Summer is always a scorcher in South Florida, but this year seems even more steamy than usual. All of these 90+ degree days mean we have swimming pools on the mind! A great way to extend the fun of a summer evening is to light your pool and the space around it well. You will be able to swim for longer, and pool lighting is an important safety feature for any nighttime activity–especially if it involves slippery surfaces or water.
For Safety: LED lights are an excellent option for properly lighting a pool area without being overly bright and jarring. They provide a soft glow along pathways, stairs, and ladders so that you don’t slip, and avoid creating harsh shadows the way floodlights do. Plus, you’ll be saving money and energy with LED lights as opposed to the halogens and incandescents used for floodlights. Lighting the water of your pool also lets you keep a closer eye on any children who are swimming. Drowning is a leading cause of death for young children, so every safety measure should be taken to ensure their safety while they’re having fun in the pool. Lighting the interior with LED pool lighting is an inexpensive investment to keep kids safe and bring you peace of mind.
For Fun: A pool featuring multi-color LED lights turns a simple late-night swim into a whole different, exciting experience. There are many options on the market for lights: some are strips that adhere to the underside of the coping – the material used to cover the edges of the pool. Others are pucks that can be stuck to the side of the pool that creates a glow of colored light around the perimeter. Many packages can be programmed to automatically change color, pulse, or alternate colors along the strip (think red and blue for the 4th of July, or the two favorite colors of a family member celebrating a birthday). If you do not want the lighting close to your pool, you can put lighting in trees or string up on posts around the pool area. The lighting can also often be dimmed or brightened depending on the atmosphere you’re looking to achieve.
For Style: Nighttime lighting can really make your landscape look gorgeous–the same goes for your pool area! You can use tiki torches around the area to provide a tropical ambiance (and many burn citronella oil that repels mosquitoes as well). Hang LED lights in surrounding trees to illuminate the pool with a soft glow from above and create the illusion of moonlight or line your paths and the underside of your pool.
For Practicality: In almost any exterior lighting system, LED bulbs are the best way to go. They use significantly less energy, and won’t become hot regardless of the length of time they are turned on. They give off brighter light than incandescents, meaning you can use fewer to light your pool area. LED bulbs tend to be more durable than other bulbs as well since they are made with less fragile materials (anyone who has gone bought a new incandescent bulb only to realize the filament is broken can relate). Proper lighting for your pool is not just a luxury; it’s a key safety feature for your outdoor space. Lighting will provide ambiance for your pool area while keeping you, your family, and your guests safe.
Pool lighting provides many benefits for South Florida families but needs to be installed by an electrician in order to be safe. If you are looking to add lighting to your backyard or pool, call Promise Electric today.
