Fluorescent starter change in Exeter
Professional fluorescent starter change services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
15-20 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Fluorescent light flickering or taking ages to come on? Usually a failed starter. New one fitted in minutes - instant reliable light again.
Stop That Annoying Flicker
Your garage/workshop/kitchen fluorescent light has been flickering for weeks. Or it takes thirty seconds of stuttering before it finally decides to come on. Or it's just given up entirely.
That'll be the starter. They fail. It's what they do.
£60 and twenty minutes - problem solved, instant light again.
💡 Pro tip: If one end of your fluorescent tube glows orange but the middle stays dark, that's classic starter failure. The tube is probably fine.
Signs Your Starter Has Failed
| ✅ Working Starter | ❌ Failed Starter |
|---|---|
| Light comes on instantly | Takes 20-30 seconds of flickering |
| Consistent bright light | Flickers, dims, inconsistent |
| Click once, light on | Repeated clicking, may not start |
| Tube lights fully | Ends glow, middle stays dark |
What's Involved
🔧 Quick Replacement
- Identify starter type (different fittings use different starters)
- Power off safely
- Remove failed starter (usually twists out)
- Fit correct replacement
- Test - instant light
💡 Common Locations
- Garage lights
- Workshop fittings
- Kitchen under-cabinet lights
- Bathroom mirror lights
- Utility room fittings
Pricing
| Service | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single starter replacement | 15-20 mins | £60 |
| Multiple fittings | 20-30 mins | £60 |
£60 minimum. Starter cost included - they're only a couple of quid.
Why Fix It Properly?
⚠️ Annoying - that flickering drives you mental
⚠️ Unsafe - flickering light in garage/workshop is a hazard
⚠️ Gets worse - won't magically fix itself, only gets more unreliable
✅ Quick fix - 20 minutes and it's working perfectly again
Why Choose Us for Fluorescent starter change in Exeter?
Light works instantly again
No more flickering or delays
Right starter fitted first time
Quick fix under 20 minutes
What to Expect
Step 1: Identify The Problem
I'll check it's definitely the starter (not the tube or ballast). Usually obvious from the symptoms.
Step 2: Fit New Starter
Power off, old starter out, new one in. Different fittings use different starters - I'll fit the right one.
Step 3: Test & Check
Power back on, flick the switch - instant light, no flicker. Job sorted.
🔧 DIY Tips
This is actually a pretty simple DIY job if you're comfortable working safely:
🔧 What you'll need
- Replacement starter (need to know which type)
- Possibly stepladder to access fitting
- Maybe screwdriver to remove cover
🔍 Finding the right starter
- Turn light off
- Remove cover if there is one
- Find the starter - small cylinder usually at one end
- Note the type (FS-U, FS-2, etc. - printed on it)
- Buy exact replacement from hardware shop
🛠️ Replacing it
- IMPORTANT: Turn off power at switch (ideally isolate circuit)
- Remove cover/diffuser to access fitting
- Locate starter - usually clips or twists into a socket
- Push in slightly and twist anti-clockwise to remove
- Push new starter in and twist clockwise to lock
- Replace cover
- Turn power back on and test
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Working live (turn the bloody power off!)
- Buying wrong type of starter
- Thinking it's the tube when it's actually the starter
- Trying to reuse an old starter "just to see"
💡 Pro trick: Buy two starters when you replace one - keep the spare. When it fails again in a few years, you've already got the replacement and don't need to go hunting for the right type.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
Multiple fluorescent fittings? If you've got several and one starter's failed, the others might not be far behind. Worth checking them all while I'm there.
Really old fitting? Some ancient fluorescent fittings are more trouble than they're worth. If yours keeps failing, might be time to swap the whole fitting for a modern LED alternative - much more reliable and cheaper to run.
Still not working after starter change? Then it's probably the tube that's failed. I'll check and replace if needed.
Thinking of upgrading? Modern LED equivalents are brilliant - no starters to fail, instant light, much more efficient. If your fluorescent fitting is old and troublesome, worth considering. I can advise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if it's the starter that's failed?
Classic signs: light takes ages to come on, flickers repeatedly before starting, or doesn't come on at all. Sometimes the ends of the tube glow but the middle stays dark. All point to a knackered starter.
Can't I just replace the whole tube instead?
You could, but if the starter's failed the new tube won't work either. Starters are cheap and fail more often than tubes. Worth trying the starter first - if that doesn't sort it, then you need a new tube.
What's a fluorescent starter anyway?
It's the little cylindrical thing inside the fitting that kickstarts the tube. Gives it the initial surge of power to get the gas glowing. They wear out over time - it's a consumable part, designed to be replaced.
How long does a new starter last?
Depends on use, but typically several years. They fail when they fail - usually no warning, just one day your light starts playing up.
Can you check if it's the tube or the starter?
Yes - I'll look at the symptoms and test to work out what's failed. Might be starter, might be tube, might be the ballast (less common). I'll fix whatever's actually wrong.
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