Power Where You Need It—Without Overhead Wires

Your pool needs electrical. Your detached garage workshop needs power. Your landscape lighting needs underground feeds.

You don’t want ugly overhead wires crisscrossing your property.

Underground electrical provides clean aesthetics while protecting wiring from weather, impacts, and UV degradation. But installation requires specialized knowledge—improper burial depth, wrong conduit type, or poor waterproofing leads to failures, safety hazards, and expensive repairs.

Here’s how professional underground electrical installation works in South Florida.

⚡ Quick Answers: Underground Electrical FAQ

Can I just bury regular wire in the ground?

No—absolutely not. Standard Romex (NM cable) degrades rapidly when buried. You need:

• Direct-burial cable (UF): Moisture-resistant insulation rated for burial
• Or wire in conduit: THHN/THWN wire inside proper conduit

Using wrong wire leads to insulation failure, shorts, and dangerous conditions.

How do I find buried electrical years later?

Professional installations include:

• Detailed property drawings showing burial paths
• Warning tape buried 6-12 inches above conduit
• Tracer wire in PVC conduit (locatable with detector)
• Markers at entry/exit points

Before digging, always call 811 (Sunshine State One-Call) for professional utility locating.

What’s the difference between PVC and metal conduit underground?

PVC (Schedule 40/80):

• Corrosion-proof (ideal for Florida)
• Lighter and easier to install
• Less expensive
• Requires deeper burial than metal
• Needs tracer wire for future locating

Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC/IMC):

• Extremely durable
• Shallower burial allowed
• More expensive
• Can corrode in salty coastal soil

We recommend PVC for most South Florida underground installations.

Common Underground Electrical Applications

Pool & Spa Electrical

Pool equipment requires:

• Pump circuits (usually 20-30 amps, 240V)
• Heater circuits (if electric, 40-50 amps)
• Pool automation systems
• Underwater lighting (12V low-voltage)
• GFCI protection on all circuits

Bonding requirements:

• All metal pool components bonded
• Equipotential bonding grid
• Proper grounding to panel

We handle: Complete pool electrical from panel to equipment, all bonding, underwater lighting, and inspection coordination.

Detached Garage/Workshop Power

Running power to structures:

• Trench from main panel to structure
• Install sub-panel in structure (typically 50-100A)
• Pull proper wire gauge for distance (voltage drop considerations)
• Provide circuits for garage door, outlets, lighting, tools

Special considerations:

• Long runs need larger wire (voltage drop)
• Sub-panel needs separate ground rod
• GFCI requirements for garage outlets

Landscape & Exterior Lighting

Low-voltage landscape lighting (12V/24V):

• Install transformer near power source
• Bury low-voltage cable (direct burial at 6 inches)
• Make waterproof connections
• Position fixtures for lighting design

Line-voltage landscape lighting (120V):

• Requires conduit and GFCI protection
• Deeper burial requirements
• More complex installation
• Higher operating costs

Low-voltage preferred for energy efficiency and safety.

Outdoor Kitchen & Entertainment Areas

Power for outdoor living:

• Dedicated circuits for refrigerators, freezers
• GFCI outlets for small appliances
• Circuits for outdoor TVs, speakers
• Lighting circuits
• Sometimes natural gas ignition (if applicable)

Underground Installation Process

Step 1: Planning & Permitting

Pre-installation:

• Call 811 for utility locating
• Design route avoiding obstacles
• Calculate wire size for load and distance
• Determine burial depth requirements
• Submit permit applications

Step 2: Trenching

Dig trench to proper depth:

• Machine trenching for long runs
• Hand digging near existing utilities
• Proper slope for water drainage
• Remove rocks and debris

Typical depths (Miami-Dade):

• PVC conduit (landscape): 12-18 inches
• PVC conduit (under driveways): 18-24 inches
• Direct-burial cable: 12-24 inches
• RMC/IMC: 6 inches minimum

Step 3: Conduit Installation

Install conduit properly:

• Use sweeps (not elbows) for wire pulling ease
• Support conduit on bedding material
• Connect sections with proper fittings
• Install pull string for wire pulling
• Add tracer wire alongside conduit

Step 4: Wire Pulling

Pull wire through conduit:

• Use proper gauge for load and distance
• Apply wire-pulling lubricant
• Avoid damaging wire insulation
• Leave service loops at both ends
• Label wires clearly

Step 5: Backfilling & Protection

Proper backfill process:

• Place warning tape 6-12 inches above conduit
• Use sand or fine soil immediately around conduit
• Tamp in layers to prevent settling
• Mark locations on site plan
• Restore landscape

Step 6: Connections & Testing

Final electrical work:

• Make watertight connections
• Ground and bond properly
• Test continuity and insulation
• Verify voltage at endpoints
• Schedule inspection

Miami-Specific Underground Considerations

High Water Tables

South Florida water tables:

• Often 2-4 feet below surface
• Affects burial depth decisions
• May require conduit encasement
• Waterproof connections critical

Salt Air & Coastal Corrosion

Near-ocean installations:

• Use PVC conduit (not metal)
• Stainless steel hardware
• Extra waterproofing
• Regular inspection schedule

Hurricane & Storm Protection

Storm-resistant installations:

• Secure anchoring at entry/exit points
• Proper sealing prevents water intrusion
• Elevation considerations in flood zones
• Impact-resistant boxes above ground

Sandy Soil Challenges

Installation in sand:

• Less stable than clay soil
• Conduit can shift during settlement
• Requires proper bedding material
• Sometimes concrete encasement needed

Professional Underground Electrical Installation

Safe, code-compliant buried power throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties.