{"id":5892,"date":"2022-10-25T09:08:47","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T09:08:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/?p=5892"},"modified":"2022-12-12T07:31:03","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T07:31:03","slug":"12-things-in-your-home-that-can-impact-your-wi-fi-signal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/blog\/12-things-in-your-home-that-can-impact-your-wi-fi-signal\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Things in Your Home That Can Impact Your Wi-Fi Signal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting fast and cheap internet should be your top priority when setting up your home internet connection. But they meet only half of your needs. You need an internet service that always does the work for you, so you\u2019re always online at the speed you signed up for.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means keeping an eye on your home internet connection and ensuring that it\u2019s just as fast wherever you are\u2014in the living room, bedroom, home office, or kitchen. Unfortunately, most of the time, you might notice \u201cdead zones\u201d or slower speeds in some parts of your home compared to others. This is due to a weak Wi-Fi signal.<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is it\u2019s an easy fix. Let\u2019s start by looking at the most common things in your home that may be blocking the Wi-Fi signal. Once you know what\u2019s interfering with your Wi-Fi, you can get it out of the way, and start enjoying your Comwave internet plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

What affects your Wi-Fi signal and Comwave internet speed?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Distance from the Router<\/span><\/h3>\n

One of the most common things that slow down your Comwave internet speed at home is your distance from the Wi-Fi router. Simply, the farther you are from the router\u2014such as if you\u2019re on a different floor or another room\u2014the Wi-Fi signal is weaker, making your internet connection slower. You can fix this by ensuring the Wi-Fi router is placed in a central location, such as in the living room where it\u2019s close to the <\/span>TV for streaming<\/span><\/a> or by your desk if you\u2019re working from home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walls, Furniture, Appliances, and More<\/span><\/h3>\n

But what if it\u2019s not just a distance issue?<\/span><\/p>\n

Other things that weaken the Wi-Fi signal include your home\u2019s building materials or those used in furniture and decor. Similarly, the Wi-Fi router could be too close to certain appliances that affect the signal. Most of all, thick walls pose a major barrier to the Wi-Fi signal from reaching different rooms.<\/span><\/p>\n

With all of these obstacles in mind, let\u2019s have a look around your home and find out how the most common sources of Wi-Fi interference can be addressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Top Things that Can Slow Down Wi-Fi at Home<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Concrete walls<\/b><\/li>\n

    As mentioned earlier, thick concrete walls are one of the biggest culprits in slowing down your Comwave internet. It\u2019s difficult for Wi-Fi signals to travel through walls and floors since concrete is one of the thickest building materials. The thicker the concrete is, the tougher it is for Wi-Fi signals to pass through\u2014and sometimes, not even at all.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  2. Metal<\/b><\/li>\n

    Similar to concrete, metal is a foundational building material. Not only is it tough, but it also conducts electricity. And since Wi-Fi uses electromagnetic radio waves, metal absorbs them, rather than allowing them to pass through.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As a result, anything made with metal, such as blinds, doors, walls, floors, and even decor can obstruct the Wi-Fi signal. Even with Wi-Fi extenders, you\u2019re likely to encounter the same problem if they\u2019re placed in the same area with metal elements. Keep this in mind when building or furnishing your home so that you can find a good location for the router.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  3. Plaster<\/b><\/li>\n

    Another common building material, plaster is used in the walls and ceilings. While plaster is not as thick as concrete and metal, it can still obstruct Wi-Fi signals. Your Comwave internet may also be further slowed down by the use of metal laths with plaster to construct interior walls.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  4. Drywall<\/b><\/li>\n

    Similar to other home construction materials, drywall can also contribute to Wi-Fi interference and slow down your Comwave internet. But here\u2019s the silver lining: out of all the materials mentioned earlier, drywall has the smallest impact on Wi-Fi signals.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  5. Ceramic tile<\/b><\/li>\n

    Tiles are commonly used on floors and walls, especially in the kitchen and washrooms. Similar to drywall, ceramic is also known to weaken Wi-Fi signals. This is further complicated by the use of mastic to apply ceramic tiles on plaster or drywall, which can increase interference.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  6. Windows and tinted glass<\/b><\/li>\n

