Pool electrical that passes inspection.
Building a pool? Got one that didn't pass? A failed inspection means an empty pool while you wait to be re-checked. We handle the wiring the inspector is looking at, pull the permit, and get you through the first time. One light or a whole new build, it's the same crew and the same standard. The pool builders around here keep us on speed dial.
It passes the first time
The bonding grid, the GFCI, the dedicated disconnects: these are what an inspector checks, and they are where pool jobs usually get rejected. We get them right up front, pull the permit, and pass the first time.
New build, older pool, or a failed inspection
If it's a new build, we coordinate with your pool builder from the dig date. If it's an older pool, we bring it up to current code. And if you already failed an inspection, we find what's wrong and fix it on a written scope and a clear timeline.
The electrical sub builders can count on
Pool builders, service firms, and maintenance companies keep us on the job because we show up when we say we will and the inspection passes. Your customer deals with one contractor, not two.
What does your pool need done?
Most pool calls land in one of these six buckets. Could be a single burnt-out light. Could be a whole new build. Either way, we come look first, then hand you a written, itemized quote. Click into any service to see the typical scope and the permits we pull.
Pool & Spa Wiring
New pool builds, rewires, and NEC 680 code corrections. Equipotential bonding grid, GFCI, disconnect placement, dedicated subpanel sizing.
Pool & Spa Motors
Single-speed, dual-speed, and variable-speed pump replacement and repair. Pentair IntelliFlo, Hayward TriStar, Jandy ePump.
Pool & Spa Lighting
LED conversions, color-changing systems, low-voltage transformers, niche replacement, GFCI requirements. Pentair IntelliBrite, Hayward ColorLogic, Jandy WaterColors.
Pool Automation Systems
Pentair IntelliCenter / ScreenLogic, Hayward OmniLogic, Jandy iAquaLink. App and Wi-Fi integration, panel relay wiring, low-voltage controller installation.
Hot Tub & Spa Wiring
240V hardwired circuits and 120V plug-and-play. GFCI subpanel installation, NEC 680.42 disconnect placement (5-ft rule), bonding for built-in spas.
For Pool Builders & Service Companies
Reliable electrical sub for NoVA pool builders, service firms, and maintenance companies. On-site when we say we'll be on-site. Permits pulled. First-time inspection pass.
Pool projects across Northern Virginia
"Our pool failed its first inspection with another electrician. Anson came in, found the bonding and GFCI problems, cited the exact code sections, and we passed on the re-inspection. Same crew start to finish, and the written quote was the price we paid."
How a pool job actually runs with us
A new build and a quick failed-inspection fix run the exact same way here. We're a family-owned shop with our own licensed crew. So the standard holds whether it's a $300 light or a full wire-up. One person you can name stays with you from the first look to the walkthrough. No stranger you've never met touching the water.
Free consultation
We come look at the actual job. For pool builders, we coordinate with your superintendent at the dig date.
Written proposal
Itemized. NEC sections cited. Good for 30 days. No verbal pricing on pool work, too many variables.
Permit, work, inspection
We pull every permit in your jurisdiction. The same in-house crew is on the job start to finish. We walk the inspector through.
Final walkthrough
We show you what every breaker controls, label the subpanel, and leave you with the inspection card.
The pool electrical questions we hear most
Do I need a permit for pool wiring in Northern Virginia?
Yes. Any new pool wiring or major pool electrical work in Northern Virginia requires an electrical permit pulled by a licensed electrician and inspection by your county or city. We pull permits on every job.
Different jurisdictions have slightly different inspection processes. Prince William County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and the independent cities (Manassas, Manassas Park, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Alexandria) each run their own. We handle the paperwork and we know the local inspectors. For example, Prince William County permit information is published by the county directly. Skipping the permit creates two problems: the work doesn't get an inspection signature, and your homeowner's insurance can deny claims for damage tied to unpermitted electrical.
What is equipotential bonding and why does it matter?
Equipotential bonding ties together every piece of metal within 5 feet of the pool, including railings, ladder anchors, deck rebar, and the water-bond lug, into a common grid using #8 AWG copper. This prevents voltage gradients that can shock swimmers.
The bonding grid is required by NEC 680.26. The reason it matters is electrical: if any nearby metal develops a stray voltage (from a faulty pump motor, a damaged underwater light, a degrading buried cable), the bonding grid keeps every metal surface at the same electrical potential, so a swimmer touching two pieces of metal at once doesn't complete a circuit through their body. Pools built before 2008 often pre-date the modern bonding requirements and need retrofits.
Can a regular electrician do pool wiring, or do I need a specialist?
Any licensed electrician is legally allowed to do pool wiring, but pool work is governed by NEC Article 680 which carries stricter requirements than residential electrical elsewhere. Hire an electrician who can cite 680 specifically, since many cannot.
The most common pool electrical failures we see when we're called in for corrections: crimped bonding lugs (should be mechanical), GFCI installed at the wrong amperage threshold, shared disconnects serving multiple pieces of equipment, or missing bonding on a piece of deck-embedded metal. None of these are illegal by themselves but all of them either fail inspection or fail over time. We do pool work as a specialty practice, and every job we run is inspected against 680 by our own in-house crew before we call the county. We also do not upsell: if the existing scope is sound, we do the work the job actually needs and charge what that work is worth. We would rather earn your next ten years of electrical calls than maximize a single visit.
How long does pool electrical take for a new pool installation?
For a typical new pool build in Northern Virginia, pool electrical takes 2-4 days of on-site work across the project timeline, usually split across two mobilizations to match the pool builder's schedule (subpanel and conduit at rough-in, then trim-out at finish).
The first mobilization happens shortly after the pool is dug. We set the subpanel, run the conduit, install the bonding grid before the pool deck is poured, and rough-in the disconnects. The second mobilization happens after the pool surface is finished. We land the pump and heater circuits, install lighting, set up automation if specified, and stage everything for inspection. Coordination with the pool builder matters more than the day-count: we sync with whoever's running the project so we don't slow down their schedule.
What's the difference between pool wiring and hot tub wiring?
Both fall under NEC Article 680 but follow different sub-sections. Pool wiring (680.20s) covers permanently installed pools and requires a bonding grid. Hot tub wiring (680.42) covers self-contained spas and focuses on disconnect placement and GFCI protection rather than bonding grid extent.
For most NoVA homeowners installing a hot tub, the practical difference is: a plug-and-play 120V spa just needs a dedicated GFCI receptacle from a properly-sized circuit. A 240V hardwired spa needs a disconnect within sight but at least 5 feet from the spa, GFCI on the supply, and bonding around the spa shell if it has metal components. Built-in spas adjacent to pools follow pool rules. We walk you through which applies to your specific install during the consultation.
What people usually add while we're already there
A pool project tends to pull in the rest of the backyard. These are the jobs folks most often fold into the same visit. They sit alongside Pool & Spa in the Outdoor Electrical hub.
Got a pool project, or a pool that didn't pass? Let's take a look.
We come look for free. You get a written, itemized quote within 48 hours. We pull the permit and aim to pass on the first try. Led by Brad Anson, Founder and Master Electrician, with 20+ years here in Northern Virginia.