What are swim spas?

A Swim Spa is the best of both worlds, a pool, and a hot tub. If you enjoy swimming but have neither the $40,000 to $70,000 budget nor the backyard space and want to use it throughout the year, a swim spa is your best option. They typically come in a variety of different builds such as acrylic or portable and are 12 to 16 feet long, 7 to 10 feet wide, and can be up to 6 feet deep. Often referred to as an ‘endless pool’ the jets in a swim spa allow one to swim against the current of water continuously without ever touching the wall or having to turn for another lap as would be the case in a regular pool. If you want a swim spa that also functions as a hot tub, these are slightly bigger than swim spas with just one function because of the allowance for seating space.

Lighting options in swim spas

Since a swim spa is so similar to a hot tub in that it is built with jets and uses electricity to power them, the only difference being the size, swim spas are also compatible with hot tub lighting. If you’re looking for a swim spa for sale, note that it should only be installed by a licensed professional electrician as water and electricity are a lethal combination if done wrong. Although we’re providing some general knowledge about underwater lighting, the initial installation is best left to a professional as they have the maximum knowledge on voltage, code, and safety.

There are many different options for hot tub lighting, some of which are discussed below;

Standard white light: Professionals may refer to these as standard incandescent or quartz halogen lights, these emit a simple white light and come in a range of wattages, from 100W to 500W however, staying between 100W to 300W is a safe option as anything higher than this is considered high wattage and requires extra provisions. The advantage of these lights is that they’re cheap and a coloured plastic lens can be snapped on them to change the light colour.

Fibre optic lights: These have less power and you may need several of them to light the swim spa, they come with a light-generating box that has to be wired and placed far away from the pool. The actual light has to be mounted to the wall of the swim spa. One box can light several lights depending on how many fibre optic strands are used in the box.

LED lights: LED lights have a led display panel with a rotating colour wheel in newer models, the lighting can be changed automatically or using a remote control. The advantage with these is the efficiency; they give off the most light and last the longest. They’re also more affordable than in the past and prove to be the most user-friendly with easy installation and replacement.

Battery powered LED lights: These are by far, the easiest option for hot tub owners. They’re wireless lights that can either be charged or use batteries. Although they do not have as long of a life, they’re practically hassle free and you can plop one in your hot tub before getting in without messing with all the wires and switches. Some of these come with magnets to attach to the wall of your pool if you don’t like the blinding light in your eyes when you look at the spa floor. Battery-powered lights are great for portable pools and come with remote control, similar to wired LED lighting. The biggest plus point is that some chargeable lights even come with a Bluetooth connection to play music in the spa!

Common issues with swim spa lighting

If your lighting seems to be malfunctioning in a wired system, follow a few simple steps to narrow down the issues and fix them. This shouldn’t be a daunting task if done safely.

Firstly, check the main circuit breaker box for a breaker trip and tug on the transformer wires to ensure they aren’t loose. Next, concentrating on one area at a time, check the transformer for malfunction. Hold it in your hand and plug the bulb, if the transformer starts to get abnormally hot, it is sparking and likely bad. The fuses can either be fixed or, if there are too many, the transformer should be replaced.

Open the switchboard and look for any bare wires touching, rust or breaks. If there seems to be no issue with that, check for any stress on the wires such as pulling, crimping, or squeezing that may have damaged the wire inside also, be mindful of any naked wire that could cause a shortage.

If none of these seem to be the issue, replace your LED bulb, especially if it looks cracked or has got old. Lighting maintenance is very easy and you are unlikely to run into a lot of issues if it is installed professionally and cleaned every so often.