Carousel Lights: Taking Care Of A Neon Sign Outside
We’ve all seen vibrant neon signs outside with a warm, retro glow and eye-catching colours. To this day, they’ve remained a staple of advertising and mood setting for all kinds of establishments, including restaurants, stores, bars, cafes, movie theatres and more. Like with any valuable asset, proper care and maintenance is the best way to extend its lifespan.
At Carousel Lights, our outdoor neon signs are durable, sustainable and energy efficient. Of course, there are still a few things to keep in mind regarding the care and maintenance of your outdoor sign, such as having a thorough approach to cleaning, securing the right environment, and swiftly addressing electrical and structural issues. In this article, we explore some of the best practices for maintaining your neon sign outside. Following these easy tips will help ensure your outdoor neon signs keep up their lustre.
Getting An Outdoor Neon Sign With Carousel Lights
Carousel Lights is a UK-based brand specialising in high-quality signage solutions, particularly focused on both neon and LED signs. We are one of the UK’s most trusted custom signage makers, known for producing personalised signs for various settings, including businesses, events and home décor across a staggering range of industries.
We offer both real neon signs and neon-style signs made from real glass and energy-efficient LEDs, tailor-made to suit the needs of our broad spectrum of clientele. Whether you’re looking for traditional neon signage or replica faux neon, Carousel Lights can assist.
Our neon glass signs are perfect for exterior use. The glass tubes are produced in the exact same way as with indoor neon signs. As long as we know the location of where you want your sign, we set it up to last for the foreseeable future. The same applies to our Neon Ultra® and Neon SuperFlex options, and the product can be sealed with silicon to ensure it can withstand elements of the outdoors.
Most of our neon signs are also repairable, so should you have any issues, you can always call us for assistance. While our products are strong and sustainable, there are still a number of maintenance tips you should keep in mind for the best results.
Neon Sign Basic Care Tips
Neon signs have been essential in advertising through the ages, an eye-catching style often coupled with a retro aesthetic, drawing in admirers and customers alike. To maximise the lifespan of a neon sign outside, you should perform regular, mostly straightforward, maintenance procedures.
First and foremost, you should use a soft, dry microfiber cloth and a feather duster to clean the sign of dust and dirt regularly, both on the outside and within around the tubes, as a collection of debris can dim your sign over time. For more stubborn grime, lightly dampen a cloth with water and a gentle soap before wiping it away.
It’s important to keep in mind that traditional neon tubes are more fragile than LED neon signs, so it’s paramount to treat the sign with care and avoid excessive handling. If you’re moving the sign, it’s best to hold it by the base or frame and never the glass tubing.
The proper placement of your neon sign is another key factor. The best move is to keep it away from direct sunlight and excessive humidity in a cool and dry place. You should also avoid placing the sign near heat sources like radiators, which can have a significant impact on its performance. At Carousel Lights, we can help you decide on the perfect location to place your neon sign outside.
Neon signs are designed for continuous use, and you can turn them off whenever you don’t need them as a means of saving energy. Always make sure you’re using the correct transformer and that all electrical connections are secure. As experts in neon signage, we make sure all the cables are secure and protected when setting up your sign.
The final step is to regularly inspect for damage, checking for flickering or dimming, both of which may indicate electrical issues happening. If you do notice any problems like these, reach out to Carousel Lights instead of trying to fix the issue yourself.
Unique Challenges Of Placing A Neon Sign Outside
Placing a neon sign outside can add a striking visual appeal to your business, often serving as the perfect addition to storefronts, restaurants or other establishments. There are, however, multiple considerations to keep in mind when placing a neon sign outside, as it is constantly being exposed to different elements.
Exposure to the range of outdoor conditions is the first thing you’ll need to stay aware of. Rain and moisture can damage electrical components, quickly causing short circuits or corrosion in the sign. Wind and storms cause strong winds, which can easily loosen or damage mounting brackets. On top of causing heat, sun exposure can gradually fade the sign’s colours or cause the materials to degrade. While Carousel Lights outdoor neon signs are made to withstand all of the above, it’s still a good idea to do regular checks and make sure nothing has gone wrong.
