Summer is in full swing which means you’re likely spending more time in a hot tub. If you don’t currently own a hot tub but are considering getting one in the near future, there are some important things to consider before purchasing. It’s a no brainer that water and electricity don’t mix; therefore, adhering to proper safety and electrical protocol with hot tub installation and maintenance is imperative. Listed below are Expert Electric’s 5 tips for hot tub safety:

You might consider yourself to be quite the handyman; however, setting up a brand new hot tub is an entirely different animal. Wiring a hot tub is no easy task and it’s far more complex than setting up your average home appliance. Consulting a licensed electrician for a hot tub installation will often save you time, money, and a trip to the hospital. A licensed electrician will minimize any costly mistakes you would make that could result in permanent damage to the hot tub and a void in the hot tub manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, they will ensure you’re getting the best value in all of the necessary accessories that need to be purchased for installation.

Although this usually isn’t a problem if your home was built within the past 30-40 years, it’s always a good thing to look into before adding an additional appliance to your home. This is another area that a licensed electrician can help with. It’s also crucial to understand what type of voltage your hot tub is running with. Smaller hot tubs usually require 120 volts whereas larger hot tubs will often run on 240 volts. Understanding the different requirements associated with your specific hot tub’s voltage and how it relays to its power source is key.

When it comes to hot tub installation, it’s all in the wiring. Using the proper wiring is critical to the functioning and safety of your hot tub. It’s important to use wiring that is able to handle the heat. A licensed electrician will be able to answer any questions you have about wiring and determine which type of wiring is necessary for your hot tub.

Did you know that Canada has a set of electrical codes that must be followed when installing and maintaining any type of electrical equipment in Canada? These codes must be followed accordingly during the installation. The Canadian Electric Code is a handbook that can be purchased online; however, it’s a long read and fairly expensive. Hiring a licensed electrician will save you the chore of reading it and void its additional cost.

Before installing a hot tub, it’s imperative to consider its location. You’ll need room for the hot tub as well as extra room to get in and out. The hot tub should be at least 10 feet away from any overhead power lines and 5 feet away from the removed spa panel. It’s also important to consider how the tub will connect to its power source.

For further information on hot tub installation and the necessary electrical requirements, please visit our contact page for a local number near you or to fill out one of our online forms. Our team of licensed electricians are here to help ensure your hot tub gets installed safely and efficiently.

TRENDING NOW: RETROFITTING OLD FIXTURES

By Clarissa Allison | December 24th, 2014

Watching lighting trends in 2014 has been an interesting ride. “LED” and energy efficiency, once phrases thought to be bandied about by tree-huggers and industry insiders alone, is now quite common. The cost of LEDs and solid state lighting in general has come down faster than it would in a normal competitive environment. That has helped global adoption creep up over 10%. Environmentally friendly technology is an absolute must as the traditional lighting options we’ve all grown up with are slowly being replaced.  In one example, we’ve noticed customers wanting to retrofit old incandescent flush-mounted fixtures with LED downlights.

LED lights are also measured in two different ways; by their color temperature and the lumens they produce. Because they use significantly less power and are gaining in efficiency with each generation, whereas older bulbs are consistent in their wattage being representative of the amount of light put out, LED bulbs can vary in efficiency a bit more. What this means is that the bulbs are now rated by their Lumen rating, or how much light they put out, versus how much power they draw. Understanding how LEDs work and the opportunities that they present to you as a homeowner are key to helping you make a decision as to how you light your home.

Aluminum LED profile housings allow you to create customized light fixtures with LED strip lights. Our Klus brand LED channels are available in many different styles, including recessed-, or flexible, O-shaped, and more. Available in 1- and 2-meter lengths, the channels can be easily cut for any application from under-cabinet lighting and bookshelf lighting to showcase lighting and transition strip lighting. They’re available with a variety of lens options, such as clear, frosted, and etched that complete the profiles. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide for using these channels to create your own light fixtures. Please note that your specific channel might vary from the one used in this tutorial.

Materials needed:

1. With a pair of clippers, carefully clip through the clear plastic heat shrink as shown in figures A-C. You will want to take your time and be careful not to cut the strip’s wires while removing it.

2. Lay the LED strip into the channel, and position it along the bottom so that the ends of the strip and the channel are lined up (fig. A). Now, remove the paper from the strip’s adhesive backing (fig. B), and adhere the strip to the LED channel—starting at the lined end and working your way to the other end of the strip. Be sure to leave roughly 1/4-inch free at the end of the channel so that you can install the end cap as shown in figure C.

3. If one of your end caps doesn’t come with a pre-drilled hole, you will need to drill your own to allow the wires of the LED strip light to come through. In this case, we used a Dremel tool, but other options are viable as well. Regardless of the tool you choose, it is helpful to mark the end cap where you would like the wires to come through. Start the hole small, and increase the size as necessary.

4. Place the end cap on the wired side of the strip by threading the wires through the end cap as shown in figure A. Insert the end cap into the end of the light bar, and push firmly until it is fully in place (fig. B).

5. On the open end of the bar, slightly peel up the end of the LED strip (fig. A); this is necessary to install the end cap. Now measure your channel lens, and trim off the excess with clippers (fig. B). Be careful when trimming to avoid cracking the plastic. Excess material can be lightly sanded off. Once the lens has been cut to the proper length, slide it into the channel, and install the end cap as shown in figures C and D.

6. That’s it! Your customized LED light fixture is complete and ready for installation, which we will cover in the next step.

7. Mounting this LED profile is as easy as applying double-sided tape to the back of it and sticking it to your intended surface. Be sure to cut the tape to fit the back of the LED profile and to leave the tape backing on the side not attached to the channel until you are ready to mount it.

For most LED profiles, mounting clips are available for a more permanent installation.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.