Call us at (805) 641-1387


Call us today for an Estimate at (805) 641-1387 or

Request a Quote Online

Call us at (805) 641-1387


Does Cold Weather Affect Neon Signs?

Neon signs are iconic, and you can find them scattered all around California and the rest of the country. In fact, the state is home to the oldest constantly running neon light in the world,  a neon light that was found at Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles.


They’re a popular choice for bars and restaurants because they look classy and give off a fun vibe that fits with food, drinks, and entertainment. But how do neon signs hold up in cold weather? This is a question that many business owners ask themselves when looking for ways to increase their business.

If you are wondering the same thing, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we will discuss everything from how neon signs react to different temperatures to what materials are used in making them. So read on and find out more about what you need to know about neon signs and cold weather.

Neon Signs & Cold Weather

To understand how a neon sign will react in cold temperatures, you first have to understand what’s happening inside the tube of the sign when it gets too chilly outside. In short, two things that can happen: Either the gas inside of the glass tube can cool off and turn into a liquid, or it can crystallize on the inner walls. When you see your neon sign begin to flicker as if it is having trouble working properly, then this means that that gas has turned into a liquid inside its glass tube. Flickering neon doesn’t necessarily mean a broken sign; it simply means the sign needs to be re-pressurized most of the time.

Different Types of Neon Signs

 

Below are the types of neon signs you are most likely to see in the United States:

    • Pure neon: These are glass signs that use only neon gas as the source of their light. They emit red photons, which results in very vivid and bright red neon lights. Pure neon signs are less susceptible to cold weather.
    • Neon/argon blend: This type of sign is similar to pure neon signs, but they contain a small amount of argon with the neon to create different colors. Argon reacts strongly to cold weather, and the ratio of it to neon will determine how the brightness and performance of a neon sign are affected in the winter. They also dim and flicker more than other neon signs in cold weather.
    • Neon/helium blend: These signs have helium added to lower their operating temperature range. They emit a very bright blue color which is visible from great distances at night, especially if they are backlit. Also, both helium and argon blended neon signs in blue, green, yellow and white colors are more prone to discoloration in cold weather temperatures.

 

Do Southern California Winters Get Cold Enough to Affect a Neon Sign?

As mentioned, argon gas is especially susceptible to cold weather. Its atoms can become affected at temperatures 45˚F and under. This causes the gas molecules to move more slowly and may cause your neon sign to appear slightly dimmer. As such, if you live in Southern California, you may wonder if it gets cold enough here to affect a custom neon sign.

Winter weather temperatures in Southern California get down to around 60˚F in the day and with cooler lows ranging around 40-50˚F at night. This means it’s not uncommon for some neon signage to experience a slight dimming at night. Especially those filled with argon.

What Can You Do for Your Neon Signs?

Placing your neon signage on the inside of the store’s windows vs. outside will typically cut down on the negative effects cold weather can have on your glass neon sign. It will keep the tube a bit warmer and also protect it from being hit by debris. Additionally, you can place your sign in front of an air vent to help increase airflow around the tubes; this will prevent moisture buildup inside them when they are not on.

LED Neon Signs

LED Neon Sign

If you are looking for neon signage that will perform better than traditional ones in cold weather, consider opting for an LED version instead. LED illuminated signs emit the same halo glow you see with glass neon, but they run on electricity instead of gas. Also, having LED signs instead of neon ones means that there is no need for warming up and the light will not experience any dimming in cold weather conditions.

Contact Dave’s Signs for Your Custom Sign Needs

If you notice that the lights from your neon sign seem dimmer than usual or if they start flickering for no reason, you should turn the sign-off and give us a call as soon as possible. We will be happy to come out and take a look at your neon sign and let you know what we would recommend that you do.

Neon signage attracts attention like no other type of signage, and Dave’s Signs is a leader in the industry for creating this popular type of handmade signage. If you need to have your custom neon sign replaced or repaired, our experts are available to assist with any questions or concerns that you may have about maintaining your signage throughout the year. Our goal is to ensure our customers have great signage at all times of the day.

Whether your business is looking for something warm or cool-colored, glass neon or LED neon, we have what you are looking for at great prices. Simply call us at (805) 641-1387 or fill out our online form to get a fast and free estimate.

10 Benefits of LED Lighted Signs for Business Owners

Companies have been turning to traditional neon signs for decades to broadcast their presence to customers, welcome them to town and showcase the uniqueness of their brand. However, before investing in traditional neon, why not consider the flexibility and benefits of LED illumination bring to the table instead? What follows are 10 benefits LED Lighted Signs can bring to your business.

