large areas of space. They’re extremely energy efficient too so no worries about leaving them on all night long.
- Surface-mounted underwater halogen pool lights—These lights are great for those who have a limited budget but still want some underwater lighting. They’re easy to install, look great in water, and are economical to operate.
- Surface-mounted underwater LED lights—LED underwater lighting is easy to install and can easily light up your entire pool. Surface-mounted LED lights can be retrofitted when it comes time to upgrade existing pool lights because they aren’t flush with the wall of your pool. It’s notable that because of that fact, they can be easily broken. We’ll also note that might not happen as often if you instruct children using the pool not to use them as a step to climb out of the pool.
- Flush-mounted underwater LED lights—These lights are recessed so there’s no danger of children mistaking them for steps! They are directly mounted inside the wall of your pool. They are rapidly gaining popularity in new pool builds instead of traditional halogen lights. The expense may hold some back from using this type of lighting, but when you consider the long lifespan… it might be worth working into the budget.
- Flush-mounted underwater halogen lights—Even though they use the most energy, halogen lights create a beautiful effect as they line up directly with your pool wall. They require more maintenance than LED lights and they’re more complicated to install than LED lighting. Still, the difference in cost to both purchase and maintain makes underwater halogen lighting a viable option for many homeowners.
Put the light on
Night swims are coveted by many pool owners who don’t live in Florida. The water, coupled with the outside temperature, just doesn’t pair up for an enjoyable experience. Not here though! The sub-tropical climate allows for the perfect water temperature! You should light up the night to make your night swims even more enjoyable. It creates a safer environment and lighting creates a mood of excitement or tranquility… that’s up to you!
If you haven’t enclosed your pool area yet, you might want to consider it. Bugs and mosquitoes won’t have the opportunity to drive you back indoors—day or night. And, you’ll gain a degree of UV protection too. If you have any questions about enclosing your pool, give us a call! We’ll answer them. We can even come out and give you a free estimate if you’re wondering what a screen enclosure will cost.
Whether you’re swimming in an enclosure or under the twinkling stars, enjoy the time you’re spending with family and friends! Those memories are going to last a lifetime.