Electrical Safety: Essential to the Safe Enjoyment of Swimming Pools

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth highlights the need to prioritize electrical safety around the pool to prevent fire damage.

Electrical safety around the pool can prevent a fire damage disaster. The placid crystal waters hide a weblike network of pipes, wires, a pump, and a filter, all powered by electrical current. Serious electrical hazards can cause potential fiery results. To prevent injuries and fire damage, the homeowner is urged to make electrical safety around the pool a top priority.

The pool season in North Texas runs from late March to October. The sizzling Keller, TX, summers make the backyard pool a prime location to beat the heat and relax from a hard day’s work. The pleasure does come with a specific set of necessary precautions:

• Sunscreen protects against sunburn and skin cancer.
• Bug spray, scented candles, and electronic bug zappers remedy the pest problem.
• Life jackets and swim rings ensure a safe swimming experience.

Safety around the swimming pool, spa, and hot tub must include awareness of potential water and electrical hazards. These six tips will help keep the pool and surrounding area safe from electrical shock.

Tip #1: Find a pool pro.

Seek out the services of a licensed, bonded, and insured professional for pool or spa installation, maintenance, and repairs. Schedule a comprehensive inspection and maintenance appointment before the pool opening to ensure the system is operational and safe. For the diagnosis and repair of a suspected problem, secure the services of a fully licensed, experienced electrician who is knowledgeable about the electrical concerns of pools. Strict guidelines are in place to ensure pools are installed and serviced to the highest safety standards.

Tip #2: Choose Bluetooth and battery-powered poolside technology.

Bluetooth devices are perfect for the pool setting. The short-range wireless connectivity allows for cordless signal transmission and control in devices such as radio, musical audio equipment, smart TV, and security system. Convert to onboard battery power or solar power, and eliminate electrical cords.

Keep standard electrical appliances far enough away from the pool so that bystanders can avoid contact with puddled water while using the device. As an added layer of protection, adjust the cord length so that the appliance cannot be moved without being unplugged first.

Tip #3: Use safe outlets.

Special electrical outlets are used with pools and spas. These GFCI or ground-fault circuit interrupters reduce water and electrical hazards by interrupting the circuit when a circuit overload occurs. These GFCI outlets are common in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and some garages. Test the outdoor GFCI outlets once a month to ensure they are operating properly.

Where electrical appliances are necessary, take safety to the next level. Protect these outdoor plug-in accessories and equipment with specially designed outlet covers that prevent splash arcs. Life and play around the pool can get rambunctious at times. A stray splash on an unprotected electrical outlet can cause a circuit to short or throw off a spark. This situation may be all that is needed to ignite a fire or create a risk hazard for electrocution.

Tip #4: Set up safety guidelines.

A formal set of safety guidelines for activities around the pool will protect guests and the homeowner. Post the rules in plain sight. Review the rules with friends, neighbors, and family who want to enjoy the pool. These rules shape safe behavior and guard against careless, hazardous activities that can result in personal injury, death, or a lawsuit. Provide instruction on when to evacuate the pool when inclement weather is forecast or arises. Include warnings about the dangers of mixing water and electrical equipment. The combination of water and electricity is dangerous whether a pool is the source of the water or not.

Tip #5: Know how the system works and learn how to operate it smoothly.

A pool is not just a 30,000-gallon container of clear, cool water; it is also a complex network of pipes, jets, intakes, lights, and wires. The task of opening a pool at the beginning of the season requires knowledge, skill, and some sweat. After the first few times, the flush protocol seems simple. In the case of electrical activity during a thunderstorm, the pool may need to be shut off quickly before lightning strikes. A delay in shutting off the power could result in a fire or great personal injury.

Tip #6: Pre-qualify a damage restoration company before fire damage occurs.

One call to SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth has a crew arriving at the client’s location within four hours or less. The team of fire and water damage restoration professionals is available 24/7, including holidays. Technicians are equipped with knowledge, expertise, training, industry-leading tools, the latest technology, industry-standard cleaning techniques, and EPA-approved cleaning products. SERVPRO can handle the claims process from start to finish with no hassles and no headaches for the client.

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth for more details about fire and water damage restoration services. The office can be reached by calling (817) 741-5737 or by emailing office@SERVPROnortheastftworth.com