#1: Greater Signage Options

Unlike neon, which only displays solid colors, LEDs can display color changes, animation, fading & flashing features, and moving text. This allows for maximum versatility while on display.

#2: Longevity

LEDs can run for 50,000-100,000 hours, meaning signs made using them will outlast other lighting methods., essentially never burning out.

#3: Time savings

LEDs require fewer replacements and less maintenance, which saves time and money, thereby allowing you to focus attention on the areas of your business that could use your attention.

#4:  Led Lighted Signs Stay Brighter Longer

Unlike filament bulbs, LEDs don’t leak gas as time passes, which is the primary cause of dimming.

#5: Extremely Low Maintenance

LED Sign Tubes bypass the ballast which, in turn, reduces long-term maintenance. Also, LEDs don’t contain any hazardous gases or glass tubes, which can leak or break and cause detailed cleanups (even hazmat ones).

#6: Vibrant Brightness

LED Lighted Signs

LED signage’s round-the-clock vibrant brightness & visibility will help you meet your marketing goals by garnering more impressions, leads, and conversions.

# 7: Contemporary Appeal

Conserv Fuel Digital Sign Santa Barbara, CA

LED signs speak volumes to millennials and other tech-savvy people who have more modern tastes and are more accustomed to reading digital media. If your business is targeting these types of demographics, LED signage goes a long way.

#8: Environmentally Friendly 

LED lights contain no toxic gases like argon or mercury, and they are 100 percent recyclable. Moreover, many customers respect brands that are eco-conscious and often buy from them before others that aren’t.

#9: Utility Savings

LED Lighted Signs for Power One

Fortunately, LED lights run cool when compared to CFL bulbs and neon.  Because of that your indoor display won’t affect your thermostat and overclock the air conditioner.

#10: Thinner & Lightweight

LED signs do not have glass tubes as neon signs do, therefore they offer a thinner size. Because of this, you can feature signs that are bold and bright but are still nearly effortless to lift on & off their display mounts.

Increase Your Business with LED Lighted Signs

If you want a sign to help you stand out and get noticed, while saving you energy and maintenance at the same time, there’s nothing better than LED signage. Dave’s Signs offers custom illuminated signs for your building’s interior and exterior applications that will help grow your business 24/7.

LED and neon are comparable in price, so your final decision will rest on what you want to get from your business sign. If you would like to know more about your illuminated sign options and what will work best for you, please reach out to us at (805) 641-1387 or shoot us a quick question or request a quote online.

How To Choose A Sign For Your Business

Making your mark in a competitive landscape is a lot about using the right advertising and marketing strategies. And choosing a sign for your business is one important tool in your advertising arsenal. Check out this restaurant sign below we did for Toppers Pizza Place in Camarillo, California.

Signs For Your Business

At Dave’s Signs, we firmly believe that attracting customers to your business is all about creating the right first impression. When you choose the right kind of sign for your business, it improves the appearance of your storefront, and helps attract customers.

Here are some tips on how to choose a sign for your business…

  • Quality – While there are a large number of companies out there that can provide cheap business signs, it important that you look for a credible operator that provides you the perfect balance of quality and cost. A poorly-designed or shabbily structured sign will have negative impact on your reputation. Check out this office sign we completed below for Ambulnz™. It’s clean, simple and professional.Signs For Your Business
  • The Right Branding – It’s important that your business sign reflects your brand identity. The design, structure, and the colors used need to complement your brand image.
  • Simplicity in Design – When getting your sign designed, make sure that it has a simple and clean design. Adding too much of information, too many colors or excessive lighting will make the sign look too cluttered, impacting its readability. Your signs should have just the right amount of information to bring in more foot traffic.
  • The Right Materials – While there are a large number of materials that can be used in outdoor signage, it’s important that you choose something which matches the aesthetic of your storefront. Channel letter signs with halo-lit lighting is a good choice for outdoors and can be constructed in different types of metals and acrylic. Make sure that the materials that you opt for would be able to weather the elements and last for a number of years with minimal maintenance. Check out the bank sign below. It looks like wood, but its actually made out of acrylic.

Signs For Your Business

For information on our business sign services feel free to call Dave’s Signs at (805) 641-1387, or reach out to us online and we will get back to you shortly. Make sure you also check out our business sign gallery here.

The Lighted Business Signs and Profitability Connect

lighted business signs odu

While we do live in a digital age, there are a significant number of retail stores and other small businesses that don’t really believe they require expensive looking signs to improve sales and profitability. Many local businesses feel that they get a pretty steady clientele without focusing on any aggressive marketing. The common belief is that word-of-mouth is all that matters to gain the public exposure they need.