    Since these are transparent and not nearly as thick as concrete walls, windows can still cause minor Wi-Fi interference. Of course, every house needs windows and benefits from letting natural light flow in. But did you know that Wi-Fi signals are reflected too? Low-emissivity windows, in particular, are designed with a metallic film to help with insulation, but they also block Wi-Fi signals more than clear windows.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  7. Mirrors<\/b><\/li>\n

    Similar to windows, mirrors are reflective, which can cause Wi-Fi interference. But not only that\u2014they\u2019re also built with a thin coat of metal, which increases the impact on your Wi-Fi signal. However, the effect a mirror has on your Wi-Fi varies with its size, so a small decorative mirror will have much less impact compared to a full wall mirror.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  8. Analog video senders<\/b><\/li>\n

    Wireless security cameras that transmit video feeds to a computer or TV monitor via satellite are a great investment in making your home safe. However, the satellite transmission can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal\u2014and even reach your neighbours’ homes.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  9. Home appliances<\/b><\/li>\n

    Appliances are made of metallic and electrical components, which, as discussed earlier, obstruct the Wi-Fi signal. Two of the biggest culprits are the refrigerator and the microwave.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Refrigerators cause Wi-Fi interference because they have the largest metallic components, which can block Wi-Fi signals. Meanwhile, microwave ovens tend to use the 2.4 GHz radio frequency\u2014the same one as the Wi-Fi standard. Aside from placing the router away from the kitchen, you can also switch to the 5 GHz band to avoid jamming the frequencies.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  10. Furniture<\/b><\/li>\n

    Similar to home construction materials, various pieces of furniture contribute to Wi-Fi interference. Beds, couches, tables, bookshelves filled with books, and more not only vary in size and shape, but they\u2019re also often made of metal and other construction materials.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The result is a compound effect: furniture adds to existing Wi-Fi interference caused by the walls, floors, and ceilings. To avoid further weakening the Wi-Fi signal and enjoy your fast and cheap Comwave internet, make sure that the router isn\u2019t obstructed by any furniture.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  11. Bluetooth<\/b><\/li>\n

    From speakers to smart devices and accessories, Bluetooth is one of the most common connection methods. But with all of these frequencies bouncing around, it\u2019s no surprise that they can also interfere with your Wi-Fi. That\u2019s because Bluetooth uses frequency hopping, which allows it to hop on the 2.4 GHz band that your router is on. To prevent this, turn off Bluetooth devices when not in use.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

  12. Water<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Water features are known to make homes feel more relaxed. But did you know that indoor waterfalls, fountains, and fish tanks can also interfere with the Wi-Fi signal? Water is an electrical conductor, making it absorb Wi-Fi signals. Similarly, it reflects and refracts sound waves, making it longer for signals to travel between the router and your devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Talk to a Comwave Specialist About Your Wi-Fi Issues<\/span><\/h2>\n

    As you\u2019ve seen, many things in your home can affect a Comwave internet connection and Wi-Fi signal. And while it isn\u2019t realistic to get rid of them all, there are ways to minimize the interference they cause with your Wi-Fi router.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you need help, our team of specialists is here to help you find the problem and address it. We can also recommend using Wi-Fi extenders to boost the signal across your home. The important thing to remember is, if your <\/span>fast and cheap Comwave internet<\/span><\/a> isn\u2019t doing the job so well in some parts of your house, it\u2019s a Wi-Fi issue with many minor fixes that can easily restore your ideal speed and browsing experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Is your Wi-Fi weak in some areas at home? <\/span>Talk to a Comwave specialist today<\/span><\/a>. Find out how to restore your fast and cheap internet with Comwave.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Getting fast and cheap internet should be your top priority when setting up your home internet connection. But they meet only half of your needs. You need an internet service that always does the work for you, so you\u2019re always online at the speed you signed up for. This means keeping an eye on your… Continue reading 12 Things in Your Home That Can Impact Your Wi-Fi Signal<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5900,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5892"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5892"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5892\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5910,"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5892\/revisions\/5910"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comwave.net\/residential\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}