Pool Electrical Repair Contractor - Wiring And Conduits

Are you experiencing an electrical problem with your pool wiring? Dolce Electric Company schedules a swimming pool electrician Mesa AZ homeowners can call and consult with free of charge. Our local in-office electrician in Mesa AZ has over 30 years of professional experience with all kinds of swimming pool electrical wiring and will answer all of your questions. Our local electrician is available Monday thru Friday, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Pool Electrical Repair - Electricians That Fix Swimming Pool Wiring

There are two primary methods of pool wiring and our electricians have vast experience with both. Underground pool circuits are the most common method with above ground, or exposed conduit installations, being the alternative. In some cases a combination of both can be used to power your pool equipment.

Each method of installation has its place but both have their respective strong and weak points making each susceptible to different problems and failures.

Underground Electrical Wiring And Conduits

Chances are that underground pool wiring was installed when your pool was first built. It’s ideal because the conduit is hidden, making it the preferred method of wiring swimming pools for homeowners who want to keep their homes free of exposed pipes. It does however have one major drawback if it was not installed correctly.

Conduit Decay:

The number one problem that occurs with underground wiring for pools is conduit decay or rusting out. It’s simple to check for, just shovel away a small amount of dirt where the conduit first goes into the ground and on the other side where it comes out of the ground and check for deterioration. If you rust in either place you can bet it has also happened further beneath the surface and may even be worse.

The conduits job is to protect the wires from the elements of nature and other kinds of potential damage. If you are checking for this, your wires may already be damaged and you could be experiencing short circuiting. In these cases, the only option is to contact a qualified swimming pool electrical contractor to replace the underground conduit and wiring.

Underground Power Wires And Conduit Replacements

If you determine that your underground pool electrical conduit has rusted out and a conduit replacement is needed you have two options being either rigid steel pipe or PVC pipe. Both installations have their respective strong points and weak points.

Underground Rigid Steel Conduit Installations:

Today, in-ground and above ground pool electrical requirements mandate that underground rigid steel conduit is wrapped with corrosion resistant PVC pipe protection tape. This is commonly referred to as 20 millimeter PVC tape. This thick layer of protection insulates the conduit from corrosion, guaranteeing a much longer life span. The local building code for pools also mandates that underground rigid metallic electrical conduits are buried at a minimum of 8 inches below the surface.

Strong Points to Underground Rigid Steel Conduit:

Pool electrical grounding is vital for safety and steel conduits provide additional electrical pool grounding where PVC conduits provide no grounding. PVC has no conductive value.
Steel conduits are buried at a lesser depth than PVC conduits. This means less labor is involved for digging.
Steel is much stronger than PVC. If you accidentally dig where a steel conduit located, you won’t break it.

Drawbacks to Underground Rigid Steel Conduit:

Rigid steel pipe is much more expensive than PVC.
Rigid steel conduits must be wrapped in 20 millimeter pipe protection tape. This increases labor and material costs.
Rust can still compromise the integrity of rigid steel from the inside. PVC will never rust.

Underground PVC Conduit:

The other option and least expensive of the two is underground PVC conduit. The electrical code requirement for all pools mandates that it is buried at a minimum of 18 inches below the surface. No protective tape is required for corrosion. A transition will be required to rigid steel with protective tape when going from beneath the surface to above. PVC conduit should not be installed above ground. The one exception is for the flexible pool pump wiring attached to the motor for vibrations.

Strong Points to Underground PVC:

PVC will never rust, it’s not metallic.
PVC costs less than rigid steel conduit.
No added costs associated with protective tape.

Drawbacks to Underground PVC:

PVC has no conductive or grounding value.
PVC has to be buried at a greater depth than rigid steel conduit for safety according to the electrical code.
PVC can be damaged when digging where steel is much more durable.

When an underground conduit replacement is required, PVC will always cost less and last longer than rigid steel. Contact our in-office expert for more information.

Above Ground Power Wires And Conduit Installations

Pool electrical wiring problems are not nearly as common in above ground conduits as in underground conduits but all of the same problems can occur.
Above ground conduit can be a cost effective solution if a conduit replacement is needed. The pool electrical requirements and codes remain the same. Sometimes these conduits can be neatly tucked in just above the ground, on the foundation, just below the stucco or brick. Above ground conduits will always be in a metallic conduit which adds to the electrical pool grounding.
Above ground conduit installations will almost always cost less to install than going underground because no digging is required. This can save a lot in labor expenses. In many cases a combination of above and underground conduit will be utilized for additional savings.

For more information about replacing the conduit and wiring for your pool equipment you can consult with our local Mesa AZ electricians free of charge. Voted best pool wiring electricians Mesa AZ, they are available Monday thru Friday, during business hours. They will answer all of your questions and provide you with a free estimate for a professional swimming pool electrical installation. Give them a call today during regular office hours; you will be happy you did!