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Resolved Question

A good way to keep snow off satellite?

Nov 10, 2011 10:06AM PST

Hello. I was wondering, Is there is a good way to keep snow from accumulating on a satellite dish?

Thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

MrTechGuru93 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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A snowy satelltte dish
Nov 11, 2011 8:41PM PST

I have had satellite TV for years. To prevent snow and ice from accumulating on the dish, I spray the dish's surface with PAM. It does a very good job in keeping the the dish relatively clear. Plus it is easy to clear any snow or ice that may accumulate.

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Thanks and a question about spraying the LNB...
Nov 12, 2011 10:38AM PST

Thank you, I will be trying this. One more thing though, do I need to spray the LNB to keep snow & ice off it, or do I leave it alone?

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Spraying satellite dish with PAM
Nov 12, 2011 9:00PM PST

I have never tried spraying the LMB with PAM. I can't recall snow accumulation on it to the point of effecting reception. I may have to give it a try this winter

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Thanks!
Nov 13, 2011 6:23AM PST

Thanks for the advice! Cool

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Spraying LNB?
Nov 13, 2011 10:53AM PST
Since the LNB does not point "up" into falling snow or ice it is likely to NOT need cleaning. Also, the LNB receives a focused beam from the satellite (bounced back from the parabolic dish) so spraying it might make that signal fuzzy (imagine spraying a chemical on your glasses). ...I am no expert here but it is something to consider.

One other thing: the dish and the LNBs must maintain critical alignment to the satellite in order to get a proper signal from all the satellites. ...so be gentle!


Actually, I hope someone here will respond who has used one of those strap-on dish heaters. ...on their dish, that is Happy For those of us who, like the thread starter, have an inaccessible dish up on the roof climbing up to clean the dish in a snowstorm is just not practical.
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Answer
Easy- use a portable hand held snow/leaf blower
Nov 11, 2011 12:14AM PST

Provided it's not frozen/stuck on the parabolic dish, that's how my friends in cold climates deal with their snowy predicaments on the rooftop dish Wink.

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Answer
Use a BB Gun
Nov 11, 2011 9:08AM PST

When we used to have a Dish we would keep a small kids pump BB gun by the back door to shoot off the snow, it usually worked pretty well after you had the aim down (plus helped to keep the mice population down lol). We did not have the option of mounting it anywhere but on the second story roof due to trees and small property so this seemed the best solution. We would also use cooking spray at the start of winter and that would help for the first few snowfalls. The last option I will leave you with is there are some dish covers that are made specifically for this purpose, they will allow the signal through and keep the snow off. I have never used one so I can not attest to how well they work but it may be something to look into.

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Good suggestion
Nov 11, 2011 2:25PM PST

I was going to suggest tying the mother-in-law to the dish so her hot air would melt the snow Happy

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Answer
snow off satellite
Dec 13, 2015 12:55PM PST

We take a broom and screw it on to our paint pole handle that extends out to 10 ft. Reach up and sweep it off. Or we wire and umbrella over the top. That has worked great for us.

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shotgun
Dec 13, 2015 1:25PM PST

blank load

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Link it to Speakeasy.
Dec 13, 2015 1:38PM PST

Enough hot air there to keep a block snow free. Devil

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Heat on a dish
Dec 23, 2015 8:27AM PST

I am not sure about the Pam, but was wondering about putting heat tape all around the edge of the dish? Does anyone see a problem doing this?

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Dish cover
Oct 15, 2016 11:53AM PDT