How to Boost Your WiFi Speed: Identify and Resolve the 10 Everyday Items That Could be Slowing it Down

Whether you work from home or stream Netflix, you’ll be more than aware of how valuable a fast and reliable internet connection is.

But you might be surprised to learn that the ground under your feet is one of the many things that could be interfering with your signal.

Here are 10 surprising household items that might be slowing down your favorite live stream.

Concrete

Interestingly, concrete is said to interfere with your network service – metal is a tough material that makes it difficult for it to penetrate.

So if you’ve opted for concrete walls on your property, you may experience signal lag – very frustrating if this happens in the middle of an episode.

Metal

An equally dense material that can affect your internet speed is metal, so think twice before cluttering your property with durable metal walls.

But if this isn’t realistic, place your router as far away from the offending material as possible.

Another solution is to buy a WiFi extender.

Another metal offender is metal shutters that you might find outside your house, but this shouldn’t pose a problem unless you’re trying to access the internet in your backyard.

Plaster and drywall don’t cause as bad signal loss as metal and concrete, experts say

Plastic and drywall

Plaster and drywall add to the myriad of building materials that contribute to low WiFi power, though signal loss isn’t as bad as it is with the tougher materials above.

ceramic tiles

Like most Brits, you probably have ceramic tile in your home, but whether it’s your kitchen or bathroom floor, you risk disrupting your WiFi.

Marla Milano of the technology website High-Speed ​​Options explained that ceramic is often combined with other materials that can slow down the internet.

“Because tile is often combined with plaster or drywall, the materials are likely to increase WiFi interference,” he explained.

He added: “This is why placing your router in a high central location within your home is considered good practice.”

If you have a certain type of windows, you are more likely to have a slow connection

windows

If there’s one thing on this list that you definitely have, it’s this: Every home has windows, and if you have a certain type, you’re more likely to have a slow connection.

Milano added: This is especially the case with Low-E (low-emissivity) windows, which contain a type of metallic film to help reduce energy consumption.

The addition of the metallic film makes it even easier to absorb or interfere with WiFi signals.”

Mirrors

Similarly, mirrors also house a thin layer of metal behind their glass.

The tech expert said: ‘When you combine these two elements, it can generate a ‘decent amount of electromagnetic interference’.

“However, the extent to which the mirror will interfere with your WiFi signal depends on its size.”

The extent to which the mirror will interfere with your WiFi signal depends on its size

Water

What might be the most surprising addition to the list, however, is water.

Fish tanks “and even human bodies can weaken WiFi signals by making it difficult for signals to pass through water,” Milano said.

“This can drastically affect your signal strength and your devices’ ability to connect to WiFi effectively.”

Furniture

And if you have sturdy furniture in your home, you might be surprised to notice a less stable Internet connection.

“The more furniture you have, and the bigger and thicker it is, the more disturbance your signal will experience.”

“If your router is hidden behind furniture or too close to furniture, move it to a more open, less obstructed area,” added the High Speed ​​Options writer.

home appliances

If you place your router away from these everyday items, you may be able to bridge a weak WiFi connection.

Appliances can also be a concern as appliances like microwaves and dishwashers emit their own radio waves.

But if you place your router away from these everyday items, you may be able to bridge a weak WiFi connection.

It is important to know that it is not the end of the world if you are facing these problems in your home; with a few simple tweaks, you could find yourself with a better connection.

Has your WiFi ever been interrupted by these innocuous objects? Let us know in the comments below.