When winter comes, the owners of satellite dishes often get worried about their appliances because of the snow and ice that may develop buildup on the dishes.
And since that build up may affect the quality of signal making it impossible for you to watch your favorite movie on a cozy winter evening, you definitely would like to figure out what can be done in order to avoid that sad scenario!
So in this article that we have prepared for you we are going to teach you folks how to keep snow and ice off your satellite dish easily and quickly.
You will also learn how to clean snow away correctly so that you don’t damage the appliance. And of course, we will share a few handy tricks that will help you to keep your satellite dish free of snowy cover longer.
How to Keep Snow And Ice Off Your Satellite Dish?
Watching a movie on a winter evening with a cup of hot chocolate or cocoa – what could be better?
But sometimes, especially if you live in an area that has plenty of snow in winter, you may experience quite another scenario: you comfort yourself in a soft armchair, you switch on the TV…but nothing happens!
You either can’t reach any channel, or the signal is so bad that it is impossible to watch the TV normally!
In the majority of cases, this happens not because of some malfunctions and not because of the broadcasting problems. Mostly it happens because your satellite dish is covered with a thick layer of snow right now!
And having snow on a satellite dish may influence the quality of the signal quite significantly! So does ice on your satellite dish too, by the way!
Definitely, you might want to learn at least a couple of methods that will allow you to keep the dish protected and you satisfied with the TV shows and movies. And luckily, we know a few of those that are easy to do and they have a proven effect.
So, if you need to protect your satellite dish from snow and ice in winter, consider choosing one of the following methods:
- Use satellite dish snow cover
- Apply cooking spray onto it
- Consider using garbage bags
- Heat tapes can also help
- Use water guns!
And now you are probably wondering how exactly each of these methods must be carried out. So below, you will find a detailed explanation.
Shield Your Satellite Dish With a Special Snow Cover
This is the most obvious way that you can take in order to prevent snow from accumulating on your satellite dish. These fabric snow covers can fit all the sizes of satellite dishes, and they are easy to purchase.
These satellite dish snow covers are made of synthetic nylon which is why they create a slippery surface that prevents snow from accumulating on the dish and makes it slide off instead.
These covers can be fitted very quickly with a drawstring, but unless you tie them tight, there have been reports that over time, the drawstring loosens, and the cover blows off. However, one great benefit of such “snow shields” is that these covers don’t affect the signal properties or reception.
Their effectiveness is questionable compared to a dish heater as the manufacturers state that they will only reduce the amount of snow build up.
Also, in some instances, if it rains, the cover will get wet. If it then freezes and snows, it’s more than likely that the snow will stick to it! So consider this nuance when buying the covers.
Related: How to Melt Snow Around Your Home?
Treat Your Satellite Dish With a Cooking Spray
We are serious! To prevent snow from accumulating on satellite dishes, people often make use of a regular cooking spray! And to tell the truth, this method might sound strange but the truth is that it is even recommended by the professional Dish installers!
In case you decide to use it, you need to apply the entire can of the cooking spray to the satellite dish. This is because the vegetable oil creates a slick layer on the top that cleans off the snow easily.
But believe us, you will be more than satisfied with how this inexpensive can of cooking spray will help get rid of the snow!
However, it is the short-term solution, so you might need to apply the can again and again.
Related: 10 Methods How to Keep RV Water Hose From Freezing?
Garbage Bags For Keeping Snow Off Your Satellite Dish
As an alternative satellite dish snow protection, regular garbage bags can become unexpectedly handy! Let’s be honest, all of us have that bag that is filled with garbage bags in the kitchen! With this being said, you need to cover the satellite dish with the big garbage can.
The garbage will keep the snow off the dish without interfering with the signals. This is primarily because the garbage cans are made with plastic that makes the snow fall off.
Well, it might not look pretty but you have got to do something for the snow, right?
The only advice that we can give you about it is that you should tie up the garbage bag properly, so the snow’s weight doesn’t pull off the bag. Otherwise, all the work of yours will be in vain!
