Your WiFi router is working overtime to keep your devices connected, but there’s a good chance you’ve placed it near something that’s actively sabotaging your internet speed. Most people have no idea that everyday household items can wreak havoc on wireless signals, turning your high-speed internet into a frustrating crawl. From kitchen appliances to decorative objects, certain things act like kryptonite to your WiFi connection. Understanding what interferes with your router can save you from endless buffering and dropped video calls. The solution might be as simple as moving a few things around your home.
Fish tanks and large water containers block signals
That beautiful aquarium in your living room might be the reason your streaming keeps buffering. Water is surprisingly effective at absorbing radio frequencies, which means any large container filled with water creates a dead zone for your WiFi signal. Your router sends out signals that need to travel through air to reach your devices, but when those signals hit water, they get absorbed rather than passing through. This doesn’t just apply to fish tanks, but any substantial water containers including large vases, water coolers, or decorative fountains.
The problem gets worse during rainy weather when moisture in the air can affect signals outside your home too. If you can’t move your aquarium, at least make sure your router isn’t positioned directly next to it or behind it. Consider the path your WiFi signal needs to travel to reach your most-used devices and keep water out of that pathway. A simple rearrangement could mean the difference between crystal-clear video calls and constantly frozen screens. The same principle applies to bathrooms, so avoid placing routers near shower areas or in rooms with high humidity levels.
Mirrors and metal objects deflect wireless signals
That decorative mirror you hung near your router might look great, but it’s bouncing your WiFi signals in all the wrong directions. Mirrors and metal objects act like deflector shields, causing signals to bounce off their surfaces instead of passing through to your devices. This creates signal dead zones in your home where your phone or laptop just can’t seem to connect, even when you’re standing relatively close to the router. Metal filing cabinets, large mirrors, metal shelving units, and even metallic blinds can all contribute to this problem.
The reflection effect is particularly problematic because it doesn’t just block signals in one direction—it scatters them throughout your space unpredictably. You might find that moving just a few feet in any direction dramatically changes your connection quality. Metal building materials in walls, like steel studs or metal mesh, can create similar issues throughout your entire home. If you’ve noticed your WiFi works great in some rooms but terribly in others despite similar distances from the router, metal interference is likely the culprit. Try repositioning your router away from mirrors and metal furniture, ideally in an open space where signals can travel freely.
Microwave ovens create temporary signal interference
Ever notice your internet cuts out every time someone heats up leftovers? That’s not a coincidence. Microwave ovens operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency as many WiFi routers, and they emit small amounts of radiation that can temporarily disrupt your wireless connection. When your microwave is running, it essentially broadcasts noise on the same channel your router is trying to use. This interference can cause dropped connections, slow speeds, and frustrating lag during the few minutes your microwave is heating food.
The good news is this interference only happens while the microwave is actively running, so it’s a temporary problem. However, if your router is positioned close to your microwave in the kitchen, the effect is amplified. The simplest solution is to keep your router as far away from the microwave as possible, ideally in a different room entirely. If you frequently experience connection issues and your router lives in the kitchen, this might be your main problem. Some newer routers operate on 5 GHz frequency, which doesn’t conflict with microwaves, so upgrading your equipment could also solve this issue without requiring you to rearrange your home.
Large furniture and cabinets create physical barriers
Tucking your router behind the couch or inside a cabinet might keep it out of sight, but it’s killing your internet speed. WiFi signals use relatively short radio waves that lose strength quickly when they encounter physical barriers. Large pieces of furniture, bookcases, entertainment centers, and storage cabinets all absorb and block wireless signals. Your router needs a clear path to broadcast effectively, and hiding it away behind or inside furniture creates multiple obstacles for signals to penetrate before reaching your devices.
Many people make the mistake of placing their router on the floor behind a TV stand or inside a closed cabinet because they think it looks messy. This essentially puts your WiFi signal in a box, forcing it to fight through wood, fabric, and other materials before it can even start traveling to your devices. Instead, position your router on a shelf or table where it stands upright and has open space around it. The higher placement also helps signals travel down and outward more effectively throughout your home. If you absolutely must keep it near large furniture, at least ensure the front of the router faces out into the open room rather than toward a wall or cabinet back.
Cordless phones compete for the same frequency
If you still have a cordless landline phone at home, it could be battling your router for wireless real estate. Many cordless phones operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is the same frequency older WiFi routers use. When both devices are trying to use the same frequency simultaneously, they create interference that slows down your internet and can even cause static or connection drops on your phone calls. This problem is especially common in homes where the cordless phone base station sits right next to the router.
