How to Keep Snow from Piling Up in Your Satellite Dish and Blocking the Signals

Being that I live in the country, I don't have access to cable TV. I have to use a satellite dish. Most of the year it works well. When winter hits, though, the snow sometimes builds up in the dish, and, there goes my TV. Since it's located on the roof, getting the reception back isn't as easy as going outside and brushing my satellite dish off. It means getting the ladder out and climbing up on the slippery roof. This year, I finally solved the problem. Read this instructive article and find out how to keep snow from piling up in your satellite dish and blocking the signals.

I had an additional receiver installed in my house this winter. When the installer arrived on a rare, sunny day, I took the opportunity to pick his brain and solve the cold-weather problem with my satellite dish:

Spray the Satellite Dish With Rain-X or WD-40

Note: The best time to spray your dish is in the late fall before the first snow flies. If you live in an area that receives much snow fall, reapply the spray in January.

Both of these products provide a slippery coating on the metal so snow -and even ice- can't stick. According to the installer, the former works the best. It's specifically designed to repel rain, sleet and snow off window glass of vehicles.

All you need to do is- first, carefully wipe out the dish with your hand to remove leaves and other debris. Important- don't move the satellite dish or touch the LNB (Low Noise Block converter) or its support arm. If you move the dish, you can throw it out of alignment. The LNB is the part that sticks out from the dish. Then, spray a light coating of Rain-X or WD-40 on the dish and let it dry. Do not spray the LNB or its support arm, just the metal dish.

In a pinch, you can use cooking spray to keep snow from piling up in your satellite dish and blocking the signals. However, it can leave a sticky residue on the metal. It may even cause mold to form and other messy problems.