Keeping snow off dish

[glowrdr]

I've read up about this in the past, but haven't really followed up in it for a couple of years. How do you guys keep the snow off your dishes? I had to climb up the ladder the other day to clear mine already. It's usually 2-3 times a year that I have to do that.

I know there was some talk about black dishes for a while, but I believe that was a short lived test and they never really took off. I've also heard of people waxing their dishes. I wish I could remember, but someone posted about some new space age polymer lubricant that came in a spray can that wasn't out yet (but should be by now).

I've also been thinking of doing the heated pad/cable and running a cord down the back of my siding and just plugging it in the few times I need it.

Anyone have any good suggestions for me, or can you point me in the right direction for a vendor/website that I could check out some products? Thanks in advance

 

[navychop]

Black dishes are here, but I'm not sure they help much.

Super soaker?

 

[dont24]

That's what I use, when wet snow starts sticking to my dish. Super soaker with hot water.

 

[edisonprime]

I've heard of satellite dish covers which may work. Just Google search "satellite dish cover" and there are many online stores that provide them. I hope this would be your and my answer. I ordered one from someone, but they are backed up and it's taking a while.

 

[bhelms]

I'm fortunate this has never really been a problem for me. I have seen a fair amount of snow on the lower parts of my 2 small dishes on certain occasions, especially when a snow/ice mix was wind-driven onto the dish, but I still had reception every time. I considered the heat tape trick the OP mentioned, attaching one short tape to the back of each dish in a circular pattern with adhesive, then plugging-in those tapes as needed. That should work in the moderate temps where I get the crusty accumulation; in colder temps. the snow would be light and probably would not accumulate. But I never needed to act on that idea.

OP - Do you get enough accumulation that your reception is impacted?

The Super Soaker is a good idea with one caveat - All that water has to go somewhere and it will probably freeze. I've been worried that since my dishes are near the edge of my roof (2 different locations) that some of the water would back-up behind/on top of frozen stuff that's already on the roof and could creep up under the shingles from there, creating a classic "ice dam" leak...

 

[gjh3260]

I have a snow rake so I put a towel on the end of it to brush off the dish. The dish is low enough on my house so I can reach it. Over 14 inches of heavy wet snow this past Sunday so it stuck to the dish and reception went out once.

 

[glowrdr]

Yeah, I lost signal twice on Sunday this week and had to grab out the ladder. My dish is accessible with a ladder (on 2nd story roof, thankfully not on my 3rd level) - but the killer is walking through knee deep snow into the back yard to get to the dish. Searching "Snow" here didn't return much for useful info - but I googled a couple of things and it pointed me in the right direction. Just to sum it up here for people wondering (these are others opinions, not mine, and certainly not fact)

Sounds like Pam/WD-40 and other sprays work to a certain degree, but the general concensus says that it will leave a sticky residue on your dish after time
Dish covers (plastic bags) work somewhat as well, but it sounds like the snow just accumulates on the cover, and you have the same problem
Dish heaters are the only "real" solution, but at $75-100 - I'm not gonna run out and buy one today. That would certainly be a spring project if I decide it is needed.

I really do like the super soaker idea though. I think that will be my first venture - 'tis the season to be buying toys right? (sure hope they sell them in the wintertime.. lol). The only tricky part might be getting at the front of the dish. Mine isn't facing outward of the house, I really only have sight of about 1/3 of the dish. Still might be worth a try though.

Hope this helps someone. I know this same thread probably gets created every year

 

[lazydogmot]

This worked for me.

 

[Joe Satellite Fan]

In response to does the snow affect the signal: I lose my signal completely several times a year. As little as 4 inches of snow if it's real wet and gooey. If I don't get it off while it's still relatively "not frozen", I can be without signal for long periods of time. I have the black dish now, but just got it when we upgraded to the Hopper (March) so can't answer as to that.

 

[Barry Erick]

Dish covers did not work for me. Snow would still collect in little pockets in the cover, which the weight of would form larger detents in the flexible cover and it would be worse than no cover. Last year, when my roof was done and the dish came down, i mounted it on one leg of my carport and the one time it snowed, it came off with a glove. I will try pam spray when it is in the 40's tomorrow.

 

[jgurley]

Best solution I've heard of is placing a flood light just behind the dish. When snow is forecast turn it on and will keep the dish above freezing. Seems reasonable to me if you live in Minnesota or Flagstaff.

 

[Dirtydan]

I have tried many types of spray, most accumulate and attract dirt and dust over time, a spray without silicone will work best. For myself, I attach a piece of acrylic plastic around the top of dish, about a foot wide and extending halfway around the dish, also I put a piece on top of the lnb and have it extend a couple inches out over the front of lnb. This solution works fine for me in most snow conditions, with the exception of blowing snow, which I rarely have where I live.
Dan

 

[vurbano]

Pam and a broom

 

[stardust3]

Just send your kids out to brush it off, make that part of their chores.

 

[navychop]

Just send your kids out to brush it off, make that part of their chores.

Oh, I MORE than just "like" this one!

 

[Dirtydan]

My kids are over 50 yrs. old, don't live here any longer, now what do I do?
Dan

 

[stardust3]

My kids are over 50 yrs. old, don't live here any longer, now what do I do?
Dan

Grand kids?

 

[Dirtydan]

I have a bunch of those, and even more great grandkids, they all live in town, rarely come up here, unless they need something. lol
Dan

 

[navychop]

Might be time to relocate the dish to a pole, or take up reading!

 

[handymantoo]

I use a heater and it works very well on the dish. My problem is the LNB's. I spray with Pam but wind driven wet snow is a problem, which ususally drops off the next day with sun even if below freezing.