It has happened to us in one way or another, losing access to the internet or getting disconnected from the Wi-Fi. We spend hours, frustrated, trouble shooting the problem, relentlessly resetting the modem, unplugging and plugging the power back in, hoping for it to turn on again. However, instead of berating the poor customer service agent attempting to help you, it’s worth checking if your kitchen appliances are causing any issue — and it’s not about the temperature your refrigerator is running at.
While you might not normally think your oven or refrigerator would cause an issue with your internet, the materials these appliances are made of can create unexpected hurdles. After all, when we first set up the internet in our homes, we’re instructed to place it high up and close to a window. The reason being that brick walls, metals, and windows themselves can interfere with the signal. Mind you, these are just physical constraints; non-visible frequencies, such as your neighbor’s Wi-Fi, can even affect the strength of your connection.
That said, your kitchen appliances are made of metal, which conducts electricity — meaning that electrical signals, such as your Wi-Fi, can be absorbed by the metal, weakening your connection. Moreover, your microwave oven can interfere as well, since it operates at the same frequency as Wi-Fi devices at 2.4 GHz. Its presence can lower your internet speed by 50% in some cases. However, understanding the basics of how Wi-Fi operates can save you from an annoying headache.
Demystifying Wi-Fi signals
For many people, Wi-Fi is a magical device that appears complex and works well enough for most not to ask how it operates. But it’s easier to understand than what many believe. In short, Wi-Fi uses radio waves to connect devices to one another. A simple analogy is Morse code — the synchronized tapping used to send a message. Your router is performing a similar act, but is instead transferring data to be decoded. The two devices communicate with each other and provide you with your request.
However, let’s picture talking to someone, but with a pillow placed in front of them. You can still hear them, but their voice is slightly dampened. Now, as they continue to talk, you turn on the television. It’s getting harder to hear them amongst the noise. This is essentially what happens when your kitchen appliances interfere with your Wi-Fi connection. The appliances hinder communication between the two devices communicating between one another.
Overall, when placing your router, it’s best to keep it in an area that has window access and away from anything with metal or water surfaces as well as electric frequencies. Knowing this before buying a new kitchen appliance at Costco can prevent an annoying headache. While it’s possible to get Wi-Fi extenders and boosters, you can save yourself some money by first checking where the best place to put your Wi-Fi router is.
