Lighting ballasts don’t last forever. When their time comes to an end, Asbury Electric is here to replace the ballast and ensure the installation is safe.
What Is a Light Ballast and What Does It Do?
A light ballast is an electronic component responsible for controlling the flow of power to a lamp or bulb. It prevents excessive voltage from reaching the lamps and ensures the voltage stays at the right level consistently so the lamp can function safely. Keeping your ballast in condition is essential for both function and safety.
Signs Your Light Ballast Needs to Be Replaced
Unsure whether you need a ballast replacement? Look for the following symptoms:
- Uneven brightness
- Lights that flicker or dim
- A ballast that hums or buzzes
- Bulbs that require frequent replacement
- The ballast completely fails to start
- Colors that shift within the same bulb
- Slow warmup or delayed light activation
- Visible damage like burn marks or black goo
- Water damage, or a swollen, bulging ballast casing
Ballast Replacement vs. LED Bypass
When your ballast is giving you problems, you have two options. You can either replace the entire ballast or invest in T8 LED bulbs with no ballast.
These Type B T8 bulbs connect directly to the mains voltage, bypassing the ballast system entirely. This approach eliminates the need to replace ballasts and improves overall energy efficiency.
Replacing the ballast is worthwhile if you prefer old-fashioned fluorescent bulbs or want to incorporate Type A T8 bulbs. This approach is safe and ensures that the installation adheres to current safety standards. New LED ballasts are more compact and take very little time to install.
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Trust Asbury Electric for reliable service and expert technicians.
Our Ballast Replacement Process
When you choose Asbury Electric for your ballast replacement, you know you’re getting the advantages that come with a safe, established process. These ballasts take Type A T8 bulbs or traditional fluorescent bulbs. This is our process when we install a modern, energy-efficient ballast to replace your old system:
- We inspect the existing ballast, identifying any safety risks and checking whether the ballast is damaged or inoperable.
- Our team deactivates power to the ballast circuit and removes the existing ballast safely, starting with the bulbs and then the ballast itself.
- Technicians disconnect the existing wiring, then connect your home’s live wiring to the new fixture, testing the power to ensure the wires work as they should.
- We install the new ballast, ensuring it is securely attached to the roof joists or ceiling supports, and hiding away any wiring. This approach ensures the installation is safe and meets current safety standards.
- The electrician restores power to the ballast, installs the bulbs and checks that everything is working as it should.
In the case of an LED bypass, the process is similar, except that we don’t install a new bypass system. Instead, we connect the Type B T8 bulbs directly to your home’s power.
Ballast Replacement Service Areas in Southeastern Virginia
We replace ballasts in various places throughout Virginia:
- Norfolk
- Virginia Beach
- Hampton
- Gloucester
- Poquoson
- Newport News
- James City County
- Hampton Roads
- York County
- Williamsburg
- Chesapeake
Call for service today and ensure your ballast installation meets every requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our team answers all your common questions about ballast replacement.
Can I replace a ballast myself?
We don’t recommend changing a ballast yourself since it involves working with household wiring, which can be unsafe for DIYers.
Additionally, the bulbs contain toxic mercury and require disposal at a specified hazardous waste facility. Ballasts produced before 1979 may also contain hazardous Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), which pose a significant health risk.
How long does ballast replacement take?
Replacing a ballast typically takes us between 15 minutes and an hour, depending on complexity and secondary considerations.
Do you replace ballasts in commercial or business properties?
No, we don’t do any commercial work. We focus on home electrical services.
