You’d be surprised how often we have to come in to fix projects other “electricians” have started.
It’s actually pretty scary, given the safety issues electrical work entails. And that’s especially true for jobs that require electrical wiring and connections to be installed around water.
We had a recent job that really drove this point home.
A Duluth-area client contacted us for help with a hot tub installation gone wrong. The client had contracted a pool company to install the unit and get it set up. The contractor did manage to get the actual tub installed, but that’s only part of the hot-tub installation process; you also have to connect the hot tub to your home’s electric service.
Apparently, the “electrician” working on this particular job wasn’t comfortable working with electric panels. Working on a home’s main panel is pretty standard for licensed electricians (like those on our team), so it certainly left us scratching our heads.
Nevertheless, we had a client that needed help, and we certainly don’t mind working on electric panels!
As it turns out, the entire job was a snap. We simply had to grab our tools, install a Square D Homeline Spa Panel, and run wires connecting it to the meter, main panel, and hot tub. Easy peasy.
Our customer was happy (and eager to use their hot tub), and we were on our way to the next job.
Water Safety: Hot Tub Disconnects
All hot tubs should have a disconnect box like the Square D Homeline Spa Panel included as part of the installation.
In a nutshell, this kind of disconnect gives you the chance to cut power to the hot tub in the case of an emergency. It’s also handy anytime the tub needs to be serviced. Think of it as an outside disconnect that provides easy access and prevents you from having to run all the way to the main panel inside your house to cut power to the tub.
It’s important to note that these kinds of disconnects are not optional – they’re required by current electrical codes. In fact, their location is even covered by the code. Disconnects cannot be located closer than 5 feet from the tub, yet they must be within 50 feet. They also have to be visible from the tub, to ensure they’re easy to find in an emergency.
Hot tubs should also have something called a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) installed, such as the 50-amp GFCI breaker we used for this job.
A GFCI breaker is a special type of circuit breaker that is designed to detect potentially dangerous ground faults. Once detected, the breaker quickly interrupts the electrical connection (“trips the breaker”) to prevent shocks.
GFCIs are quite common, and you undoubtedly have them in your own home. They’re most common in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and other places where both water and electricity are present. However, you may also have a GFCI breaker installed in your garage or deck.
Get the Professional Help You Need to Keep Your Family Safe!
Safety is critical with all electrical work, but it is especially important when you’re dealing with a hot tub, spa, or anything else involving water. So, don’t just blindly trust the pool installation company to complete the work safely and in a manner that is up to code.
Instead, you’ll want to research their qualifications, ask lots of questions, and get any clarification you need – this is not a time for confusion. If they struggle to answer basic questions or don’t feel comfortable doing the kind of routine electrical work needed for hot tub installation, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
We’d love to help with your hot tub and GFCI breaker installation. Just visit our contact page, and we’ll have one of our knights schedule a visit!
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