If your house was built before 1980 it probably has an old antenna on the roof. You might consider it an eyesore, and I get it. A lot of these old antennas aren’t in great shape after 50 years or more. You may not be using it at all, but is it worth it to try to make some money off it?
Don’t give up on free TV
Before taking an antenna off the roof, inspect it thoroughly. A lot of older antennas still work great, and even if an element or two is bent they still do fine. Those bent elements can even be bent back into place with a little time and effort. Every TV antenna made for US broadcasting will still work with the new HD channels, although newer antennas may do a better job. Still, it may be worth trying out that old antenna before sending it to the trash heap. If it does work, you’ll be able to get dozens of free channels now and in the future. Pretty much every antenna ever made will work not only with today’s channels but with anything that comes up in the future.
The proper procedure for recycling an antenna
OK, so you’ve decided to take that antenna down. Maybe you’re going to replace it with a nice new one from Solid Signal. Or, maybe you’re going to go back to satellite TV, since it’s really the best value in entertainment if you look at the big picture. Here’s what you need to know.
Don’t cause more problems than you solve
If you do decide to take it down, make sure you don’t leave any holes in the roof. This may mean leaving part of the antenna or its mount attached, just so there’s nothing removed. If necessary, use a hacksaw or bolt cutters to take the antenna off the mount. It was probably bolted on but those bolts may have rusted by now. If there’s no way to avoid leaving holes in the roof, consult with a roofer to patch that part of the roof properly. The last thing you need is to have a roof leak and have it be caused by something you did.
Decide whether to keep the wiring
If you have an antenna on the roof, it follows that you probably also have some wire in the attic. Chances are it’s that old flat type. That flat antenna wire works just as well as coaxial cable if you’re using it for over-the-air TV. All you need are some insanely cheap adapters to convert it to be used with today’s TVs. Consider keeping it, if it’s not causing you any problems. Pulling it up from the attic may disturb the insulation anyway, and the average attic is full of exposed nails and that sort of thing.
When you have the antenna down you’ll find that you have 5 pounds of antenna, and it’s mostly aluminum. That may give you a recycle value of maybe three dollars. Heavier antennas will give you more, but there’s no way you’re getting rich from salvaging antennas unless you salvage a lot of them. I wish I could say you could get a lot of new gear with that money when you shop at Solid Signal, but that’s just not a lot of money, period. On the other hand, the advice you get from Solid Signal is always free. Call us at 888-233-7563 during business hours and let us tell you about tech upgrades you might actually want. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you!