How to Keep Snow Off a Satellite Dish Using Heat Tapes?
Let’s make it clear at once: this method might be a bit expensive. But it is a great choice for people who don’t want to experiment with DIY snow protection projects.
Moreover, you can easily get the heat tapes from the professional installers and that tape is connected to the battery with small voltage.
This combination makes sure that snow doesn’t get stuck to the satellite dish. This equipment costs around one-hundred dollars, but believe us, it’s worth it.
How to Get Snow Off a Satellite Dish On My Roof With Water Guns?
Water guns are not just super handy for having fun on a hot summer day! These toys can also serve you well for getting rid of snow on your satellite dish in winter! You just need to fill up the water gun with water (make sure to use hot water).
And then start shooting the hot water from the water gun to kick off the snow from the satellite dish! A very easy method that is also super fun!
So now you are informed about the major and the simplest ways of protecting your satellite dish from snow and ice during the winter. But what if snow has already accumulated on it and now it is preventing the signal from reaching you?
In this case, you need to learn how the dish can be cleaned, and how to do it correctly. And this is what we are going to tell you right now.
Tips For Cleaning Snow And Ice Off Your Satellite Dish Safely
It may seem that it is a super easy thing to clean your satellite dish of snow and ice.
However, you need to act very carefully in order not to damage anything about this appliance!
Of course, if the layer of snow is very thin and it is not stuck to the surface of the dish, you can try to delicately brush it off. But what shall you do in more complicated cases? Let’s try to figure this out!
The only thing that you can be absolutely sure about after reading this is that you will be able to deal with any snow or ice on your satellite dish, no matter how badly it is snowed/iced!
How to Get Ice Off Your Satellite Dish?
Ice is probably the biggest trouble since it creates a rather hard shell on everything it covers. Naturally, removing such a cover from a satellite dish will require more patience and accuracy.
Basically, gently applying warm water is the best method for removing ice from a satellite dish. We do not recommend you use ice scrapers or other similar tools to chip at the ice as you may damage the surface or knock the dish out of position!
Moving it just a bit can mean the difference between a strong signal and no signal at all.
If you can safely access the dish, apply a light stream or coating of warm water until the ice melts. An empty spray bottle usually works best for this purpose.
Avoid pouring water on your satellite dish or hosing it down with the garden hose since this method of water application can also damage the appliance.
In case it is impossible to get to the dish, the water gun method described above may be your best option. In extremely cold environments, however, spraying your dish with water can add to the problem, that is if your water gun doesn’t freeze up first. So always keep this nuance in mind!
How to Get Snow Off Your Satellite Dish?
Removing snow can usually be done manually with the use of a snow brush or a small broom. Or even with your hand! Of course, only in cases when you can easily and safely reach the appliance.
But if the dish is a bit harder to get to, try to make use of a broom or even a paint extension pole! Like this, you will be able to delicately and accurately knock the snow cover off.
Extendable snow brush can be another option of yours, by the way!
Finally, if you see that it is impossible to safely reach the dish with the help of an arm’s long pole, consider using a powerful water gun loaded with hot water. Aim directly at the dish and fire away until the snow is gone or your signal is back.
However, keep in mind that spraying water at your satellite dish comes with the risk of getting water into and possibly damaging internal components. Your satellite dish is made to shed water falling from the sky, not shooting up from below.
Cleaning Your Satellite Dish. Simple And Easy Instructions
Of course, in winter, it is essential to keep your satellite dish free of snow and ice in order to always have a good broadcasting signal. But what about the rest of the year? Is cleaning your dish a must?
Basically, cleaning your satellite dish is very recommended. Fortunately, it is similar to how you would clean your TV screen, so you will have no complications at all.
However, we would still recommend you be gentle with the appliance! Clean it only when it is absolutely necessary (like when the dish is badly dirty) and never make use of any materials or chemicals that will damage the surface!
Below you will find a few detailed tips regarding how to keep your satellite dish clean all year round with minimal effort.
