How to Change a Pool Light

Swimming pools are great outdoor summer attractions. They keep occupants cool and comfortable during the hot months. One of the main additions to pools is pool lights.

Pool lights underwater allow you to use the pool whenever, even during the night. Over time, pool lights will eventually burn out and stop working. But, hiring someone to replace your inground pool lights can be expensive.

This blog discusses how to change a pool light on your own, saving you time and money.

Before replacing the pool bulb, you'll need to access it. The most common way is to lower the water level of the pool until it drops below the bulb housing. Lowering the water level of the pool is not the only way to change the pool light.

Another option is to keep the same water level and remove the light housing from the ground pool. Then, you can change the light bulb from there.

Tools and Items Needed

For the replacement, you will need a few tools and items. These include:

• Large Head Screw
• Replacement Bulb
• Paper Cloth or Towel

Below are the steps on changing the pool light.

Step 1. Turn the Power Breaker Off

Find the circuit breaker box in your home or near the pool. Once you find it, switch the breaker with the label "Pool" to the “OFF” position. This will turn off the electricity to the entire pool.

Make sure the power is off before starting to change the light. To double check, turn the power on to the lights after turning the circuit breaker off. If the power is off, they will not come on. Once you confirm this, remember to turn the lights back to the OFF position.

Step 2. Remove the Light Housing

To begin with the removal process, start by removing the single screw on the top of the fixture. The screw is known as the “screwlock” and is the only screw that holds the housing together. To remove it, you will need a large head screw. After unscrewing the "screwlock", make sure to keep it in a secure place.

After removing the screw, pull the housing out of the pool wall. There is usually a tab that allows you to pull the fixture out of the wall. Removing the housing from the wall may take some loosening on multiple sides. Once the fixture is loose, you can remove it from the pool wall.

After the light fixture is out of the pool wall, you can pull it out of the water and place it on the concrete surface of the pool.

Step 3: Replace the Light Bulb

Replacing the light bulb is simple once the housing is out of the water. First, you must remove the cover and lens from the light fixture. There will be a rubber housing gasket that separates the cover and lens. You will need to remove the rubber housing gasket as well.

How to remove the lens will depend on if it is an old or newer model. Most older models have screws holding the lens in place. Newer models typically secure the bulb lens with tabs.

After removing the lens, set it on the pool deck or the side. You will also need to set the rubber housing gasket to the side as well.

Now you can use your pool light replacement bulb to change the bulbs. If you want a longer lasting bulb, we recommend choosing an LED bulb with equivalent specs as the old bulb. LED pool lights will provide brighter illumination and last much longer than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs.

Use a towel when handling the bulbs so the oils of your hand do not damage the them. Then, twist the bulb counterclockwise to unscrew it. After removing the old bulb, get the new one and turn the light bulb clockwise into the housing.

Test to see if the light bulb works by turning the breaker back on and flipping the light switch. If it works, immediately turn it off so it does not overheat and burn out.

Step 4: Reinstall the Light Housing

Place the rubber piece and the lens back over the housing. Make sure to screw in the screws or add back the tabs into the housing.

Then, place the light fixture back into the pool wall and screw the "screwlock" back into place. Use the head screwdriver to tighten the screw into position.

Once everything is back in place, turn the circuit breaker back on and observe whether it is working properly.

Changing a pool light is not complicated but may require some small tools to help. If you need electrical or any other help, reach out to an electrician to change the lights for you.