Tube lights are found in many applications and environments such as office buildings, hallways, garages, and really anywhere that has a low and flat ceiling. Although fluorescent tubes contain small amounts of mercury and isn’t a whole lot, you still want to avoid the breaking of a fluorescent tube and any exposure to mercury if possible.

Whether you are simply replacing a burnt out fluorescent tube with a new one or are switching over to a new technology (such as LED), there is a proper way to do it. By following these steps along with others that you may find, you will allow yourself to reduce risk of harm for yourself, staff, or whoever is the one physically replacing the tube lights.

Let’s answer some common questions and issues that people seem to face when tasked with this issue of replacing mercury filled fluorescent tubes…

By recycling rather than simply throwing away your tube lights, you opt-in for the environmentally friendly route of switching out old tubes. If you choose not to recycle, you are allowing toxic mercury to freely enter the environment, which of course is not good.

Not only do you prevent mercury from freely entering the environment by recycling, but you also reduce waste. How exactly? Part of the tube is reused for new tubes that will be resold and used. This allows for less waste and this goes back to the saying “Reduce, Reused, Recycle.” So by taking part of fluorescent tube recycling, you allow the process of recycling to continue and prevent waste from entering the landfill!

When taking your tubes out to bring for recycling, this is probably the most difficult step you need to be most cautious with. The best option you have is to be prepared and know what to do if things go “south” as they like to say.

Here is what you can do to prepare for the removal of fluorescent fixtures:

And for one thing that you should always remember for dealing with a broken tube is this: NEVER VACUUM. By vacuuming, you make glass particles go airborne and that is a highly dangerous situation to be in.

For more tips on how to clean up a broken fluorescent or CFL lights, using this tool from Earth911. It allows you to search what you need to recycle and where you are located. So you go to that tool, type in ‘fluorescent’ or ‘CFL’ along with your location and you will surely come across the closest place to recycle fluorescent tubes (along with really anything else you may want to recycle).

If you are in the process of disposing and recycling your fluorescent tubes, what is going in there to replace the ones you are removing? If the answer is “more fluorescent tubes,” may we ask why?

If you find yourself making that frustrating trip to the circuit breaker often enough to remember, there’s a good chance your electrical panel is overworking itself. An outdated electrical panel is a hassle no homeowner should have to put with. It’s not just an issue of faulty outlets and tripping over extension cords. An outdated electrical panel is a serious fire hazard.

It’s outdated for one, and that can cause a lot of problems, especially for any home improvement projects. An electrical panel’s job is to determine how much electricity is distributed to all appliances, lights, and outlets in your home. If your electrical panel is outdated, not only is it unfit to meet your electrical needs, it puts you and your home at risk. An up-to-date electrical panel has a circuit breaker, which trips or turns off when the wiring is overworked; this prevents your electrical system from overheating and starting a fire. An outdated electrical panel isn’t only a fire hazard; it’s harmful for the following reasons.

If your home needs an electrical upgrade, it can be as simple as replacing a few circuit breakers or replacing the entire electrical panel. It’s best to contact an electrical technician as the wiring in your home is a complicated mess, and a professional knows what to look for. They can inspect your home and provide the best suggestions on how to upgrade your electrical system.

Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom can be daunting.  Do I do it myself or do I get help from the professionals?  These are important questions to ask yourself because if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing a remodel job can become an exercise in frustration costing more time and money than you originally planned.

There are many things to think about:

If the remodel is being professionally done then consider:

If you’re doing the remodel yourself consider:

A workshop is a place full of productivity. Filled with tools and devices, this small hub can produce the most amazing and practical creations – but in order to keep it operating, there needs to be a significant amount of electricity. To keep your workshop running smoothly, here are some things to consider when it comes to the electrical setup.

Lighting is extremely important in the workshop. Often our workshops are found in a garage or a dark room off the home. In order to see all the intricate details and get your cuts just right you need to be able to see what you’re doing. Don’t compromise safety by working in a dimly lit room – install proper light fixtures. The most common electrical fixtures are fluorescent overhead, these are easy to install, energy efficient, and provide sufficient lighting. Correctly placing these around your workshop will help brighten up your workspace and allow you to move about freely without adjusting lamps. Another option to consider is track lighting. With track lighting and floodlights you can adjust the lights to cover your workspace and provide vivid lighting to the area that needs it the most. When installing these light fixtures it is important that everything is connected correctly. You don’t want your lights shorting out, flickering, or causing interrupts for your tools.

In addition to the electricity consumed by workspace lighting, you have a number of high-powered tools constantly in use. From table saws to routers, there is always a strain on your electrical system to power these tools. When setting up your workshop, it is a good idea to place the circuits on their own breaker separate from the rest of the house. This will prevent other appliances and electronics in the house from causing trips in the breaker when activated simultaneously while other tools are in use.

Another option to consider is to install a surge protector on the breaker that is being used for your workshop. The last thing you want is to have all your expensive equipment damaged by an electrical surge.

Lastly, ensure that GCFI receptacles are installed in the workshop. These outlets will shut off immediately to prevent the risk of electrical shock if a danger becomes present. These receptacles should be installed correctly for them to work properly. You will also need them placed around your workshop correctly so you do not need to constantly adjust the position of your tools.

Setting up a workshop can be complex and if not done properly, it can also be dangerous. We recommend that if you have a workshop at home or a business, that you have an expert electrician review the electrical setup and bring everything up to code for maximum safety.

If you’ve ever seen “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” you’ll know that Clark Griswold’s perception of Christmas decorating is a bit extreme.  Although that movie is comical, in reality electrical safety is no laughing matter, and an electrical fire can ruin your holidays instantly.  Here are a few holiday decorating safety tips.