There are three basic types of commercial signs. These include LED, neon and fluorescent. Regardless of the size, or when the lights were installed, several issues can arise with each type of sign. Learning more about the most common issues will help you know when it is time to call for repairs.

Fluorescent Lit Signage Issue: Improper Spacing of the Lamps

Until LED lighting was adopted for commercial sign usage, signs were lit by fluorescent bulbs. It is imperative to find a sign contractor who understands these types of lights if you are having issues. If the lamps in the signs are placed too close to one another, it can result in hot spots, or uneven lighting of the sign.

Additionally, if the lamps are too far apart from one another, then there are going to be cool spots, which may result in the sign being too dim to read or uneven. It is best to have the lamps four inches away from the face of the sign. If you notice lamp issues, it is best to call for repairs right away.

Neon Lit Sign Issues

Neon lit signage was first introduced in the 1920s and these, much like fluorescent lit signs, have been replaced by LED systems. However, there are still many commercial businesses that use neon lit signs. Some of the most common issues with these include:

• The signs flicker when they turn on and then go out. This may be due to broken or burned neon.
• The sign is too dim or doesn’t light at all, which could indicate a bad transformer.
• A part of your neon sign is good, while the other part is dim or completely out. This could be a gas issue or the issue may be with the neon tube needing to be replaced.

Keep in mind, both neon incandescent lighting are ideal for LED retrofitting, which may be a good option if you are experiencing serious issues.

Problems with LED Signs

Modern LED lights have an average rating of 100,000 hours, which is equivalent to approximately 11 years of use, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These bulbs offer the longest life of any sign technology in use today. It is very rare for a string or individual LED to go out, but in some cases, the power supply may fail. When you are comparing the operating and maintenance costs of other lighting options, there is no question that LED is going to be the most economical as time passes and will result in the fewest number of issues down the road.

You should make sure that if you are having any type of lit sign issues, you should call the professionals for repair. They can evaluate the problem and provide you with a viable solution.