You may also have to deal with birds perching themselves on the sign, which can lead to much more dirt and potential damage if you’re not careful. Other forms of accidental impact or vandalism that damage the tubes might occur from passers-by. Man-made elements, such as airborne pollutants and grime in urban areas, can also accumulate quickly over a sign, ultimately reducing its glow. Setting aside to regularly inspect and clean your sign is a smart move.
Essential Maintenance Tips For Outdoor Neon Sign Longevity
Other than conducting all the conventional maintenance for a neon sign, when placing your neon sign outside, you’ll want to integrate the following practices too.
Protect against moisture by ensuring that the sign is properly sealed to prevent the liquid from getting into electrical components. You can also place the sign under a cover of sorts to minimise exposure to outdoor factors. Nevertheless, you should periodically check for fraying or corrosion, as this happens much faster outdoors.
Addressing the issue of wind, you should secure the mountings and regularly check the stability thereof. While you’re doing that, it is a good idea to mount the sign high enough to void any potential impact from foot traffic.
In terms of deterring wildlife and vandalism, using small, spiked deterrents can easily keep away birds, while protective casings with smart positioning can keep the sign out of accidental or malicious tampering by humans.
Electrical Safety And Troubleshooting For Neon Lights Outside
You want to take note of a number of electrical considerations, common issues and other troubleshooting steps for outdoor neon signs. First, it’s key to take all the electrical safety precautions you can. Always make sure that you use the correct voltage and transformer. Otherwise, this may lead to overloading, which can result in overheating and other failures. As mentioned above, you also want to waterproof all connections, especially for automated neon signs, to mitigate the risks that rain and moisture exposure pose to the system. Carousel Lights provides signs with weather-resistant and waterproof cables, perfect for outdoor use.
On top of this, you need to make sure that the neon sign outside is correctly grounded to prevent dangerous electrical shocks or power surges that might harm the sign. Finally, if the sign has any notable electrical issues, give us a call at Carousel Lights to take care of repairs instead of trying to tackle it yourself.
If your outdoor neon sign won’t turn on, it might be a power supply issue. In this case, check the power supply with other devices. If the power supply is functional, then the issue likely lies with your sign’s connection.
If the neon sign outside is overheating, this might be the result of blocked ventilation, requiring you to supply proper airflow around the sign. An overloaded transformer might be responsible, which should be replaced with a functional and correct version as soon as possible.
While repairs are always possible, the best methods are always preventative, hence the importance of periodically inspecting wiring and connections for wear and tear. Be alert for signs of moisture build-up, especially inside the casings. Finally, keep a close eye on the neon sign and monitor performance for flickering, dimming and other irregularities. As soon as one catches these, they should be addressed early to avoid evolving into a more costly issue.
The Benefits of Using A Neon Sign Outside
While keeping a neon sign outside comes with a few more considerations, the benefits are plenty. Since the early 1900s, all the way through to today, placing a neon sign outside has benefitted businesses greatly. A few of the main benefits that neon signs bring to the table include:
24/7 Advertising: The influence of physical promotion should not be underestimated, and neon signs remain one of the most powerful ways to boost your visibility. You can even keep the sign visible after business hours for non-stop advertising.
Durability: At Carousel Lights, our neon signs are made to be durable, sustainable and long-lasting. We use only the best of materials for both traditional neon signs and LED neon signs.
Personalisation: You can easily customise and personalise your neon sign to match the style and tone of your business, whether you choose to bring your logo to life or highlight a specific promotion.
Retro Appeal: A retro aesthetic never goes out of style and can do wonders for bringing eyes to your business.
High Visibility: Of course, one of the most attractive elements of a neon sign is its vibrant and animated display, instantly drawing the attention of those passing by. To this day, the aesthetic appeal of neon signs continues to drive business up for restaurants, retail stores and more.
The benefits of putting a neon sign outside far outweigh the challenges. At Carousel Lights, all of our neon signs are made to withstand tough outdoor conditions with no sacrifice in quality, and if you ever have any trouble with your sign, we’re just one phone call away.
Get The Most Out Of Neon Signs With Carousel Lights
At Carousel Lights, we specialise in making neon signs that are durable, energy-efficient and sustainable in the long term. We are a UK-based business, and all of our signs are designed and produced right here.
While putting a neon sign outside comes with additional considerations, the high quality of our signs means maintenance is minimal, and any issues are solvable. For all your neon and custom signage needs, head over to our website or give us a call at 01372 662299.
