You Just Have to Pull Harder

Ever wonder what really grinds the gears of pool professionals? In a candid episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, hosts Sarah and Drew pull back the curtain on the most frustrating issues they encounter in the field. From botched light installations to the literal blood, sweat, and tears that go into pool maintenance, this "Wednesdays with Sarah" episode is packed with real-world insights that every pool owner and technician should know.

The Color Vision Bubbler Challenge: Three Seals Make or Break Your Installation

One of Drew's biggest pet peeves? Improperly installed color vision bubblers that create costly callback situations. These sophisticated lighting systems require precise installation, and when done wrong, they become a nightmare to fix.

The color vision bubblers, they have like three types of locks. So pool guys usually get the installs right, but if someone who's installing them doesn't really know what they're doing, then there's a good chance that the bubbler is going to leak.

— Drew, Talking Pools Podcast

The installation process involves three critical sealing points that must all work perfectly together. First, there's an O-ring seal where the glow bright or adapter locks into the center of the niche. The second seal involves a black O-ring that connects the adapter to the light in a recessed area. Finally, a snap ring with three connection points provides the third and final seal.

When any of these seals fail, the repair process is extensive and labor-intensive. Technicians must remove the light from the wall, break it out of the adapter, install a new adapter, and re-pull the entire light assembly. This isn't just inconvenient—it's expensive and time-consuming for both the service company and the customer.

The Glow Bright to Micro Adapter Transition

Understanding the evolution of pool lighting technology is crucial for anyone working with modern pool systems. The industry has transitioned from older glow bright systems to newer micro bright technology, creating a need for adapters when upgrading existing installations.

Drew explains the setup: "The old lights are glow brights. The new lights are micro brights. And you need an adapter to put in a micro into a glow bright niche. And the color vision is a glow bright niche." This transition period means many technicians are working with hybrid systems that require specialized knowledge and careful attention to detail.

The color vision bubbler system represents this transition perfectly. These units feature a glow bright niche but are often paired with newer micro bright lights, requiring the proper adapter and meticulous installation of all three sealing points. When contractors—especially those primarily focused on electrical work rather than pool-specific installations—attempt these jobs without full understanding, problems inevitably arise.

The Physical Reality of Pool Light Maintenance

Perhaps nothing illustrates the demanding nature of pool work better than the process of pulling pool lights. This isn't a one-person job, and the physical toll on technicians is real and visible.

I pulled a light with him before and I literally had my foot on the wall pulling as hard as I could. And it was like, it was moving an inch at a time. Yeah. I was like, he was like, you just have to pull harder. I was like, I have 155 pounds of force on this wire right now.

— Sarah, Talking Pools Podcast

The difficulty varies depending on the wire gauge and installation method. Lights with number eight wire are particularly challenging, requiring two-person teams for safe removal. Drew has developed techniques for solo pulls when necessary, including using his back and body weight to provide leverage, but this approach literally leaves marks.

Sarah noticed the physical evidence of this demanding work: "He came home from work one day and I was like, why do you look like you've been whipped with an extension cord? And basically, he kind of had. He had two bruises on his freaking shoulder from... Those women pulling the freaking light cord."

The challenge is compounded when lights have been sealed with silicone beads around the niche. These seals must be broken before the light can be removed, adding another layer of complexity to an already difficult job.

Construction Best Practices: Prevention is Everything

Many of the problems Drew and Sarah encounter could be prevented with proper construction practices. Color vision bubblers come with construction caps designed to keep debris out of the lines during the building process, but these protective measures are often overlooked or ignored.

A construction cap is a cap that goes on there and keeps shit from going in that, in those lines. That's nice. You want to always use the construction caps.

— Drew, Talking Pools Podcast

When construction caps aren't used, concrete, grout, and other debris can enter the system, creating blockages that require painstaking removal. Drew has spent hours with picks and small tools, carefully chiseling debris out of delicate components—work that could have been completely avoided with proper protection during construction.

The choice of protective tape also matters. While it might seem like a minor detail, using the wrong type of tape can create additional cleanup work. White tape tends to deteriorate and leave residue, while blue tape, though more expensive, removes cleanly and saves labor time during final cleanup.

Modern Lighting Technology Challenges

Even when installations go perfectly, modern pool lighting technology presents its own set of customer education challenges. The IntelliBright lights from Pentair, for example, create white light by combining all LED colors rather than using dedicated white LEDs.

This technical approach can create customer satisfaction issues, as the combined-color white doesn't always match expectations for pure white light. Drew notes that while this isn't a frequent complaint, it does come up periodically and represents the kind of technical nuance that separates experienced pool professionals from general contractors.

The tools required for different light types have also evolved. Glow bright lights use tools with four connection points (north, south, east, west configuration), while micro lights require tools with six recessed rectangular connections. Having the right tool for the job isn't just about convenience—it's about preventing damage to expensive lighting components.

The Importance of Specialized Knowledge

Throughout their discussion, Drew and Sarah emphasize how specialized pool work has become. The problems they encounter most frequently occur when general electrical contractors attempt pool-specific installations without understanding the unique requirements of aquatic environments.

I find that it usually happens on, or it usually happens with contractors who are mainly just electrical contractors. You know, they don't have a whole lot of experience with pool lights.

— Drew, Talking Pools Podcast

Pool lighting systems operate in challenging environments with unique sealing requirements, specialized tools, and installation techniques that differ significantly from standard electrical work. The three-seal system in color vision bubblers, the physical demands of light pulling, and the nuances of different lighting technologies all require specific knowledge and experience.

This specialization extends beyond just technical knowledge to include understanding customer expectations, proper use of construction materials, and the long-term maintenance implications of installation choices. When these factors aren't properly considered during initial installation, the result is callbacks, customer dissatisfaction, and additional costs for everyone involved.

The pool industry continues to evolve with new technologies like Pentair's latest color controllers and updated IntelliBright systems. Staying current with these developments while maintaining expertise in legacy systems requires ongoing education and hands-on experience that general contractors often lack.

Drew and Sarah's field experiences highlight a fundamental truth about pool work: what looks simple on the surface often involves complex technical requirements and specialized knowledge. From the three-seal system in color vision bubblers to the proper techniques for pulling stubborn lights, success in pool service requires both technical expertise and physical capability. For pool owners, understanding these complexities can help in selecting qualified contractors and appreciating the skill required for proper installation and maintenance. For technicians, these real-world insights serve as valuable reminders that attention to detail during installation prevents costly problems down the line.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Color Vision Bubbler Problems
• 05:00 Glow Bright to Micro Adapter Explained
• 10:00 The Physical Challenge of Pulling Pool Lights
• 15:00 Construction Caps and Prevention
• 20:00 Modern Lighting Technology Issues
• 25:00 Tools and Installation Techniques