Splish and splash with peace of mind this summer
Pool bonding protects users against shock and electrocution.
Bonding connects all conductive parts of the pool.
Grounding directs electrical currents toward the ground.
Pool bonding and grounding require a professional electrician.
While swimming and splashing in a pool is a fun way to unwind, safety measures are necessary to protect your summer swimmers. Some homeowners may not realize that pools come with the risk of electrocution. That’s why pool bonding and grounding are essential when installing your pool. Here’s everything you need to know about keeping your family safe with pool bonding and grounding.
Pool bonding, or equipotential bonding, refers to creating an equal, balanced level of electrical potential among all conductive parts of a pool by using pool bonding wire to build a low-impedance pathway between these electrical and metallic parts.
In more basic terms, pool bonding helps minimize electrical voltage shocks that could harm those swimming in or walking around the pool. It’s an element of pool safety you can’t ignore.
Every conductive element needs to be bonded. This includes the metal ladder you use to get in and out of the pool, the frame around the pool, and any electrical components, like filters and heat pumps.
An electrician will use copper wire, bonding lugs, a pool bond, and a bonding grid to create a complete, non-impedance pathway to equalize voltage across all the electrical and metallic parts of the pool.
When bonding a pool, the electrician will use several parts to complete the bonded system and connect all the conductive elements.
Bonding lugs: The bonding lugs connect all the conductive elements with copper wire running throughout the bonded system.
Copper wire: Pool bonding requires at least 8-gauge copper wire to connect conductive elements and will connect to each component with the bonding lugs.
Pool bond: This part is installed near the pool filter. It includes a metal plate inside and a copper wire.
Skimmer bonding kit: This kit attaches to the skimmer to bond the pool water.
Bonding grid: This metallic grid is installed around the pool and deck to create an equipotential plane that can bond all conductive parts of the pool.
Like bonding, grounding is essential for keeping the pool and surrounding area safe. Pool grounding involves connecting the bonded pool system to the ground as an added precaution against excess electrical currents. The grounding will direct the electrical currents to the ground, away from the pool or people and animals nearby.
Pool bonding and pool grounding are often confused with one another. However, with pool grounding, the goal is to direct the electrical current toward the ground. This will keep excess electricity from shocking people or pets in or around the pool.
To ground a pool, an electrician will connect the pool equipment to the electrical panel, which will supply power, and this system will then connect to the ground through a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breaker. Excess electrical currents will then flow toward the GFCI breaker rather than anyone in the pool, and the breaker will cut the power.
Once an electrician bonds the pool, they can start working on grounding the system. This process requires more copper wire as well as the GFCI breaker.
GFCI breaker: This element directs excess electricity to the ground and cuts power to malfunctioning elements that are shorting or faulting.
Copper wire: Grounding a pool will require an 8- to 12-gauge copper pool bonding wire to connect electrical components and the electrical panel to the breaker.
Electrical work for a pool costs about $500 to $1,500, and bonding and grounding will cost around $200 to $300 for four to six bonding points and two grounding rods.
Pool bonding and grounding may be a more expensive part of the budget for the cost of an inground pool compared to the cost of an above-ground pool, but both pool types will require permits and professional labor costs.
Once the pool is installed, you’re probably eager to jump in or float along the cool water. While you’ll want to account for a couple of hours to a few days for pool bonding and grounding, depending on the pool size, you’ll also need to consider the time to apply for and secure permits and complete inspections.
Electrical work for pools typically requires permits, which can take a few days to a few weeks to obtain. The work must be inspected once an electrician has bonded and grounded the pool.
Whether you’ve installed an inground pool with the help of an inground pool installation company near you or decided on a DIY set-up with a smaller, above-ground pool, all pools require bonding and grounding to prevent the risk of electrocution.
Even pools with vinyl liners or tile must be bonded and grounded since electrical components or metal frames can all act as electrical conductors. If you’re doing extensive repairs or additions to the pool, you may need to contact a local pool repair service and electrician to ensure the bonding and grounding system remains intact. Each conductive element needs to be connected in a system via bonding. Then, the pathway needs to be directed toward the ground. This will help direct and dissipate electrical currents to prevent shocks.
While pool owners might be able to find DIY pool bonding kits for $20 to $100, it’s best to leave this type of work to a professional electrician. The bonding and grounding needs to meet the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70 National Electric Code. Also, many municipalities require licensed electricians to complete pool bonding and grounding.
Hire an electrician near you to ensure your pool bonding and grounding is up to code. This is necessary for all pool types since an unbonded or improperly bonded pool can increase the risk of electrocution.
Homeowners should steer clear of DIY electrical repairs or installations, as the risk of injury is shockingly high! Instead, hire a local electrician who has the expertise to complete electrical jobs safely.
If you don’t bond a pool, you risk electric shock for those walking around or swimming. Bonding creates safe pathways between the electricity needed to run the pool and metallic parts also necessary for the proper function of the pool. Once the pool is bonded, it’s ready for grounding, the second step in creating an electrically safe pool.
You can check if your pool is bonded by looking for a copper wire that connects to the motor and pumps and then extends into the ground. However, if you’re unfamiliar with electrical wiring, contacting a pool electrician to inspect the motor and pumps is safest. An electrician can check the system and determine if it is up to code and meets all swimming pool bonding requirements.
While you can use a grounding rod when bonding an inground pool, that’s necessarily the best option. A grounding rod is an older grounding method that’s not usually used anymore, thanks to modern electrical design and services. Again, if you don’t have electrical experience, your best and safest bet is to hire a pool electrician.