However, the fact is that while word-of-mouth is definitely a great form of generating new business, it’s also the slowest. Every business operates in an extremely competitive space today and making an impact is about taking a 360-degree approach when it comes to marketing and advertising.

lighted business signs gabanzo

When Profits Matter

Regardless of how long you have been in the industry, lighted business signs can do wonders for your establishment. When you invest in creatively designed and well-made outdoor signage, you will notice an increase in business, with each passing year. It won’t take long for you to realize a considerable return on investment from the lighted signs you have installed. In many ways, this can be the difference between a standard break-even business and one with consistently increasing revenue.

Custom-Designed Lighted Business Signs

Installing lighted business signs on your property, will not only make it easier to locate your business but will also attract new customers more often. A larger number of people will stop in and see what your business offers. We at Dave’s Signs strongly believe that the right type of outdoor advertising goes a long way towards building the brand of your business.

lighted business signs untuckit

When you choose to invest in high quality lighted business signs, you can rest assured it will drive traffic to your door day or night for years to come.

For information on our lighted business signs and other outdoor signage, feel free to call Dave’s Signs at (805) 641-1387, or reach out to us online and we will reply shortly.

What Type of Illuminated Signs Are Best for Your Business

What Type of Illuminated Signs Are Best for Your Brand

Even though a great number of businesses are moving towards the internet, many still rely solely on traditional marketing. A business sign is perhaps the oldest and foremost piece of marketing material. It helps customers know where you are and what you are.

But what good is a sign if it’s not visible? Making your business sign visible to potential customers is just as important as creating a compelling and unique sign. A sign should also be ideally placed and must be visible under certain conditions.

Illuminated signs are the best way to give your storefront a “pop.” It’s flashy – literally – but fulfills the purpose of providing visibility during the night and under certain weather conditions.

Here are some points to consider when choosing between different illumination signs.

LED or Neon: Which One Is Better?

LED or Neon: Which One Is Better?

On the surface, both LED and Neon signs are illuminated signs. They both “glow.” But, they are, in fact, different in construction and how they achieve their luminance.

Although there are multiple ways to light a sign-up, LED-based signs are the most widely used option. They are cheaper, consume less power than traditional fluorescent bulbs, and go with just about any type of signage.

Neon signs, on the other hand, are produced by gasses trapped in the sign. Electricity passing through excites the gas molecules, causing them to produce luminance. It takes special expertise to craft neon signs. But, over the years, LEDs have replaced neon signs because they are cheaper to maintain, and are eco-friendly.

However, neon signs are resurfacing as a representation of the vintage era. Just visit Las Vegas – you’ll see hundreds of them.

LED or Neon: Which One Is Better?

LEDs are powerful and cost-effective, and are used to light all types of signage, such as Chanel Letters and lower cost lightbox.

It comes down to your preference. LED illumination is powerful enough to provide visibility under several conditions, but neon signs may serve better if you’re seeking to pair with a theme. From lightboxes to high-end channel letter and neon signs, Dave Signs delivers all types of illuminated signs.

Give us a call, or reach out to us online and our team of experts will help you determine which type of illumination is best suited for your business.

Dave’s Signs Blog

This is a blog about signs. We highlight the different types of signs: signs we’ve created for our customers, history of sign design and today’s cutting edge sign technologies. Ask a question about signs, and you’ll likely find the answer here.

Case Studies

Spencer Makenzies Neon Sign

Here we go into detail on some of the custom signs we’ve done. Including Spencer Makenzie’s Neon Sign, Topper’s Pizza Neon Signs in the Oxnard Harbor, and The Historic Ventura Pole Sign. Check back with us. We’ll have more case studies of signs posted in the near future.

Custom Signs Near You

Saloon BBQ Custom Sign

We’ve designed, fabricated, installed and serviced signs all over southern California. Here are some highlighted areas near you including Ventura, Oxnard and Santa Barbara. Check back soon for more updates.

Call us today for an Estimate at (805) 641-1387 or

Request a Quote Online

Call us at (805) 641-1387


Neon Sign Design Computer

We Make Beautiful Neon Signs in Our On-Site Facility

Dave’s Signs has perfected the art of neon signs. We can handle all sizes of neon signage, from the small intricate signs to the eye-catching, large neon signs. Ask us for a personalized quote or contact us for any questions you may have about neon signage.

See Our Neon Sign Gallery


Dave’s Signs Makes Custom Office Signs

Whether you need a lobby sign, directional signage or ADA signs, Dave’s Signs can help you with all your office sign needs. We can use your logo and create a beautiful, distinctive sign for your office. We can also create custom building directory signs, suite signs, and directional signs to give the building a unique unified theme. Call us today to help you with all your office sign needs.

See Our Custom Signs

Custom Sign Design Grove Avenue