Category: Lighting Services

Top 9 Neon Sign Myths Debunked By Signage Experts!

Posted on by Ibrahim Malik

Neon signs have been a popular choice for businesses and advertisers for over a century. However, their application started declining around the 1970s with the emergence of new lighting technologies. These new forms were introduced as more energy-efficient and cost-effective alternatives, offering more flexibility in advertising. This made advertisers and marketers shy away from the neon signages, ultimately sealing their fate as a dwindling past.

But neon signs were not as ineffective or expensive as few companies called them. Even today, their eye-catching designs have a nostalgic appeal that no other lighting can match.

That’s why the experts from the best sign installation services have debunked the common myths. So, you, as a business owner, can make an informed decision for your business.

Top 9 Neon Sign Installation & Repair Myths Debunked

The vibrant and attention-grabbing neon signs have the potential to attract potential customers. However, some myths and misconceptions about their installation and maintenance keep businesses from installing them.

If that has been the case, read the below list to separate fact from fiction.

Myth 1: Neon Signs Contain Toxic Chemicals.

Fact: Anyone who believes neon signs contain toxic chemicals knows half the truth.

A neon tube is filled with either neon or argon gas already in the air. However, an argon-filled tube contains traces of mercury, which, if broken and kept in close contact with an individual for a long time, may cause harm.

Therefore, experts suggest recycling these mercury-contained tubes is the best option over throwing them away in bins.

Myth 2: Neon Signage Is A Big No For The Environment.

Fact: Many people believe that neon signs are harmful to the environment. But the fact is their composition contains no toxic chemicals or material.

Additionally, if any tube breaks, users can opt for recycling and reduce the environmental pollution risk.

Myth 3: Neon Lighting Uses Only High-Voltage.

Fact: Wrong! Neon can be used in both high and low-voltage applications depending on the following:

High-voltage applications– Typically used in neon signs or displays to get a characteristic bright and vibrant glow associated with neon.

Low-voltage applications– Mostly used in voltage regulators or indicators where neon serves as a stable and reliable illumination source.

In short, whether neon uses high or low voltage depends on your requirements and desired brightness level. For more information, it is recommended to consult a professional.

Myth 4: Neon Tubes Can Break Easily And Are Unsuitable For Long-Term Use.

Fact: Yes, neon tubes are fragile in nature, as these are made from glass. But their lifespan can be extended with proper maintenance and use.

The best way to ensure a neon sign lasts long is to consult a reliable installation and repair provider. Depending on your requirements and the installation location, they will construct the sign with high-quality materials suitable for all weather conditions.

For instance, signage for a cafe in harsh climatic conditions would require a different design than the one installed for a store in the countryside with a normal climate.

Neon tubes

Myth 5: Neon Signs Have Fewer Customization Options.

Fact: Some people believe neon signs have limited color options; however, it’s a myth.

The fact is neon signs can be custom-made in a variety of ways. For example, businesses can select colors that reflect their brand and style.

To ensure your neon lighting sign reflects your brand value, seek the support of a signage expert to help you determine which style best suits your needs and goals.

Myth 6: Neon Signage Is Difficult To Install.

Fact: Many people believe installing a neon sign is a complicated process requiring specialized knowledge and tools. However, its installation is similar to any other sign type. The process would typically involve:

  • Mounting the sign on a wall or structure
  • Wiring the mounted sign to an electrical source
  • Securely fastening the sign

Despite the similarities in sign installation, businesses should always hire professionals. It will ensure the installation process wraps up quickly and efficiently, ensuring your sign is up and running in no time.

Myth 7: Neon Lighting Signs Require High Maintenance.

Fact: Definitely not true.

All types of signs require regular maintenance to ensure proper working and durability of the design. So, whether you install an LED or a neon sign, you may have to consult a professional to clean and check its electrical connections.

This maintenance routine is essential for your sign to work optimally and avoid significant issues beforehand.

Myth 8: Nobody Invests In Outdated Neon Signs.

Fact:  The popularity of neon signs declined in the last decade, but it’s returning now. Their intricate and evocative designs are loved by marketing executives for creating a bold and modern look for different businesses.

It’s perhaps apt to say, the right time to incorporate neon signs into your branding strategy is now.

Myth 9: Installing Neon Signs Is Equal To Breaking The Bank.

Fact: Though installing neon signs can be more expensive than other signs, it doesn’t make you break the bank.

The overall costs of unique neon displays and their durability justify their application for marketing purposes. These signs can last long if installed and maintained properly, becoming your one-time investment.

Therefore, when businesses consider the costs of a neon sign, experts recommend weighing the pros against the cost. It will help you determine the right choice for your business.

Must-Know Facts About Neon Signs

In addition to busting myths, it’s important to understand the key facts about neon signs in brief. Therefore, below is a short list of must-known facts about neon signs to help you make the best decision as a business owner.

Neon signs can be custom-made to meet businesses’ needs and preferences.
With technological advancements, neon signs are designed today to be more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Proper maintenance and use can extend the lifespan of a Neon sign making them more durable.
They’re suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, according to the design and construction of the sign.

Wrapping Up!

There’re many myths and misconceptions related to neon signs. Thus, separating fact from myth will help determine the best alternative for your business. If you already have a neon or any other sign installed that is broken or not working properly, it’s best to find an electrical sign repair services provider. They will resolve any existing issues while ensuring efficient lighting of your signs in the long run.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Lighting Contracting: Key Considerations

Posted on by Ibrahim Malik


Recent energy efficiency changes have resulted in many new lighting options, but the question remains: which ones are truly sustainable?

Multiple considerations must be considered when performing a lighting renovation to guarantee an environmentally-friendly result. This article offers insight into how sustainability can be achieved by providing tips for the lighting contractor who engages in this practice.

Recent energy efficiency changes have resulted in many new lighting options, but the question remains: which ones are truly sustainable? 

While most experts agree that replacing inefficient lighting with energy-efficient options is more beneficial than nothing, many still argue that replacing fixtures completely with environmentally-friendly ones will not achieve the same results for an improved environment.

Lighting services

What Are Energy Efficiency And Sustainability?

Increasing productivity while decreasing resource use is the essence of energy efficiency. The objective is to carry out the same activities and perform the same functions as before while consuming less energy. 

When looking at a building from an energy efficiency standpoint, it is customarily preferable to address measures by the suitable site and building system. 

The term “sustainable,” when used regarding energy efficiency, generally implies that it is possible to maintain the same level of energy consumption while offering improved environmental benefits over time. The ultimate goal of sustainable practices is to make every resource (energy, water) available for a longer time. 

While most experts agree that replacing inefficient lighting with energy-efficient options is more beneficial than nothing, many still argue that replacing fixtures completely with environmentally-friendly ones will not achieve the same results for an improved environment. 

It is important to note that regardless of the rarity of sustainable practices, significant improvements in terms of energy efficiency have been made over the years.

When looking at a building from an energy efficiency standpoint, it is customarily preferable to address measures by the suitable site and building system.

Key Considerations for Lighting Contractors

1) Proper Illumination: 

It is important to illuminate the working area, not just the designated workspace. This is because the illumination levels will vary depending on where one is located and for how long. 

The areas where visibility and usability could be higher (such as in an office) will require lower illumination levels than areas that hold significant value, such as a laboratory or workshop during evening hours.  

Most commercial lighting installation, sign and lighting services projects are carried out to enhance the overall sense of security and the property’s ambiance. Both the interior and exterior of commercial areas, including parking lots, need sufficient light levels. 

To generate even, appropriate lighting over a wide variety of rooms and spaces spread around a property, a wide selection of different lighting fixtures and lamps is required. 

Therefore, achieving the best possible illumination output is necessary to ensure a lighting project’s success. After upgrading the lighting in a room, it will be brought to everyone’s attention if there are still areas that need to be adequately illuminated. Your lighting provider should emphasize efficient lumen output considering various elements like access to natural light, ceiling heights, and more. 

Even something as innocuous as a room filled with computer monitors can affect the light output option that your professional recommends. When you invest in a lighting installation project, you must get your money’s worth and create secure surroundings for your customers, tenants, and staff. 

If reducing energy consumption is one of your primary concerns, you should ensure that your lighting supplier is aware of this; nevertheless, reducing energy consumption should not come at the expense of excellent illumination. 

An expert in lighting can recommend certain items, like LED light fixtures, that will provide the appropriate illumination while conserving the most energy possible.

2) Lighting Level: 

High luminance levels can be achieved using smaller led lighting packages or dynamic lights with dim-to-dimmer capabilities. These measures are ideal for areas where the light intensity is constant throughout the day, such as offices, laboratories, and warehouses. Areas that require lower illumination levels will benefit from light intensity reduced with dimmers or by reducing the number of fixtures in those areas.

 3) Intensity: 

When looking at a building from an energy efficiency standpoint, it is customarily preferable to address measures by the suitable site and building system. 

On all projects, including renovation projects, certain accepted standards and practices need to be followed, including specific codes. As mentioned above, when determining if an area is properly illuminated, one should always determine the baseline illumination level of that area.

pole light services

4) Long-Term Maintenance:

High-quality, long-lasting lights are essential for achieving low costs in the long term. In the spirit of efficiency, lighting control has replaced all others. As the standards for workplace illumination have risen, so has the importance of proper lighting control systems. 

When replacing fixtures, it is important to ensure that you buy reef lights with some built-in controllers. This will help ensure that you can maintain optimal energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption over time.

For example, the light fixtures in parking garages positioned high off the ground can be difficult to access and, as a result, need a significant amount of time and money to be changed regularly. However, because LED products have a longer lifespan and longer intervals between maintenance checks does not mean they are maintenance-free. 

This is a significant portion of the maintenance savings that long-lasting LEDs provide. When working with LEDs, long-term upkeep is frequently disregarded. 

Purchasing high-quality lighting solutions that are designed to last as long as possible and do not need a lot of maintenance is the most cost-effective choice you can make. 

On the other hand, if something does break, you will want to be able to address the issue as quickly as possible. If you’ve purchased a product from a manufacturer with a lower reputation, for instance, and an LED board must be replaced, you run the risk of not being able to locate a replacement board that matches, or even worse; the firm may have gone out of business, leaving you unable to buy a fixture that is compatible with your previous purchase, leaving you without the option to purchase a matching fixture. 

In general, high-quality products can also evolve along with technological advances and present a lower danger from a safety point of view. 

The Bottom Line!

Choosing a well-known and renowned manufacturer can help you avoid dead ends and protect the value of your investment by enabling you to maintain and repair your fixture and replace its boards, motorists, and other components. You might inquire with the lighting supplier about the companies they collaborate with, or you could research on your own.

 

Check Your Lights To See If They Are Aging Graciously: Luminous Depreciation!

Posted on by Ibrahim Malik

Lumen depreciation is a relatively complicated topic, and experts may not always agree on specifics, like when an LED light source should be deemed “failed.” With outdated lighting technology, identifying the moment a store front lighting failed was simple. Earlier, the moment the bulb used to turn on, it went out and stopped emitting any light, and the light bulb would be considered by the user to have failed at that point. Lumen depreciation is the term that describes the gradual decrease of a lamp’s or fixture’s initial light output. The word “lumen maintenance” refers to the light work from the light source still there rather than the output lost.

Over time, all lighting sources, even LEDs, lose some of the light they emit. Your old metal halide, fluorescent, or incandescent lamps lose their initial light output far more quickly than LED lighting. But because this loss happens gradually over a shorter period, it frequently goes unnoticed until the light source “burns out,” which we realize needs to be replaced.

What is Luminous depreciation?

The luminous flux is measured in lumens. It is a way to quantify how much overall visible light a source produces. As a fixture gets older, its overall lumen output steadily drops. Lumen depreciation is the term used to describe how a bulb’s lifetime lumen output decreases. The number of hours spent using the light source, the environment, how often it is turned on and off, and other variables may all affect how quickly lumens degrade.

When you maintain a property, you keep it secure, appealing, and valuable. Keeping your property’s lighting system in good working order is crucial to attaining this goal. You should know a few things about your lights as they age.