- Determine the safest way to access your dish. Roofs, eaves, railings and deck edges are common locations for satellite dishes. They keep your dish out of the way, but they also make it difficult to reach. Decide on the safest way to access your satellite dish and use caution at all times!
- Brush away any loose dirt and debris. Using a soft-bristle brush, lightly clean the dish to remove any larger debris such as leaves, bird droppings or top layers of dirt and pollen. Avoid any scrubbing as it may scratch the surface!
- Wipe the dish with a wet cloth or sponge then. Wet your cloth or sponge in warm water with added mild dish soap and gently wipe the surface of the dish. Do not pour water or spray cleaning products directly on the dish! Let the water, soap and sponge do the work.
- Dry the dish with a clean cloth (however, this is optional). On the other hand, drying the dish will help keep all the dirt and pollen from sticking to it immediately after you have cleaned it.
With all these tips and recommendations, keeping your satellite dish free of snow and ice will be super easy from now on, allowing you to enjoy your favorite TV programs during the winter.
[wp-faq-schema title=”Frequently Asked Questions”]
I’ve tried both satellite dish covers and heaters. Heaters were hard to install and I had to get it power. I struggled with covers until I found Dish Shield which creates a flatter surface and has an added snow repellant which makes the snow slide right off.
Can satellite dish heaters block the signal? After we installed one, I noticed that it’s sometimes hard to reach certain channels.
As far as I know, the heaters don’t affect the quality of the signal. I can’t explain it in technical terms, but the basic thought is that they don’t. Try to contact the manufacturer of your satellite dish or their customer service. Maybe, something is wrong with the appliance.
How heavy must it snow to affect the reception of my satellite dish? I want to install one, but we often have snowy winters so I’m not sure how it will work.
From my experience, unless you have 10 cm of snow in winter, your dish will be working fine. ANyway, you can always cover it with a snow cover to protect from snow!
What can I spray on satellite dish to keep snow off? The dish is attached way too far from the ground for me to reach it and brush the snow off.
I always use WD-40. Spray your satellite dish with WD-40 and you will keep snow from accumulating and causing loss of signal. This is what I do every winter and it works.
How do I keep snow from building up on my satellite dish? Maybe you guys know any helpful tips?
Well, try to cover your dish with a special snow cover. It’s the easiest way to keep it protected from snow. AS an option, you could use a heat tape. I know folks use cooking spray to keep snow off their satellite dishes, but since I never tried this method, I can’t say anything about it.
Can you spray wd-40 on a satellite dish? Is it safe?
Yous, you can spray your satellite dish with WD-40. It will not only cause no harm, it will also prevent snow from accuulating on the dish. As a result, the signal will not be disturbed.
Can I spray de-icer on my satellite dish to keep it ice-free? I know people usually opt for WD-40 or even a cooking spray, but those are better for snow removal, I guess.
Hi! I’m retty sure you can apply de-icer to the dish. The liquid is designed for dealing with ice and protecting the surface from its further accumulation, so your dish will be protected from both snow and ice.
Hi! I need your advice. I heard that using wd-40 on satellite dish helps to keep snow away. But how safe this chemical for the dish itself? Is it possible that it can damage it?
Hello! To be honest, I’m not a pro at these things, but I have been using WD-40 on my dish each winter for a couple of years, and I still don’t see any damage to the dish surface. And it’s still working well!
Does anyone know how to make a satellite dish cover yourself? I need one but all nearbys tores don’t sell it for some reason. And I have no time to wait for weeks until it appears for sale again.
Hey there! Well, the only method I know (and I used it myself a couple of time before buying the normal dish cover) is to wrap your dish with trash bags. Just wrap it tightly enough to ensure snow doesn’t get through and attach the bags firmly with the tape. It should work as a temporary measure, but I’d not rely on it as a long-term solution!
I’m thinking of installing heat tape to my satellite dish to keep snow off it, but here’s the question. Is using heat tape for removing snow from a satellite dish worth it?