Can Commercial Neon Signs be Repaired?
by Matt Baker
Dec 23, 2021 | Neon Signs
Dec 23, 2021 | Neon Signs
Are you experiencing issues with your commercial neon sign? Signs of disrepair and malfunction can unfortunately occur when owning a commercial sign. While it would be ideal to have a sign that remains flawless forever, this is simply not possible. Constant exposure to the harsh elements causes commercial signs to deteriorate over time, resulting in functional and aesthetic problems. However, there’s good news! Our commercial sign repair services are here to help you restore your sign to its former glory, ensuring it returns to a good and functional condition.
But can neon signs be repaired, or do they have to be replaced when they stop working? Though neon signs are different functionally than other signs, they can still be repaired in many instances. Here’s what you should know about your neon signs and how to tell when it’s time to order repairs from our trusted Houston sign company.
How Can You Tell When You Need Commercial Sign Repair?
If your commercial sign becomes damaged from a storm, constant exposure to the elements, or simply from regular wear-and-tear, we can help. Here are a few signs you need commercial sign repair:
Missing trim
Visible storm damage
Nonfunctioning or flickering lights
Faded images
Missing vinyl
Nicks or dings
Missing paint
Keep in mind that your signage says a lot about your business. People will take note if it looks shabby and is in noticeable disrepair. A sad-looking sign will foster distrust in your business and will probably cause potential customers to look elsewhere for the goods and services they need. So make the time and investment to spruce up your sign every so often and ensure it always looks good. It’s well worth the investment in maintaining your image as a trusted professional in your industry.
Neon Colors
and Signs Materials
What Are Neon Signs?
Neon signs are made from glass tubes that can be colored or clear. The insides of these glass tubes are filled with gases that provide the eye-catching bright colors for which neon signs are known. When we make the lighting for custom neon signs, we carefully bend the lighting tubes into shapes (company names or slogans). Once the lighting tubes are finished, we fill them with neon gas. The bulbs light up when they come into contact with activated neon gas.
Heinrich Geissler first invented neon lighting tubes in 1857. But the first neon tubes weren’t patented until 1915 by Georges Claude. It wasn’t until 13 years later—in 1923—that the first two neon signs were debuted at Earle C Anthony’s car dealership (in L.A.) The signs stopped traffic and caused a lot of interest and talk.
Though neon signs no longer hold the mystery and novelty they once did, they are still preferred signage. If you’re ever searched for “business signs near me,” you’ve undoubtedly seen advertisements for neon signs. Here at Bakers’ Signs, neon signs continue to be some of our most popular products.
How Do Neon Signs Differ From Other Signs?
Neon signs differ from other signs in stylistic appeal. They are often used for edgy, casual businesses that want to earn the attention of a specific type of audience. They also differ from other types of lighted signs in how they light up. Neon signs don’t use traditional bulbs as different types of signage do. Since they rely on neon gasses and electrical charges to work, they present some unique challenges for commercial sign repair. We’ll go over some of those challenges and how we can address them in a minute.
Why Should You Choose Neon Signs for Your Business?
There are many great reasons to choose neon signs for your business. Here are a few of them.
They are unique and flashy
They are great at attracting attention (even on busy roadways)
They have a fun, retro feel
They come in a variety of colors
They’re energy-efficient and can save you money
They’re versatile and work for a wide variety of business types
They’re safe because they don’t heat up like other lighted signs
They are easy to install
They last for years when cared for properly
They’re three-dimensional
They are easy to customize
They’re highly visible at night
For these reasons and more, many businesses opt for neon signs to stand out from the competition. If you’re not sure whether neon signage is the right choice for you, please give us a call. We’ll help you determine what type of signage to get based on your stylistic preferences and what you want your sign to accomplish for your business.
Is Commercial Neon Signage Necessary?
If you’re wondering whether commercial signage is really necessary, take 10 minutes out of your day and drive around downtown. Take note of how many businesses don’t have some signage. You’ll probably be able to count the buildings on one hand.
That’s because most business owners understand the value of helping customers find them easily. While you might be able to get by without commercial signage, it will certainly be more difficult for customers to locate you if they can’t easily see a sign when they drive by.
Commercial signage also improves awareness of your brand, which is a huge benefit you can’t put a price on. The more brand awareness you have, the more people will think of your business when they need the products and services you offer. Brand awareness helps you compete with other companies of your type.
What Are Common Problems Associated With Neon Signs?
Two of the most common problems associated with neon signs are flickering lights and blown-out lights. Here are some common causes of flickering lights:
Mercury needs time to turn into vapor
Crackling in the neon light bulb tubes
Faulty transformer
If the mercury inside the lighting tubes has trouble turning into vapor, it won’t allow the sign to glow brightly. It may also cause your lights to flicker. If this is the issue, you may be able to fix it by simply leaving your sign lit for a few days (instead of only turning it on at night).
If portions of your light tubes are cracked, they won’t work anymore. When the light tubes start to crackle, they may begin to flicker before turning off completely. This is where commercial neon sign repair gets tricky. We may be able to patch up small cracks in your lighting tubes. But if large gaps have developed or most of the lighting tube is damaged, replacing the tube may be a more feasible option. We’ll be happy to come out and inspect the condition of your lighting tube to determine whether repairs or replacement are recommended.
Finally, if you have a faulty transformer, it will send the wrong voltage to your neon sign. When this happens, the sign will no longer work. If we detect a problem with your transformer, we can replace it for you. Please don’t attempt to replace the transformer yourself, since it carries a high voltage and could fatally electrocute you.
In addition to these problems, neon signs can also develop components that don’t involve the lighting tubes. If portions of your sign break, wear out or become damaged in any other way, we may be able to identify and fix the issue.
It’s important to realize that all signs are susceptible to problems, and all signs eventually need repairs. So don’t get too discouraged if your neon sign finally requires commercial sign repair after years of operating normally.
Our Sign Repair Services
We offer a variety of sign repair services, including:
Vinyl replacement
Structural repairs
Face repair (or replacement)
Neon lighting replacement
Repairs to damaged welds
Repairs to missing trim
Ballast/transformer replacement
Storm damage repairs
It’s always a good idea to schedule commercial sign repair services at the first sign of damage. The longer you allow sign damage to progress, your future sign repairs will be more expensive. To keep costs low, inspect your exterior signage regularly. That way, you can identify and address any minor problems before they become major.
Schedule Your Commercial Neon Sign Repair Service
Neon signs can look pretty bad when they are in poor repair. If your neon sign seems a little worse for wear, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll be happy to come to analyze your sign to determine exactly what’s wrong with it and what it will take to repair and restore it.
We proudly serve the Houston area and surrounding cities, including Huntsville, Alvin, Texas City, Sugar Land, and many more. We’ll send our qualified lighting technicians to your location to meet all your signage repair and service needs. If you don’t have a sign yet but would like to install one, we can also help you with that! We can take care of the entire process, from sign design to manufacturing and installation. No matter what type of sign you need, we’re confident that we can turn your ideas into a reality. Contact us today to get started!