  • Lumens per Lamp Depreciation: Older lamps lose power, and their lights become less bright. The majority of incandescent lights have a 2,000-hour maximum lifespan. After 50,000 hours, many LEDs are said to have reached the end of their functional life. Halogen and CFL bulbs have lifespans in the middle of these two ranges. When a bulb ends its usable life, its light output decreases to 70% of what it was initially. Although LED lights are a fantastic investment, some of their brightness does progressively diminish. LED lights can also fade while operating at higher temperatures. Manufacturers can provide each bulb’s LLD (lamp lumen depreciation) factor. According to experts, you should change all your bulbs at once according to a schedule that considers the LLD. To get the most out of your lights and prevent a lot of lamp burnouts, you can determine when it is ideal to do this with your lighting provider.
  • Light Dust Depreciation: Grime is a frequently disregarded element that affects how bright light shines. Surfaces are covered in dirt, which stops light from trying to enter the bulb. To combat this, the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 70B standard for electrical maintenance recommends cleaning lamps when they dim by 15% to 20%. Of course, a few factors will determine how frequently that is required. The amount of dirt that a lamp may gather varies by type. Manufacturers typically use the LDD to describe how rapidly a light fixture accumulates dirt (luminaire dirt depreciation.) They are classified into Maintenance Categories I through VI in the IESNA Lighting Handbook, with I becoming dirty the quickest and VI remaining clean the longest. For example, a lighting strip without a top or bottom container can soon become dusty. Users often give Higher ratings to other types of lighting, such as lamps with covers. Your property’s level of dustiness is another aspect. In an airless factory, dirt will accumulate on the lights more quickly than in a spotless showroom. Regardless, cleaning the fixtures to keep your space well-lit regularly would be best. The LDD will give you a general notion of how frequently you should do that.
  • Surface Depreciation of Fixtures: The light fixtures lose some of their reflecting properties with time. Heat exposure can cause light covers to turn yellow, dimming the room’s illumination. Dents and nicks block light. To find these issues, you must schedule routine inspections of your fixtures. Additionally, this will allow your electrician to tighten fixtures into position and inspect the wiring and ballast, among other things.

As you can see, there are a lot of things that can make your lighting less effective. A good lighting maintenance program is crucial for your lighting system’s effectiveness. Various issues need to be taken into account when thinking about retail lighting. Good or bad lighting can significantly alter how a customer feels and perceives your store while buying. Fortunately, inexpensive lighting upgrades may completely change the look of your store.

  1. Fix your store lights timely: Equally significant to how it looks inside is how a store appears outside. An excellent first impression of your company begins indoors, so it’s crucial to have appropriately lit window displays.

Choosing a variable lighting system for your storefront is a fantastic idea because different products and displays require varied illumination. Since track lighting can be adjusted, it’s perfect for window displays. Each track head or wall washer can be turned to face a different production area. Additionally, you can dim the fixtures to create various moods.

A shop will become more bright and more inviting to customers the more lighting options you have.

  1. Show off your best merchandise: You can use retail lighting to help your most outstanding products stand out. Lighting can draw additional attention to various products, displays, and special promotions by correctly placed around a store.

Commercial lighting companies highlight several products by using downlights for built-in shelving displays.

  • Path Heads: The most adaptable type of retail lighting is track heads, which are attached to a track system. Track heads can be altered to function with various objects within a shop area, just like in a window display. Utilize the Track Heads from trusted brands to create an even more distinctive display. Each has an infinite adaptor that allows for endless rotation.
  • Track Wallwashers: Track Wallwashers can photograph exciting features on the walls. These are excellent for advertising posters, decorative items, gallery exhibits, and other wall-running items. There are many more ways to display.

Your store’s most crucial component is ultimately your merchandise. The secret to a successful store is locating a lighting solution that enhances your brand image, showcases your products, and produces a pleasant environment. A commercial lighting contractor can help you solve all the lighting problems and save your store from losing its glorious bright fixtures to lure clients.

Do you need assistance choosing the ideal lighting for your office or retail space? Locate a Commercial lighting expert in your area right now!

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