People are just realizing Wi-Fi signals are blocked by six common materials – move your router now for faster internet

WEB surfers have been urged to check their house for these six common household materials which are all Wi-Fi killers.

You may not be able to remove some of these materials, but knowing where they are can help you tackle your Wi-Fi dark spots problem.

1

Wi-fi routers transmit radio waves to communicate with wireless devices.

But certain materials can block these waves, or even redirect them elsewhere, which can weaken your overall internet connection.

Building materials are the worst Wi-Fi signal blockers, followed by physical objects and radio waves from other devices, says experts at Signal Boosters, a provider of router boosters.

But remember, no one’s not saying you need to tear your house down.

Metal

Metal is the material that radio waves will have the toughest time passing through.

This is because metal is a conductor of electricity and radio waves are electromagnetic.

So metal, including that from metal furniture, doors, blinds and walls, can undermine the connectivity.

Concrete walls

Concrete is a notoriously thick building material, so it’s no surprise that Wi-Fi signals also struggle to pass through it.

This, paired with metal laths for an even more impenetrable wall.

Ceramic tiles

Commonly used on walls and floors, mastic – the material used to install ceramic tiles on plaster or drywall – is also a Wi-Fi killer.

And unsurprisingly, a mix of all these materials increases the amount of Wi-Fi interference you might be wrestling with.

Window and glass

Similarly to metal, glass also reflects the radio waves.

Low-E windows or ones covered in metallic film will interfere with your internet connection.

Mirror

Perhaps the most shocking material in your home that’s secretly messing with your internet speeds are mirrors.

Mirrors consist of a thin coat of metal on a piece of glass which causes electromagnetic interference. 

So remember: the bigger the mirror, the greater the interference.

So, what do I do about it?

Like we said before, no one’s asking you to knock your house down and rebuild.

Thankfully, there is a cheaper and more stress free option.

If you’re struggling with Wi-Fi dark spots in your home, where there is little to no internet connection, then you should consider upgrading your to a mesh broadband system.

A mesh network is a group of smaller Wi-Fi routers that act as a single network.

Mini hubs plugged in around the house talk to the main router but also bounce signals out to quieter corners of the home.

With a mesh system, there are multiple sources of connectivity around your house instead of just a single router.

Your internet service provider is likely to already offer this, so simply check their website for an upgrade.

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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk