Having a good Wi-Fi connection inside your home is crucial for many of us, but did you know there are a few appliances and items you should never place near them?
Certain devices can interfere with the wireless signals and slow down your connection.
Many everyday items either emit radio frequencies or physically obstruct wireless signals, which can weaken speed and reliability across the home.
Here are seven items you should avoid placing near your Wi-Fi router to ensure you have the best connection possible.
The 7 items you should never place near your Wi-Fi router
Microwaves
William Stokes, CEO of leading workspace solutions provider Co-space, shared that microwaves can be one of the "most disruptive appliances" for impacting Wi-Fi signal.
This is because they operate on the same 2.4GHz frequency as many Wi-Fi routers, which can cause sudden signal drops while they’re in use.
Baby monitors
Similar to microwaves, baby monitors use the same frequency as the Wi-Fi router.
Juliet Moran, Technical Director at TelephoneSystems.Cloud, shared: "The majority of devices in your home likely operate on the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band.
"This frequency band typically offers longer range and better wall penetration, so it’s great for devices like baby monitors, wireless speakers, wireless cameras, and cordless phones. But despite so many household items operating on this band, it’s best to avoid placing these devices directly beside your router as it can cause significant interference.
"By placing them beside a router, it causes them to compete for the same frequency, which then leads to reduced internet speeds and an unreliable connection."
Wireless speakers
Scott Bordoni, Chief Operations Officer and tech expert at Sync, shares that wireless speakers and Bluetooth-enabled devices regularly communicate with nearby hardware.
He adds: "When clustered around a router, they can create congestion that weakens Wi-Fi performance."
Wireless cameras/smart home hubs
Similar to wireless speakers, smart cameras and smart hubs rely heavily on Wi-Fi - but too many placed close together can compete for bandwidth and disrupt your network, Scott Bordoni shares.
Cordless telephones
Similar to microwaves and baby monitors, cordless telephones often use a similar frequency to the Wi-Fi router, which can slow down performance if they are near each other.
Steve Wallage, Chief Product Officer at TalkTalk, said: "Microwaves, older cordless phones and some baby monitors often use the same wireless frequencies as Wi-Fi too, so if they’re near to your router they can cause an interference."
Fridges
Scott Bordoin says bigger appliances like fridges can block Wi-Fi signals entirely.
He explained: "Metal reflects and absorbs wireless signals, meaning routers placed nearby struggle to transmit effectively."
Aquariums
Like fridges, aquariums can cause plenty of issues for your Wi-Fi connection if placed near a router.
Darren Corney, technology expert at Insurance2Go, shared: "Fridges and aquariums are basically Wi-Fi black holes because metal and water act like barriers for your router’s signal by absorbing and deflecting radio waves."
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Where is the best place to put your Wi-Fi router?
In terms of the best place in your home to have your Wi-Fi router, William Stokes recommended a central part of the home.
He explained: "For the best results in home or at workspaces, routers should be placed in a central, elevated position, away from large appliances and other electronics.
"Small adjustments like moving a router a few feet or reducing nearby interference can often deliver a noticeable improvement without upgrading your broadband package.”
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