The interference becomes more noticeable when you’re actually using the cordless phone, as the active transmission competes directly with your router’s signals. If you’ve noticed your WiFi slows to a crawl whenever someone makes a phone call, this is almost certainly the issue. The easiest fix is to simply move the phone base station to a different location, preferably in another room entirely. Alternatively, consider upgrading to a cordless phone that operates on a different frequency, such as 5.8 GHz or 1.9 GHz DECT phones, which won’t interfere with your WiFi at all. Many people don’t even realize this connection exists between their phone and internet problems.
Baby monitors and Bluetooth devices cause signal conflicts
That baby monitor keeping watch over your little one might be interfering with your internet connection more than you realize. Baby monitors, wireless speakers, Bluetooth headphones, and similar devices all emit radio frequencies that can clash with your WiFi router’s signals. While Bluetooth technically operates on a slightly different part of the 2.4 GHz spectrum, having multiple wireless devices clustered together creates a congested environment where signals interfere with each other. The more devices competing for airspace near your router, the slower and less reliable your connection becomes.
Proximity matters significantly with these interference issues—the closer these devices are to your router, the worse the problem becomes. If your wireless speaker system sits on the same shelf as your router, you’re asking for trouble. The solution doesn’t mean you have to stop using these convenient devices; you just need to spread them out around your home rather than clustering everything in one spot. Keep Bluetooth devices and baby monitors at least several feet away from your router when possible. This gives each device enough space to operate without stepping on each other’s signals, improving both your WiFi performance and the reliability of your other wireless gadgets.
Concrete and brick walls severely limit signal reach
The construction materials in your home play a huge role in how well your WiFi signal travels from room to room. Concrete walls, brick structures, and metal studs are particularly brutal on wireless signals, often reducing signal strength by more than half. If you live in an older home with thick plaster walls or a modern building with concrete construction, you’ve probably noticed that your WiFi doesn’t reach as far as it should. These dense materials absorb and block radio waves much more effectively than standard drywall, creating natural barriers that WiFi signals struggle to penetrate.
This is why placing your router in a basement corner or behind concrete walls is such a common mistake. The signals simply can’t punch through those materials effectively to reach the rest of your home. If you’re dealing with concrete or brick walls, strategic router placement becomes even more critical. Try to position your router in a central location that minimizes the number of thick walls signals must pass through to reach your most-used areas. Glass can also be problematic, especially the energy-efficient double-paned variety, so avoid placing routers directly next to large windows. Consider your home’s construction materials when choosing where to set up your wireless network for the best coverage.
Televisions and electronic devices emit signal interference
Your entertainment center seems like a logical spot for your router, but all those electronic devices clustered together create an interference nightmare. Televisions, gaming consoles, cable boxes, and sound systems all emit electromagnetic frequencies that can disrupt your WiFi signals. Even fluorescent lights and certain LED bulbs can cause interference, particularly older models that don’t include proper shielding. The problem compounds when multiple electronics are stacked together, as each device contributes its own electromagnetic noise to the environment surrounding your router.
Many people stack their router on top of their cable modem, which sits on top of their DVR, all crammed behind their TV—creating a perfect storm of interference. While your router does need to connect to your modem, it doesn’t need to be surrounded by other electronics. Give your router some breathing room by placing it away from other powered devices when possible. If you must keep it near your entertainment system, at least ensure it has several inches of clearance on all sides and isn’t boxed in by other equipment. This separation helps reduce electromagnetic interference and also improves airflow, which keeps your router from overheating and throttling performance.
Corner placement limits signal distribution throughout your home
Placing your router in a far corner of your house might seem convenient if that’s where your cable connection enters, but it’s terrible for WiFi coverage. Routers broadcast signals outward in all directions, so positioning yours in a corner means roughly half of your signal strength is being wasted broadcasting into your yard or your neighbor’s house rather than covering your own living space. The farther devices are from the router, the weaker their connection becomes, so corner placement guarantees that most of your home is receiving a weakened signal.
Ideally, your router should be located as close to the center of your home as possible, whether that’s in a hallway, central room, or even on a staircase landing. This central positioning allows signals to radiate outward evenly in all directions, providing more balanced coverage throughout your space. If your internet connection enters your home in a corner and you can’t easily relocate it, consider using a long ethernet cable to move your router to a more central location. The small investment in a cable can make a dramatic difference in your WiFi performance throughout your entire home. Think of your router like a light bulb—you wouldn’t put all your lights in one corner and expect your whole house to be well-lit.
Getting better WiFi doesn’t always require upgrading your internet plan or buying expensive new equipment. Sometimes the solution is as simple as looking around your router and moving a few everyday items that are quietly sabotaging your connection. Take a few minutes to check your current setup against this list and make adjustments where needed. Your streaming videos, video calls, and online gaming sessions will thank you for it, and you might be surprised how much faster everything feels with just a bit of thoughtful rearrangement.
