Let’s say this happens to you. A bird frequents your dish, and when he does, he leaves a little bit behind. Over time, this builds up and you begin to think that it’s affecting your signal strength. At any rate, it’s unsightly and the folks in your home are beginning to complain. That’s always something to be taken seriously.
Sure, you could replace the whole dish but that seems a bit extreme. So how do you clean it?
Before you start
The first thing to do if you find yourself in this situation is to mark the position of all alignment screws on the dish. If you accidentally knock it around, you’re going to want to put it back. If you look at the back of the dish, you’ll see all the adjustment screws and bolts. Use a pencil to make precise marks that will help you get that dish back into place if it’s knocked off its aim. Just remember that a difference of 1/32″ could mean you’re aiming hundreds of miles off target.
The best way to clean a dish
When you’re cleaning, try to avoid touching the LNB (the front part) at all, not with water and not with chemicals. This is the most sensitive part of the dish and can be easily damaged. If that part doesn’t look right, if it’s gotten something on it, it’s probably best to replace it. Luckily you can get the one you need from Solid Signal.
Now, if you must use some sort of cleaner, use something that promises to dissolve, um, “animal matter” without damaging metal. Heavy duty windshield cleaner is a good choice, and some of that green kitchen cleaner is also pretty good. Pour or spray the cleaner on the dish gently and let things soak for a while. Then, use a bucket of water or a hose with the gentlest possible pressure to rinse the dish. I don’t recommend putting your thumb on the hose to increase the pressure. If the stuff doesn’t come out, just spray and let it soak again. You don’t want to move the reflector from the force of the water. It might take a few tries but hopefully all of the “stuff” will come off.
If you need to scrub, use a soft sponge recommended for non-stick surfaces. Don’t ever use anything abrasive and certainly not steel wool. You’ll damage the coating on the dish and then you have to repaint it. Really, it’s best not to touch the dish at all, and for the most part you’re likely to regret it if you do. The last thing you want is an aiming problem.
That’s all it takes
That should be all it takes to clean your dish. Just be careful and cleaning the dish should be easy. However, if you decide the dish isn’t worth saving, replace it with a new one from Solid Signal. If you’re not good at aiming dishes, no problem! We can help you find a qualified installer in your area or send DIRECTV or DISH’s installation team straight to you! If you need hand-holding or help, call us at 888-233-7563. We have qualified staff on site who are there to help. Certified satellite technicians are here to help you through the process. Just call us during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
