Neon signs are a fantastic addition to any person or business’s advertising repertoire, but unfortunately, they’re not invincible. Like everything else in the world, man cave neon sign need maintenance. And if you neglect it for too long…well then it will eventually burn out and you’ll need to replace it.
This is a guide on how to keep your neon sign functioning as well as possible so that you don’t get burned out by this problem.
While neon is a glass-like material, it’s not indestructible. Dust, grime and other contaminants can eventually cause one of the neon tubes to break or short out. You should clean your neon signs at least once a week (or whenever natural lighting is available) to remove these items and keep your sign energized long into the future.
In order for a neon sign to function properly, its backlighting must be set up properly too. If your sign’s backlighting is dim and not directed correctly, the tube will be harder to see. It may even start to flicker and blink, which could damage it over time.
This is really a multi-pronged test, as you’ll have to double check both the internal electrical circuit of your sign and the lights themselves for any faults that you can quickly fix before they get worse (and potentially damage the neon tube).
Storing neon signs in the dark or poorly-ventilated areas can lead to a variety of problems. First, you can’t see the neon which doesn’t allow your eye to read it correctly. Second, due to exposure to heat and humidity, these signs become more prone over time and may crack or break if not properly stored. Lastly, if the signs are stored improperly for a prolonged period of time, they may start to corrode from moisture build-up and eventually break from one contact point (or point of corrosion) when stacked with other signs in a warehouse.
Neon tubes can become covered with dirt, dust and grime. This can lead to the neon becoming either too dim to see clearly or even completely dark at its end point. Regular cleaning of the neon tubes will make them more visible and allow for a brighter glow at their endpoints.
The internal wiring of your neon sign carries current to its internal circuitry, which is why it’s important that you make sure the wires in your neon aren’t hindered or pinched by obstructions such as dirt and grime or other metal objects or equipment on a regular basis (every two to three months).
As mentioned before, neon signs have internal wiring. A neon tube will need electrical repairs if it develops a brownish-orange or greenish-white color (which indicates that the neon tube has been corroded). Any electrical repairs that you need to make to your neon sign in the future should be performed by a licensed electrician.
Electrical corrosion can also lead to a variety of other problems including: flickering and/or shorting out of lights, not working at all, and malfunctioning of the electronics which control how your neon sign is programmed or hacked (software issues). Regular electrical testing of your neon sign is always recommended, and can be performed by a licensed electrician or school on a regular basis to ensure that they’re always working.
Neon tubes themselves can fail over time as well. Starting at around 5-15 years depending on the use and care of the neon signs, these neon signs will need to be replaced due to physical damage and corrosion that occurs from environmental factors (such as moisture). A full set of neon replacement tubes should be ordered from Show Covers , or any other reputable source in the industry.
Neon signs are not what you’d call the most environmentally-friendly advertising medium. As neon is a glass-like material, it’s prone to breaking and can get damaged if it’s exposed to outside elements too often. A good rule of thumb is that you should only expose your neon sign to the elements 3-4 times per year (after cleaning it).
Almost every neon sign is susceptible to being hacked these days. From movie titles to foul language, hackers can change what your sign says from a safe distance. You should always monitor your neon sign regularly to make sure that no hackers have tampered with its programming.
As I stated above, neon signs need maintenance in order for them to work properly and stay functional over the long term (10-30 years). This means cleaning them with a soft cloth, checking their circuitry and lights for any inconsistencies, and replacing any faulty components before any major damage occurs.
If you follow these tips, you should be able to get the most out of your neon signs for years and years to come. These tips are by no means an exhaustive list and other common issues that neon signs can face (like humidity) may not have been mentioned. I simply wanted to compile a list of common issues that neon signs face with a little more depth than the typical “neon sign is broken” posts on internet forums.
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