Older homes have an incredible amount of charm and nostalgia. While some of that charm stems from the old-world construction practices of ornate stonework and interesting woodworking, there are also negative aspects of living in a dated home, namely the electrical system. We bought our first older home a few years ago, and it has been interesting to see just how much of a problem the electrical system has been. We knew that we needed to update a large portion of the space, so we started going through and having sections replaced. This website is here to help other people to know when to work with electricians.
An outdoor fountain adds beauty to your yard, and it makes soothing sounds that can help you relax when lounging outdoors. A fountain needs a power source, and unless you want to place the fountain near an outdoor receptacle against your house, you'll need an electrician to wire a new receptacle for the fountain. Then you can place the fountain anywhere in your yard. Here's a look at what's needed for the electrical installation of a water fountain.
Prepare For The Electrical Installation
You might need to obtain a permit for the electrical work, but the electrician may do that for you and add it to the cost of installing your fountain. You'll also need to consider the water supply. It's most convenient to connect the fountain to your home's plumbing, so it never runs out of water.
If you decide to do that rather than filling the fountain with a hose, you'll need a plumber to put in pipes and have the water ready before the electrician arrives so the electrician can test the operation of the fountain. You might ask the electrician about coordinating the work with the plumber, since plumbing pipes have to be under the ground too.
The electrician may dig their own trench, but they might want to share a trench with the plumbing, and if that's the case, the plumber needs to dig the trench according to codes that allow both electrical conduits and plumbing pipes. Before any digging starts, you'll need to have utility lines marked on your property.
Place Wiring In A PVC Conduit
Once the trench is dug, the electrician can install the wiring by placing it inside a PVC pipe to keep soil and moisture away from the wiring. The direction of PVC pipes can be changed by adding elbows, but you may want to select a place for your fountain that makes a straight line to the electrical panel.
Make The Electrical Connections
One of the first things the electrician does is make sure your electrical panel has room for a new circuit because one end of the wiring is hard-wired to the electrical panel. The far end of the wiring is connected to a new outlet for the electrician installs. Since the outlet is away from your house, the electrician may install it on a short pole next to the fountain so the fountain cord can reach it easily and be out of the way.
An outdoor outlet needs a cover to protect it from rain, and it also has to be a GFCI outlet to protect you from an electrical shock since the cord and outlet might get wet. For more information, talk to an electrical installation expert today.