Channel letters are a favorite among many businesses throughout the world. Bright, eye-catching, and versatile, you can put channel letter signage just about anywhere, and it will look amazing. Plus, channel letters are affordable, customizable, and work to complement your marketing efforts. It seems like an investment you don’t have to think about. Yet, as many business owners come to find out, there are some disadvantages as well. Channel letter signs need to be maintained. Sometimes, they even need to be repaired.
So, if you ever wondered if channel letter signs can be repaired, the answer is yes. Here is something to keep in mind when you have to get a channel letter sign repaired.
About Channel Letter Signs
A channel letter sign is unlike other signs, because every single part of the sign is made of an individually crafted three-dimensional part that is then combined to form a whole picture. Every piece, be it a letter, number, symbol, or logo, is constructed out of acrylic, aluminum, and optional illumination.
Channel letters are an excellent choice for businesses that have a unique design or if their brand name is part of the logo. You can choose the size, thickness, font, color, and more when talking to a sign designer about channel letters. Yet, even with top quality construction, channel letters may require some troubleshooting or repair.
Common Issues with Channel Letter Signage
Companies can get a lot of benefits from channel letter signage, making them a great long-term marketing investment. That said, if you do not perform maintenance on your business’s channel letter signs, you may find yourself tackling some common issues, such as:
- Broken panels or panes: Things like vandalism or bad weather can cause elements of the channel letters to become brittle, crack, or shatter, ruining the whole aesthetic appeal. Although channel letters are resilient when constructed properly, they are not invincible against impact damage.
- Electrical: Most illuminated signage is designed to come on at a certain time or will run all day. If you notice that the lighting elements are flicking or sparking or crackling when you turn them on, it is a sure sign that something is wrong.
- Structural: Exposure to the elements may lead to rust forming wherever seams were welded. Water and pests may get into the housing for the lights. This can cause channel letter signs to fall apart.
- Fading color: Continuous sun, wind, rain, and vandalism can cause the acrylic face of the channel letters to lose their coloring.
Troubleshooting Channel Letter Signage
So, what happens if you find yourself looking at a malfunctioning channel letter sign? There are a couple of things to do before picking up the phone to call someone for channel letter sign repair. First, you need to determine exactly what the issue is.
Here are some tips to help you out:
Check out the transformer
One of the typical suspects of issues with channel letter signage is the transformer. Often, the control components start to corrode over time—made more possible when the sign operates 24/7. Furthermore, transformers can be damaged by underloading and overloading, so you need to find balance. Make sure you discuss with the technician about your needs, so they can help you find the best transformer that can meet the wattage demands. Otherwise, you will have to deal with similar repairs in the future.
Look at the wattage
Recently installed a new channel letter sign only to find that the lights are dim and flickering? The light strips on the inside of the channel letter are controlled by something called a driver—like the one in your computer or phone. The drivers are built to handle a predetermined amount of wattage. Most designers use drivers that need 60 watts to power the LED lighting. Never load your LED lighting more than 80 percent. In other words, your sign should only have about 48 percent of energy running into it at any given moment.
If you test the wattage and find that you are under- or overpowering your signage, ask the technician to check the driver size and run a load test. This is a common mistake but, luckily, a fixable one.
Is there a dimmer?
Some LED channel letters have dimmers installed to give you control over the lighting elements. Although dimmers can be useful for saving energy, it can sometimes cause flickering. This is caused by the electricity supply being stunted.
Contact a specialist if you can’t figure it out
Sometimes, the issue you have with your channel letter signage is not blatantly obvious. Depending on the kind of mounting you have, the illumination—LED or neon—and circuitry or grounding, the problem may remain hidden to all but a professional’s eyes. When that happens, or when you are unsure, be sure to give a sign company that does repairs a call. They will be able to check things like electrical connections, grounding, circuitry, and the materials to make sure everything is okay.
Get Your Channel Letter Sign Repairs Today
Can channel letter signs be repaired? Of course! While certain problems may require some parts to be replaced or touch ups to be done, channel letter signs can be returned to their former glory. If your signs are cracked, discolored, or the lights are not operating correctly, don’t wait for the problem to disappear. Get those problem spots fixed by a professional.
Tupp Signs has been in the sign-making business for many years, so we know how to do repairs right. Why not fill out the contact form and learn more about how we can help?