Pool Light Repair and LED Upgrades
A dark pool is less inviting and less safe at night. Get matched with an independent local pro to fix the light or switch to LED.
Free matching with independent local pool pros across Florida.
Pool lights are electrical work under water
Pool and spa lights sit below the waterline and connect to household power through a junction box and a GFCI breaker. That is why this is one repair to leave to a qualified pro. If a light flickers, trips the breaker or has water inside the lens, switch it off at the breaker and keep swimmers out until it has been checked.
The good news is that most light repairs do not require draining the pool. The fixture sits in a wall niche with a length of cord coiled behind it, so a pro can usually lift it onto the deck, open it and work on it dry.
What is going on with your light?
- Light will not turn on
- Burned-out bulb, tripped GFCI, a failed transformer on low-voltage systems, or a wiring fault.
- Flickers or cycles on and off
- Loose connection, failing bulb or LED driver, or water reaching the fixture.
- Fogged lens or water inside
- Worn gasket or cracked lens. Turn it off until repaired.
- Trips the breaker
- Often water in the fixture or a damaged cord. Do not keep resetting it.
- Fixture loose in the wall
- Missing or broken mounting screw or clip. A loose fixture can pull on the cord.
- Colors stuck or out of sync
- Color LEDs may need resetting or a controller fix, especially after a power outage.
Thinking about an LED upgrade?
Many older pools still use incandescent or halogen bulbs. When one of those fails, it is a natural time to ask about LED. Here is how they usually compare:
| Incandescent or halogen | LED | |
|---|---|---|
| Power use | Higher | Much lower for similar brightness |
| Bulb life | Shorter, more frequent replacement | Longer |
| Heat | Runs hot | Runs cooler |
| Color | White, or color lens covers | White or many built-in colors and shows |
| Control | Wall switch | Wall switch, remote or automation system |
Your pro will check whether your system is line voltage or low voltage, whether the niche fits the new fixture, and whether the existing conduit and cord can be reused. Pros commonly install lights from brands such as Pentair, Hayward and Jandy.
What a light repair visit usually involves
Power off
The circuit is shut off and the GFCI is tested.
Lift the fixture
The light is unscrewed from its niche and brought up to the deck on its cord.
Repair or replace
New bulb, gasket or lens, or a complete new fixture and cord if needed.
Seal and test
The fixture is resealed, tested and set back into the niche.
What affects pool light repair cost
- Repair or replace. Bulb and gasket versus a whole new fixture.
- LED type. Single-color white or multi-color with a controller.
- Voltage system. Low-voltage lights need a working transformer.
- Cord and conduit. A new cord must be pulled through the conduit, which is harder if it is blocked or damaged.
- Number of lights. Pools and spas often have more than one fixture.
Before work begins, confirm that the pro you hire holds the Florida license your job requires. Pool lighting involves electrical work near water.
Pool light questions
How do I find pool light repair near me?
Send a request with your city and what the light is doing: out, flickering, dim, tripping the breaker or filled with water. Dominion Pool Pros passes it to an independent local pro who works on pool lighting in your area.
How much does pool light repair cost?
It depends on the fix. A new bulb and gasket is a smaller job than replacing a whole fixture, running a new cord through the conduit or upgrading to a color LED with a new transformer or controller. The light brand and whether the conduit is clear also matter. Ask the pro to price repair and LED replacement side by side.
Does the pool need to be drained to fix a light?
Usually not. Most pool lights sit in a niche with extra cord coiled behind them, so a pro can lift the fixture up onto the deck and work on it dry. Draining is only needed in unusual cases, such as a damaged niche.
Why does my pool light keep filling with water?
The most common cause is a worn or poorly seated lens gasket. A cracked lens or a damaged cord seal can also let water in. Water inside the fixture is a safety concern, so turn the light off and have it looked at.
Are LED pool lights worth it?
Many homeowners switch to LED for lower power use, longer bulb life and color options. Whether it is worth it for you depends on your current fixture, whether your system is line voltage or low voltage and whether you want the light tied into pool automation. A pro can explain the options for your pool.
Related services
- Pool Automation and Smart ControlsConnect with a local pro to repair a control panel or add automation that runs pumps, heat, lights and valves from one place.
- Pool Leak Detection and RepairFind a local pro to trace water loss through plumbing, fittings, lights and the shell, then fix the source instead of refilling every week.
- Pool ResurfacingConnect with a local pro to replace rough, stained or cracking plaster with a new plaster, quartz or pebble finish.
- Pool Plumbing and Valve RepairConnect with a local pro for cracked pipes, stuck or leaking valves, air in the lines and weak return flow.
Request pool light repair in these Florida areas
Requests are matched with independent pros in six Florida metro areas. Availability depends on local pro coverage.
Bring your pool lights back
Tell us what the light is doing and where you are. We will pass your request to an independent local pro.
Dominion Pool Pros is a free referral service. We connect Florida homeowners with independent local pool professionals and do not perform any pool or spa work ourselves.