If your TV antenna is good quality and was installed by a professional, you can expect it to last between 10 and 20 years without needing repair or replacement. This can vary based on your geographic location, weather conditions, and antenna location.
TV antennas should be replaced if it’s been bent or physically damaged. It is possible that these can still be repaired. However, the repair won’t be as superior as a repair on a non-damaged antenna. Since repairing an antenna is typically less expensive than replacing it by at least $100, it’s worth trying to save your existing one if possible.
Before investing in a TV antenna repair, there are a few steps you can take to help boost your signal quality. Removing obstacles like tree branches can help improve your signal strength. Along the same line, moving an indoor antenna away from obstacles can also help. These should be near a window, as high as possible. If these steps don’t work, speak with a TV antenna technician about a signal amplifier to help boost your signal even further.
The cost to repair your TV antenna is around $200 for the average homeowner. However, charges could be as low as $60 or as high as $450. Factors such as multidirectional or unidirectional, indoor or outdoor, and amplified or non-amplified all play an essential role in determining the cost of your repair. For example, outdoor antennas cost more on average to repair than indoor ones, much like amplified antennas cost more to repair than unamplified ones.
Before your TV antenna stops working, there are a few ways to tell it’s starting to break. Some common signs that your antenna needs repair include:
A repetitive “no signal” issue
A redundant “searching” issue
Increased signal issues during a cloudy or rainy day
A sudden drop in signal strength, regardless of the weather
If you’re experiencing these problems, you’ll want to ensure that your cables are still in good shape and have not deteriorated. In addition, check to make sure that your cables are firmly in place at the wall outlet. Finally, check the position of your antenna to ensure there are no obstructions in its path. If you’ve checked your antenna thoroughly and are still having these problems, a repair is most likely needed by an antenna technician.