WiFi reaches further when router is kept away from 5 common household appliances

You should keep your Wi-Fi router away from certain appliances in your home if you want the signal to reach further, such as into the garden when you are enjoying the sunshine. Slow or short-reaching Wi-Fi can be seriously frustrating for homeowners. When it comes to the summer months, many Brits will need Wi-Fi in the gardens to enjoy things like music or podcasts, or even calls with loved ones.

One expert has shared their tricks for and helping it reach further, and one of their hacks is something that you may have never considered before. Wi-Fi signal and coverage can be affected by where you place your router and what objects and machines you place it beside.

According to room expert for Sam Jenkinson, placing your router beside common household appliances such as TVs, microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors and fridges can disturb or absorb the signal, meaning less coverage for you.

"When placing your Wi-Fi router, avoid positioning it near thick walls, metal surfaces or large electronics like TVs and fridges, as these can absorb or block the signal," he said. "Similarly, devices like microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors and Bluetooth gadgets can interfere with the connection because they operate on the same frequencies as many Wi-Fi signals.

"Interestingly, mirrors and fish tanks can also disrupt signal strength by reflecting and absorbing the signal. While it might be tempting to hide your router in a cupboard or behind furniture for aesthetic reasons, doing so can dramatically reduce performance. Instead, aim to place it centrally, elevated, and in the open, think of Wi-Fi like light from a lamp: the more visible and unobstructed it is, the better it works throughout your space."

Additionally, Sam said that you should consider upgrading to a more modern router if you don't get Wi-Fi in certain areas of your property, including your garden. He revealed: "Your router is the heart of your setup. If it's old or outdated, it might not be capable of delivering a strong signal to the far corners of your property, let alone the garden. Upgrading to a modern, high-spec router can dramatically improve coverage and speeds."

He added: "The first thing to consider is how far your garden room is from your main house, and how it's powered as this will determine which type of connection method is right for you. For instance, if your garden room is within a reasonable range and already picks up some Wi-Fi signal, a or mesh system can help improve it.

"Wi-Fi extenders work by rebroadcasting your router's signal to reach further, while mesh systems use multiple devices that communicate wirelessly to create a seamless wireless network that blankets your home and garden. They're both great for smaller setups or when the distance isn't too extreme.

"However, these solutions rely on having a decent existing signal to work with. If the garden room is too far out or the signal is being blocked by thick walls, you may find performance drops off."