This time of year, satellite customers in the north worry about snow. Oh yes, snow is a worry in a lot of ways. But when it comes to satellite TV, it’s a big concern. A buildup of snow on the dish can stop you from getting satellite signal. It’s easy to brush or blow the snow off, but sometimes getting to the dish can be a little treacherous. So, people look for options that might work all season to make sure that you get great reception without trouble.
The magic of WD-40
WD-40 is a pretty cool and versatile thing. It will take sticky residue off things, stop squeaks, dissolve a fine coating of rust, and people find more and more uses for it every day. And, there are some people who will tell you that a generous coating of the stuff on your dish’s reflector will keep snow off. Is this just an urban legend?
It does work… but…
I can say for certain that if you coat your dish with WD-40 it will keep snow from sticking. From several people who’ve tested it, it works very well for about a month. That’s not the perfect solution since it means you still have to find a way to reapply it every month. Still, that’s longer than other homebrew solutions like boiling water and vodka work, so that’s a plus.
However, the long-term effects of WD-40 on paint are still sort of an open question. There are plenty of web sites that claim that WD-40 is safe for most paints. On the other hand, there are a few cases you’ll find when it does harm the paint it’s been applied to. It can cause the paint to lift and bubble. This disrupts the smooth surface of the reflector and will also allow rust to form. Once your dish gets rusty, it’s going to really do a poor job of reception and should be replaced.
So I would say if you want to try this method for yourself, just know that it may not be the best option and may lead to the dish being replaced prematurely.
Here’s a better option
A dish heater is essentially a sticker that can be applied to the front or back of your dish. It warms up the dish when needed using a low-voltage connection that’s generally safe when used properly. Dish heaters only run when needed to melt ice, and when they aren’t running they use no power at all.
Solid Signal has the most popular dish heater, the Perfect Vision HotShot Universal Peel and Stick Heater Kit, available and in stock most of the time. It’s a great investment in your satellite system and it will keep reception great year round. It’s a much better option than climbing up on the roof to apply another coat of WD-40 in the middle of February.
Find out more
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