Commercial Light Bulb and Ballast Replacement Service
Commercial lighting can account for close to 35% of your business’s energy use. If your energy costs are higher than you expected, and you can’t pin down a cause, your lighting fixtures may be the culprit. Fortunately, there are ways to improve your energy costs. One great way to reduce the energy consumption of your lighting is to switch to a more efficient type of light. In order to do this, a ballast replacement may be necessary.
With so many lighting options available, how do you know which is right for your business? In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key differences between commercial and residential lighting and explore some of the lighting options that may be a good solution for your business.
Commercial Lighting and the Role of Ballasts
Commercial lighting is specially designed for the illumination of commercial premises in order to accommodate various business activities, from manufacturing to sales. By utilizing different colors, designs, and intensities, commercial lighting options offer custom solutions for various applications.
A ballast is matched specifically to the light bulb it operates. In business settings, commercial ballasts are often required. The lighting fixtures in these settings are often larger and have higher power draw, so a heavier-duty commercial ballast is needed to meet those demands. However, the demand for fluorescent lighting is quickly being replaced with LED.
In the past 15 years, companies have largely switched over to LED because of lower maintenance and operating costs. LED lights are also more versatile than fluorescent lights and have a wider array of applications.
How Ballast Replacement Works
Many commercial locations make use of fluorescent lights because of their low operating cost and ease of replacement. Most of the time these bulbs have little need for maintenance. As long as they are replaced when they start to go bad, you shouldn’t have many problems.
However, if you notice that several bulbs on the same fixture are beginning to flicker, or if a bulb replacement doesn’t solve the issue, then you might have an issue with your ballast.
When we replace a ballast, we’ll remove the lights from the casing, then remove the fixture cover altogether. Then, we cut the existing wiring and remove the faulty ballast. Once that’s done, we’ll put the new ballast in place of the old one, reconnect our new wires to the fixture, and replace the bulbs.
If a faulty ballast was indeed the problem, then your lights should start functioning without flicking or making an obnoxious humming noise.
What Light Bulb Type Is Best for My Business?
Light Bulb Type | Description | Where to Use |
Incandescent | Older technology makes incandescent bulbs less efficient than other choices and best utilized for task lighting requiring high levels of brightness. | Indoors |
Halogen | Twice as efficient as an incandescent, they produce a very bright white light and are commonly used in outdoor applications such as security and stadium lighting. | Outdoors |
Flood Lights | If you work in live events, construction, or another field where lighting a large area is necessary, flood lights may be exactly what you need. These types of lights are referred to as HID High Intensity Discharge when used to light a large area. Until the development of LED fixtures these lights were used in almost all exterior locations. In residential applications the lamp type is usually incandescent or quartz. | Outdoors |
Fluorescent | The most commonly used commercial lighting, fluorescents and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) use 1/5 to 1/3 as much electricity as an incandescent. They also last 10 times longer and have comparable lumen ratings (which measures the amount of light produced). A CFL can be used in place of an incandescent in standard light sockets for energy savings. All fluorescents contain mercury and should be disposed of properly. | Indoors |
Compact Fluorescent | Also known as a CFL, these bulbs have a swirled design and are functionally a smaller version of the large fluorescent lights that are used in commercial environments. They are great for lamps, desktop use, or in areas where a large fluorescent bulb would produce too much light. | Indoors |
Projector Bulbs | As the name implies, projector bulbs are used in projection equipment. We can install new projector bulbs in your office to make sure that all your presentations look clean and crisp. | Indoors |
Neon Lights | These bulbs are more expensive than most other lighting sources. Often customized into logo shapes or lettering, neon lights are an attractive eye-catching option for signage. | Indoors and outdoors |
HID (High-Intensity Discharge) | High-intensity discharge bulbs have a long life, are somewhat efficient, and produce large quantities of very bright light. However with the exception of metal halides, they do not produce pleasing light colors. They are commonly used in warehouses and industrial applications. Additionally, when compared to LED, the light output of these fixtures is not efficient. HID lamps tend to lose a large percentage of lumen output over the life of the lamps. Some drop to 30% of rated output while still drawing the same amount of current through the ballast. | Indoors and outdoors |
LED | Light emitting diodes used in LED lighting are typically more efficient and longer lasting than any other type of light bulb, using 75% less energy than an incandescent and lasting 35 to 50 times longer. | Indoors and outdoors |
Security Lighting | Security lighting is typically attached to the exterior of your building and tends to be activated by motion or a timer. In some cases, security lighting may be installed in staircases and hallways to save on electricity while increasing safety for building occupants at night. | Indoors and outdoors |
Reasons You May Need New Lights
There are plenty of reasons to replace existing lighting. If you notice any of the following issues with your light fixtures, then you may need new lights:
- Lights are too dim or flicker.
- Lights don’t turn on or off when they should.
- Light bulbs frequently burnout.
- Lights are cracked or burnt out.
- Light bulb explosions occur.
- Lighting color seems off.
- Lights do not achieve the desired level of illumination.
- You prefer softer, brighter, or cooler light.
- Upgrading to longer life bulbs increases convenience and savings.
- You want to avoid the excessive energy consumption of older technology bulbs.
The Importance of Energy Efficiency
Since performance depends on the type of light bulb used, choose the most efficient light bulb that meets your business’s needs. Upgrading your business’s lighting with today’s technology can cut lighting energy use in half. Keep in mind fixture selection and proper installation are also important in gaining efficient and effective use of any light bulb, however, and the results can be seen in improved lighting. With good design and proper installation, lighting improvements typically pay for themselves in a few years.
Contact ADK Electric One today for help choosing the right light bulb or lighting solution for your business. We offer installation, repair, upgrades, and replacement services to suit your needs.