Economical aftermarket illumination options for pools, spas and patios

by Sally Bouorm | March 1, 2011 11:39 am

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By Mitch Smith and Holly Shimanski

In any space—from airports, theatres and restaurants to photography studios and hotel rooms—the brightness and colour of the light has an immediate and critical impact on one’s experience of that environment. Light can make a person feel relaxed or overwhelmed, welcomed or disturbed, cozy or excited.

Residential settings with pools, spas, water features or fountains present many opportunities to enhance both function and ambience through creative lighting. In fact, the various aftermarket lighting products currently available on the market can brighten and enliven any existing pool, spa or patio—and strengthen a retailer’s bottom line.

Embracing new technologies

One reason aftermarket lighting has gained prominence in the pool, spa and patio market is manufacturers’ move to adopt more versatile and efficient illumination technology.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

Thanks to the advent of LED technology, a greater number of more affordable lighting products have come on the market in recent years. LEDs are small, lightweight and energy efficient. Because they consume less energy while providing the same (or even more) illumination, LEDs have helped spark some innovative pool and spa-related product developments.

In the past, it was not practical to use batteries to power a pool light. For example, traditional quartz or halogen pool lighting products needed to be wired or plugged into an electrical outlet, an approach that often proved cumbersome and costly. Also, a fair amount of electricity was needed to produce a reasonable amount of light from these fixtures. By comparison, LEDs require far less electricity and have much longer battery life; in fact, some can operate for up to 48 hours on three AA batteries.

Solar power

Solar technology has also made it possible to provide more illumination while reducing energy consumption costs. Many products currently on the market use solar collectors that stockpile energy from the sun during the day. At dusk, a sensor triggers the fixture to turn on. This technology is well suited for many landscape lighting applications, and is also used in some floating pool lights.

Form and function

There are two primary types of swimming pool illumination—functional lighting, which makes the pool safer and extends its useable hours, and decorative lighting, which adds ambience.

Pool owners may choose to add functional lighting, either floating or affixed, to enhance the value of their investment. By lighting their pool, they make it safer to swim after dusk, thereby extending the number of hours the pool can be used. An illuminated pool is also safer because swimmers can see where they are going in the water, and others can see what’s in the pool before they jump in.

Inground pools

Functional lighting for inground swimming pools is usually part of the initial installation or a major remodel because the fixtures are built permanently into the pool’s structure (e.g. walls, steps, benches, etc.) However, there are some add-on illumination products available. Floating lights, which are suspended in the water much like buoys, and similar items run in the low three figures and typically contain white LED fixtures. These float on the pool surface and cast their glow on the walls and floor.

Above-ground pools

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Adding functional lighting to an above-ground pool is usually a separate purchase from the pool itself, as most packages do not include lights. While the pool owner may opt for lighting at the time of purchase, there is very little cost difference between adding these items later. The fact that this decision can happen at almost any point in the pool’s lifetime makes marketing these products well worth the pool dealer’s effort.

Some aftermarket lighting products for above-ground pools adhere magnetically to pool walls; in soft-sided pools, a steel plate is placed on the outside of the pool to hold the light in place. Other above-ground pool lighting designs are installed in the through-wall water return fitting, while several other types hang over the wall. These generally require removing a section of the top rail to facilitate installation. The aforementioned floating lights are also a good option for above-ground models.

Setting the mood

While providing functional lighting for pools, spas, and the backyard is important for safety and other practical purposes, backyard environments are also ideal settings for fun, creative decorative lighting.

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LED technology has dramatically expanded the availability of decorative lighting products designed to add mood and ambience to the pool or backyard. With LEDs, manufacturers can create lightweight, affordable accessories that provide brighter, longer-lasting light. These take many forms, and come in styles that set a wide variety of moods. For instance, sunglass-wearing illuminated ducks are fun and cute, ideal for entertaining children or the young at heart. Meanwhile, floating illuminated flowers are more elegant, well suited for an evening soiree.

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Colour-changing lights can enliven an area for a party, or set a romantic mood for a quiet evening at home, both inside and around the pool. Some light fixtures, for example, can project colour-changing light patterns underwater onto the bottom and sides of a pool or aboveground on indoor walls or patio areas.

Some decorative lighting products also incorporate moving water. Pool owners can opt for fixtures that float on the pool surface and shoot colour-illuminated water into the air while projecting light and colour onto the bottom of the pool; certain fixtures even respond to the beat of music. These illuminated water features are typically installed in a planter or other deck-side location, projecting into the pool or spa water creating gentle splashing sounds that add to the overall experience.

Striking a balance

Outdoor lighting, when done well, includes several kinds of fixtures and highlights various parts of the backyard. Underwater or floating lights for the pool or spa, low-voltage or solar pathway lights for walkways or decks, and tree- or building-mounted spotlights that simulate moonlight are just some examples. This is not only an esthetic issue, it is also a safety concern. It is also important to advise customers to balance light in the pool with the lights in the backyard, as making a pool dramatically brighter than its surroundings can actually create a hazard. An overly bright glowing pool can make it difficult to see surrounding landscaped areas. By stocking some of the many landscape, pathway and patio lighting options available, retailers can help homeowners create a safe and pleasing backyard setting.

One of the most powerful things lighting can do is unify a poolscape with co-ordinated illumination. Lighting can extend the home’s decorative style to the patio and beyond— beginning with a post light illuminating the home’s address, continuing with path lighting that leads to whatever feature the home owner chooses to showcase, while accent lights on patio umbrellas and tables complete the look.

When all of these lighting elements, from the functional to the festive, are tied together with colour and style, the result can be magical.

ILLUMINATE THE POSSIBILITIES

Showing the effects of lighting in a retail environment can be tricky. Unless an entire room can be dedicated to low-level lighting, it is not always possible to simulate nighttime conditions. However, retailers can overcome this obstacle using one or more of the following display techniques: ● Run a video or slideshow of various nighttime effects, including colour-changing underwater or landscape lights; ● Create a printed photo display of the same pool area illuminated different ways, with different colours underwater and various different accent lights in use; ● Use flashing accent lights to draw attention not only to the lighting products, but also to other accessories on display; ● Dress up other store displays (e.g. patio furniture) with product-specific and multipurpose lighting accessories; and ● Place small lighting accessories near the register or any other part of the store where customers may be waiting for service (e.g. water testing station). These eye-catching displays might entice an impulse purchase.

 

Mitch Smith is the national sales manager for GAME, a swimming pool and spa accessories manufacturer in Scottsdale, Ariz. He has been in the pool and spa industry for almost 30 years, having worked with Muskin, Zodiac and Vogue prior to joining GAME. He can be reached via e-mail at mks@game-group.com[5].

 

 

 

Holly Shimanski is the sales account manager for GAME and has been with the company for more than five years. She can be reached via e-mail at hjs@game-group.com[6].

 

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