Alright, let’s set the scene. Your Wifi is cruising along the highway all smooth and slick, and then
-bam- it hits a brick wall, literally. Now your connection’s crawling like it’s stuck in a quicksand. What’s going on? Well, it sure is not your internet provider plotting against you. But take a look around, the culprit is inside your house. Can’t see it? It’s everywhere, it could be the chic brick wall, any of your home appliances or even that snazzy mirror in the hallway could be guilty of some serious wifi signal blocking.
Don’t worry, we got your back. We’re about to spill the beans on the top 10 most common materials that love to meddle with your wifi.
Concrete walls are sturdy, reliable and… the ultimate Wifi nemesis. The dense nature of this wall is great for keeping the elements out but for getting Wifi through.. Not so much. If you live in a house with concrete walls do not be surprised if your Wifi decides to play hide and seek.
According to studies, concrete walls have the ability to reduce Wifi signals by up to 50%. So, if you end up wondering what materials can block Wifi signals the most, concrete walls take the crown.
Everyone of us has metal laying around in almost every corner of the house. Metallic frames of your furniture or kitchen appliances, it’s no friend to your Wifi. Metal acts like a giant shield that reflects and absorbs the WIfi signals instead of allowing it to pass through.
If you have your router near any metal object, be prepared to experience some serious wifi signal blocking. Metal is that guy at the party who does not like to mingle with anyone esp. The Wifi.
Who knew water can cause Wifi problems. It could be the fish tank in your living room, an indoor fountain, or the plumbing running through the walls, all these do affect the signals.
Just like oil and water, Wifi signals and water do not mix either which is why you will notice a drop in your signal strength if there is water between your router and device.
This also goes for those homes with an underfloor heating, those water-filled pipes can cause serious wifi troubles.
Brick houses or brick fireplaces give you that charming old-school vibes, but just like concrete, the dense and thick structure is also notorious for your Wifi signals. It’s great at keeping things in or out, unfortunately this goes for your wifi signals too.
Anything brick in your house needs to be steered clear from your router if you want your wifi to work.
You wouldn’t think that glass could block Wifi, right? It’s clear and thin, what harm could this cause? Unfortunately not all glass is created equal. Tinted or double glazed windows often found in modern houses are so guilty for causing your wifi signals to drop.
This type of glass contains metals and other materials that can reflect Wifi signals, hence the weak connections.
If you have such windows, you need to rethink your router’s placement.
Who doesn’t love mirrors? It never gets out of style. It’s the best thing ever to help you pick your OOTD and show you how you look before you head out. But they also are terrible for your Wifi. Mirrors can bounce the Wifi signals away from where you need them the most.
Essentially, your Wifi ends up playing a game of ping-pong, bouncing off the mirror and scattering in the wrong direction. We bet you low-key wish to physically see the Wifi signals bouncing around like a ball in your house. That would be hilarious!
So, the answer to why your Wifi drops every time you are near or in front of the mirror, now you know.
Plasters may seem harmless. It’s just a mixture of materials applied to the walls, nothing more. Have you ever heard of the term silent but deadly, yeah that’s them.. The plaster. They sure are sneaky Wifi blockers.
Some types of plaster also contain metal mesh, which is great for holding things together but awful for letting your Wifi through.
It is not as bad as concrete or brick, but it sure is a material you need to keep a lookout for when dealing with wifi signal blocking.
Wood, a benign, natural material but alas, this too is a culprit especially if it’s thick and dense. Wooden walls, floors and furniture can absorb some if not all of the wifi’s power particularly if it’s further layered with materials like insulation or plaster.
Wood isn’t the worst offender on the list but it is worth considering if you end up with weak signals around it.
An insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summers but it also keeps your Wifi from reaching its full potential. Some types of insulation contain foil or materials that can reflect Wifi signals.
If your walls are stuffed with such material, which is most likely, you will experience signal blocking in a room that’s farthest from the router. While insulation is there for your comfort, it also makes your Wifi feel like it’s stuck in a maze.
This one may catch you off guard, but microwaves are prone to interfere with your Wifi signals especially if you use the 2.4 GHz frequency. Microwaves emit radiation that can overlap with wifi signals.
If you notice your Wifi dropping out right when you’re heating up a leftover, it’s because of the microwave.
We know what you may be thinking, you asked the wrong question about what materials can block Wifi signals? After reading this blog, you will think everything in your house is a culprit. Now, don’t throw in the towel just yet, there is always a way to work things out. You now know that anything that’s dense and thick, metal and shiny, wet and has some sort of radiation is not good for the wifi signals.
Understanding all this can help you pick the best spot in your house for the router. One that is free from all the major signal blocking. You can not obviously avoid any of these materials but you can strategically place the router and maybe use Wifi extenders to help keep your signals strong and steady.
With a little trial and error, you’ll be back to streaming, gaming and surfing the web in no time! Now, that’s something to raise a glass (but maybe not a metal one) to!
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