Do you have an old fluorescent light bulb that's no longer working? Here are some simple safety tips on how to remove your fluorescent lighting products safely.
Fluorescent lighting has often been associated with the stigma of being a harsh, low-spectrum light, but it has come a long way since its initial invention and is now widely used as a light source across the world.
In fact, fluorescent lighting has many advantages over traditional incandescent bulbs including the fact that it:
- Uses approximately 75% less energy
- Typically lasts 8-10 times longer
- Lowers your electric bill and saves you money
- Produces 90% less heat
Affordable Fluorescent Lighting Products, Installation, and Repairs in Calgary
At Fluorescent Man Lighting, we offer a wide range of lighting products and services including LED retrofits, lighting maintenance programs, and general repairs to suit all your individual and unique home and office lighting needs.
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Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Fluorescent Lighting Products
One of the biggest benefits of fluorescent lighting over other products is that they can stay in good condition for many years. HOWEVER, there will come a time when your bulb will need replacing and doing so quickly is of the utmost importance.
Some of the signs that your fluorescent lighting might need replacing include:
- Rapidly flickering bulbs
- A buzzing sound from your fixture
- Dimmer-than-usual light
- A swollen casing
- Leakage
- Visible black bands on the tube
Replacing a Fluorescent Light Fixture
Hiring a lighting professional is always best when you have a broken fluorescent light fixture as they can ensure that the job is done safely and correctly, saving you any extra costs and hassles down the road.
However, if you are going to attempt to fix it yourself, there are several things you need to know first:
Materials and Tools Needed For a Fluorescent Lighting Fixture Repair
- Safety glasses
- Medium and large flat-head screwdrivers
- Circuit tester
- Needle-nose pliers to bend and shape wires
- Drill and bit
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Wire nuts
- Toggle bolts or wood screws
Step 1: Remove Existing Fluorescent Light Fixture
- Turn off the power at the circuit-breaker box.
- Remove the lens or diffuser panel from the light.
- Remove lamps or bulbs.
- Remove the ballast cover. REMEMBER: Take note of how the wires are connected (or take a photo) for future reference.
- Uncap black and white wires and test to ensure that the power is off.
- Separate the wires from the existing fixture.
- Remove the fixture base from the ceiling.
Step 2: Install the new fixture
- Remove the ballast cover from the new fixture base.
- Remove the center knockout to allow the wires to go through the base.
- Position the base of the fixture at the desired point on the ceiling.
- Use the tape measure to ensure that the base is parallel to the wall and then mark the position of the mounting holes.
- Wearing safety glasses, take the fixture back down and, using marks for reference, drill holes for fastening the fixture to the ceiling. If you encounter resistance when drilling past the ceiling drywall, a joist and wood screws will be required. If there is no joist, use toggle bolts.
- Place bolts in mounting holes and attach toggles on the back side.
- Push the toggles through the mounting holes and secure them by screwing into place.
- Make electrical connections by connecting the black supply wire to the black fixture wire and the white supply wire to the white fixture wire. Cap the connections with wire nuts, and attach the ground (bare) wire to the base of the fixture.
- Attach the ballast cover.
- Install lamps or bulbs.
- Install fixture cover.
- Turn power back on at circuit-breaker box.
Calgary Lighting Repair Services
At FML, we know that emergencies can happen at any time! If you are having a problem with your fluorescent lighting products, our Calgary specialists are always on-call and ready to help with all your lighting needs.
Call Today
To find out more about how we can fix your fluorescent lighting fixture, or help with any other interior or exterior lighting concerns you may have, contact our Calgary office at 403-863-8529 or fill in our online contact form.
