How Long Should a Television Aerial Last?
Nothing lasts forever, and TV aerials are no exception. You won’t have to worry about buying a new TV antenna every year. However, because they are used outside the home and are exposed to all types of weather, they are bound to become damaged with time. So, how long does a TV aerial last on average?
The lifespan of a TV aerial is impacted by its quality, just as it is with other products. The aerial will endure longer than usual if it is built to last and is composed of high-quality materials. However, if the product is inexpensive, you will be disappointed to discover it failing after only a few years. The next article will teach you everything you need to know about this topic. Perhaps it will assist you in your search for more dependable aerials that do not require replacement too soon.
Cheap Aerials
If your aerial installer installed a low-cost aerial, or if you did your own DIY installation with a low-cost antenna or low-quality parts. There’s a good likelihood the aerial won’t endure very long, maybe not more than 10-20 years. Some aerials sold to the general public are unfit for purpose; others fall apart so easily that they can only be used in lofts. I recall submitting an aerial installation quote that was ultimately rejected. As I passed past the property, I noticed a brand new aerial installation that had already collapsed and been shattered. This was only a month later! I wouldn’t try to save money on aerial installations because you can wind yourself paying twice as much. For more on typical antenna installation expenses, read this blog.
The aerial/antenna has not been properly installed.
Even if you get the highest-quality aerial and antenna parts for installation, your aerial’s lifespan may be less than usual. There are a variety of complications that can arise during an installation.
Aerial was set up too high
If you want to avoid trees by mounting your aerial on a large aerial mast, make sure the brackets are appropriate for the mast height. To support a 6′ pole, a basic rule in this case is to have a bracket gap of at least 1′. If you’re installing a large high-gain aerial or a radio aerial, make sure the bracket spacing is at least a quarter of the overall mast height. Consider employing a mast with a larger diameter and thicker mast-wall thickness. Poles with a diameter of 2 inches are ideal for tall masts, and they also enable your TV aerial reach its full durability potential.
Over-tightened top U bolt
This is a very common problem. The pole would bend in and mis-shape if the installer mistakenly overtightened the top ‘U’ bolt (or ‘V’ Bolt) when putting the aerial in place. It would weaken the mast at that location, increasing the risk of it failing. When tightening U bolts, always use extreme caution when handling the top bolt. When doing this, avoid using a ratchet spanner because you can wind up overtightening the bolt.
Electrical Storms and Lightning Strikes
Electrical storms can cause a TV antenna to be damaged or stop working altogether on rare circumstances. In the event of an excessively high voltage travelling through the aerial, every component could be destroyed. If this happens, you’ll have no choice except to replace the entire TV aerial. The coaxial cable would also need to be replaced. If a bolt of lightning strikes your aerial, you’ll have to worry about more than just your aerial; numerous of your electrical equipment will be damaged as well. There is no method that the installer can employ to ensure that you will be safe from lightning strikes or electrical storms. Because a recently installed, high-quality antenna could be harmed by this condition, having a guarantee or insurance is your best bet.
There are so many different installation techniques that might shorten the lifespan of your TV aerial that if they were all covered one by one, this piece would rapidly become a textbook. Other practises include a house with loose bricks, a collapsing chimney, lashing wiring snapping (often due to age), aerial cables becoming flooded, and aerials being installed upside-down, among others.