Maybe you bought a house with 1 (or 2) satellite dishes attached to the roof, or perhaps you had a dish installed but no longer use it.
Either way, there’s no denying that having a satellite dish that you don’t use attached to your house is less than ideal. Satellite dishes can be an absolute eyesore.
In this blog post, we will answer many of your satellite dish removal questions:
- Who is responsible for removing the dish?
- Can you safely remove a satellite dish yourself?
- How do you remove a satellite dish?
- Is there a risk of a leaky roof from removing a Satellite dish?
- How do you dispose of an old satellite dish?
- Why remove your unneeded dish?
- Are there professionals who can help?
- Recycling Satellite Dishes
Read on to discover the answers.
Who is responsible for removing the dish?
Unfortunately, getting rid of it isn’t as simple as it may seem. No satellite dish company, DirectTV, Dish, or whichever company installed the dish is responsible for removing it from your home.
The dish is considered the homeowner’s property, just like any other appliance in your home. It is up to you, the homeowner, to remove the unneeded satellite dish. But fear not, fellow homeowner! You have options.
Can you remove a satellite dish yourself?
You could try your hand at DIY satellite dish removal. This might sound daunting, but with some good old-fashioned elbow grease, a ladder, and a few household tools, nothing is stopping you from taking matters into your own hands.
However, you must be cautious when working on precarious surfaces like rooftops and steeply sloped lawns. Depending upon the dish’s location, removing it can risk damaging your property or injuring yourself.
How do you remove a satellite dish from your home?
Before you start, make you have all the tools you may need: a ladder, wrenches, pliers, wire cutters, Phillips and regular screwdrivers, an angle grinder, a crowbar, tar, or silicone caulk.
A satellite dish is composed of 3 parts: 1) the dish, 2) the mounting post or bracket, and 3) the cables connecting your dish to the inside of your home. You will need to remove all 3 parts.
Below is a summary of the steps needed to remove the dish.
- Securely plant a ladder to safely reach the satellite dish on your home’s roof or wherever it is mounted.
- Using the tools required, detach the cables from the dish.
- Detach the dish from the mounting post. That is, unscrew the bolts that are holding it in place. Be very careful when doing this, as you don’t want to drop the dish and damage your roof or other parts of your house. Once the bolts are removed, carefully lower the dish down from the roof, or from wherever it is located.
- Remove mounting bracket, including the foot plate. The foot plate is the part that is bolted to the roof. To remove it, unscrew the bolts attaching the plate to the roof.
- Using a crowbar, as gently as possible, lift the plate up and away from the roof. This will require some strength. This prying maneuverer also can be difficult to control and should be done with caution.
- To prevent leaks, fill in the bolt holes with tar or silicone and repair any damage that may have occurred to the roof during the footplate removal process.
- Remove all the satellite dish wires from the exterior of your home. Sometimes there are quite a few of those wires. Removing these will make your home look better and can make exterior home maintenance tasks easier and more straightforward.
- ALTERNATIVE to STEPS 4-6 (above): Instead of removing the footplate, cut off the mounting post/bracket right at the footplate. This leaves the footplate as the only reminder that there was once a satellite dish attached to your roof. This technique eliminates the risk of damaging the roof from prying the footplate to detach it from the roof. It also eliminates the risk of a leak via the bolt holes left by removing the footplate. This alternative is the method that Wire Free Sky employs. it is a technique that has resulted in zero roof damage and zero leaks for our clients.
Removing a satellite dish from your home can be daunting, but you can do it with a bit of effort and caution.
Is there a risk of the roof leaking after removing a Satellite dish?
As mentioned above, there is a risk of leaks, especially if the dish’s footplate is removed. However, the risk can be significantly reduced or eliminated by appropriately filling in the remaining bolt holes and repairing any roof damage caused by the satellite dish removal.
If the alternative technique of cutting off the mounting post at the footplate is employed, the risk of a leak via the bolt holes is eliminated. Of course, this assumes that whoever removes the satellite dish does not inadvertently damage the roof by dropping the dish on it or causing other roof-damaging accidents.
How do you dispose of an old satellite dish?
Recycling or creatively reusing your old satellite dish are two options for disposing of it. Heck, maybe your satellite dish could be the centerpiece of the next yard art installation or another artistic endeavor.
Of course, you could simply throw it away. However, we encourage you to recycle or upcycle your old dish. Reducing the amount of stuff dumped in landfills is integral to Wire Free Sky’s mission. Wire Free Sky recycles all the dishes and cables we remove from homes.
What are the benefits of removing a satellite dish from your home?
You might be asking yourself if removing a satellite dish from your home is worth the trouble. There are several reasons to remove it.
More attractive home
For starters, a dish is often quite unsightly and can detract from the look of your home, so getting rid of it will make your home look much better. And it isn’t only the removal of the dish that will make your home more attractive. Getting rid of all the satellite dish’s connecting wires tacked on the exterior of your house will also improve your home’s look. Removing your old satellite dish and its wires will instantly make your outdoor spaces more uncluttered and attractive.
Easier home maintenance
In addition, removing all those wires will not only make future paint jobs more straightforward, but it will also make other siding issues easier to address. Overall removing the dish and its associated wires means one less thing for you to worry about when it comes to maintaining your property.
Increase curb appeal & property value
If you’re hoping to sell your house in the future, getting rid of that ugly dish could improve its curb appeal. Satellite dishes can be pretty unsightly, so getting rid of them will make your home look much better. Additionally, removal can increase the value of your home. Satellite dishes can be a turn-off for potential buyers. Removing your satellite dish can improve the value of your home by ensuring that potential buyers aren’t turned off by its presence,
Consider taking your satellite dish down today! Your home will thank you for it. 😉
Are there professionals who can help?
If DIY doesn’t seem appealing to you, we recommend contacting a professional for help. They will have the proper equipment and experience to do the job quickly and safely.
If you live in the Seattle area, please consider engaging our company, Wire Free Sky, to remove your unneeded satellite dish or dishes. We can also remove any unnecessary telecommunications lines (e.g., phone or Internet) and TV antennas.
Please visit our service and prices page to learn more. Make a service appointment by clicking here.
Conclusion
Remember, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to remove the dish and dispose of it properly. Exercise caution if you attempt to do it yourself, and employ a professional if you’re unsure.
Ultimately, whichever avenue you choose, we hope this post gives you the confidence to eliminate those unneeded satellite dishes.