Fluorescent Lighting Remains Popular and Easy to Maintain

Fluorescent fixtures are popular because they spread light through a room more completely that incandescent light bulbs do. This is why they are often used in home kitchens and basements, as well as most offices and factories.

Other advantages of fluorescent fixtures include they operate at a cool temperature, which means they do not burn out as frequently as hotter burning light bulbs. Also, they are less expensive to operate than light bulbs.

There are only a few things you need to know about maintain a fluorescent fixture. However, while they rarely need maintenance, they are more complicated than, say, a household lamp.

There are only a few parts to a fluorescent fixture. The receptacles which hold the bulb in place and through which electricity enters the bulb, the ballast inside the fixture which maintains the steady flow of electricity to the bulb, and, in older fixtures, the starter which, as it sound, is used to start the fluorescent light.

When a fluorescent fixture is not working, first check the bulbs. If they are gray or black at one or both sides, they are most likely burned out. Replace them with the same size and voltage. The voltage is written onto the glass side of the bulb.

To remove the fluorescent bulb, simply use two hands to turn the bulb up or down and it will then pull towards you out of its receptacles at either end.

If the bulbs show no sign of wear, the problem may lie in the ballast, which is located inside the fixture. Before replacing the ballast, you must turn off the electricity, preferably at the fuse box.

Again, remove the bulbs and store them gently so they may be reinserted. Remove the metal cover facing the floor and you will see a black box. This is the ballast. Follow the wires coming from the ballast to the receptacles which hold the bulb. Using a screwdriver, simply pop the wires from the receptacles.

You will see screws are holding the ballast to the fixture. Remove them and the ballast will easily be removed. Take the ballast to an electrical goods store or hardware store and have the exact box replaced.