This site does not do electrical work. It connects callers with independent electrical contractors in the area. If you are looking for an electrician in Smithville, TN, call with your address and a description of the job, and you will be connected with a local electrician if one is available to take it. Availability can vary more here than closer to Nashville, so calling is the way to know. For anything near the water, GFCI protection is the first thing to ask about.
Lake properties, town homes and electricity near water
Around Smithville you will find older homes near the square, newer houses on the edges of town and lake properties that range from simple cabins to full-time residences. Lake homes frequently have long runs down a slope to a dock, outdoor receptacles, pumps and lighting that live in damp or wet conditions year round.
Electricity near water carries a specific risk: electric shock drowning, where current leaking into the water can incapacitate a swimmer. That is why dock and shore power wiring needs proper ground-fault protection, correct grounding and bonding and weather-rated equipment. Many older dock setups were added piecemeal and have never been looked at since, so grounding and bonding deserves a check.
Practical tips for Smithville homeowners
- Never swim near a dock or marina where you feel tingling in the water; get out and keep others away.
- Test dock and outdoor GFCIs monthly during the season and after storms.
- Shut off dock power at the breaker when you close up a seasonal home.
- Use only cords and equipment rated for marine or outdoor wet use around boats.
- Keep trees trimmed back from the lines running down to the water.
