One of the most promising innovations in lighting recently has been LED and all its amazing applications. LED lighting is energy and cost-efficient, and it requires much less maintenance than other lighting types. That means that older signs are quickly becoming obsolete. Take neon, for instance. Though neon looks cool and was once one of the very options for lighting, it is neither as safe nor as cost-efficient as LED.
That is why you should retrofit neon signs to LED. But if you still need some convincing, here are some other reasons retrofitting LED to neon signs is a great idea:
Things to Consider About LED Retrofitting
Retrofitting neon signs to LED is best for those who:
- Want to prolong the life of their existing business signage
- Has a standard size sign
- Want to save on operating expenses over a long term period
- Is interested in sustainable energy practices and wants to reduce their carbon footprint
- Wants to reduce maintenance needs and increase safety
If you are a match for these, good! Others may still not be completely sold on giving up their neon signage for an LED one.
You might be concerned that retrofitting is going to ruin the look of your signage and, thus, make it lose its aesthetic appeal. Not to worry. The process for retrofitting has changed in recent years. We have made the process easier, so the sign merely looks upgraded—more high-def, so to speak.
Benefits of Retrofitting Neon to LED
LED and neon have plenty of differences, especially when you are considering whether or not to retrofit neon signs to LED. However, LED has numerous clear advantages over neon, such as:
Price
Looking to reduce utility costs? Although the initial price of LED and neon lighting is not very different, you shouldn’t forget to compare the total cost of operation, purchase, and maintenance. Overtime, LED will consume far less energy than neon—up to 70% less. This means that you could run your LED signs 24/7 and still pay less than you would for just a few hours of operating a neon sign.
Space
Want to save some space? Retrofitting can help. See, LED is much slimmer than neon—about 25-33% thinner, in fact. Neon signs are bulkier, taking up more room wherever they are placed. This may not seem like much of an issue, but a depth difference of 3-5 inches can make for a lot more standing room inside and also enhances safety.
Brightness
If you want more light, then you should opt for LED. Neon struggles to remain bright in colder temperatures, whereas LED runs optimally in all kinds of weather.
Performance
LED lighting is consistent and doesn’t suffer from flickering issues like neon. Not only does it stay brighter longer, but lighting will be more uniform throughout its lifespan.
Durability
Neon lighting and signage requires fragile glass tubing to house the chemicals to generate light. Even a slight bump could cause the glass to fracture. Also, neon burns much hotter than LED, which can also affect the glass and makes it more difficult to maintain.
Safety
Neon signs can be dangerous for a few reasons. First, the glass tubing can shatter. Second, housed within that tubing are poisonous gases, like mercury. Sometimes, that gas will leak out even without the neon light being damaged, and that can be bad for your health. LED doesn’t use any harmful gases. Thirdly, LED runs more coolly, whereas neon may be very hot to the touch and can burn skin.
Maintenance
LED requires far less maintenance than neon signs, so you can worry about them less. In fact, LED has no gases, glass tubing, argon, or mercury like neon does.
Lifespan
LEDs can last between 50,000-100,000 hours, depending on the size of the bulb and the amount of time you leave it on. Neon signs, on the other hand, depend on the quality of the neon, how often they are run, and the amount of maintenance they receive—and even then, they’ll fail faster than LED. The average neon sign lasts around 7 years.
Animation
Because LEDs are made with many little lights instead of a tube of reactive chemicals, you can animate your signage like never before. This gives you more creative flexibility than with neon.
Retrofitting is a Great Investment
Neon is a thing of the past. It might look cool, but it isn’t as efficient or as bright as LED. If you are looking to cut back on utility costs and enjoy a more durable kind of light without needing to change all your signage, then LED retrofitting can work for you.
Want to retrofit your neon lights to LED? The first step is to reach out. Give us a call or fill out the contact form. We would be delighted to talk with you about retrofitting and how much your project would cost.