Dear Sign Lady,

I manage a busy retail plaza, and our large multi-tenant monument sign is starting to look like a checkerboard. Some panels are bright, others are flickering, and a few are completely dark. I think we’re still running on those old fluorescent tubes. It’s a bad look for my tenants and a headache for me. How do I fix this without breaking the bank?

— Manager on Main Street

The "Flicker" Factor

Hello, Manager! I hear you. Managing a multi-tenant property is hard enough without your main roadside attraction looking like a scene from a horror movie.

When you have an older monument sign using fluorescent bulbs, you aren't just dealing with light—you’re dealing with aging technology. Unlike LEDs, which dim slowly over time, fluorescent tubes rely on ballasts (the heavy boxes that kickstart the light). When those go, or the gas inside the tube gets cold, you get that dreaded "patchy" look.

Why You Shouldn't Just "Swap a Bulb"

It’s tempting to send a maintenance guy up there to pop in a new tube, but here’s why that’s a band-aid on a bigger problem:

• The Ballast Blues: If the ballast is failing, a new bulb won’t stay lit for long.
• The Mismatch: New tubes often have a different "color temperature" than old ones. You’ll end up with some panels looking "warm yellow" and others looking "surgical blue."
• Safety First: Older signs can have brittle wiring. Poking around in there without a pro can lead to shorts or even fire hazards.

Time to Call 3V Signs

Instead of playing "Whac-A-Mole" with flickering lights every month, it’s time for a professional diagnosis.

Call 3V Signs to diagnose the issue. They can look at your current setup and tell you if it’s a simple repair or if you’re a candidate for an LED Retrofit. Retrofitting replaces those power-hungry tubes with energy-efficient LEDs. It saves you a fortune on the electric bill and, more importantly, you won't have to think about a "dark spot" for years.

Property Manager Pro-Tip: A well-lit sign keeps your tenants happy and their vacancy rates low. It’s one of the few maintenance costs that actually pays for itself in curb appeal!

Stay bright,

The Sign Lady