As Christmas steadily approaches, your household internet will most likely be taking a hammering.
As families receive new broadband-sucking gadgets as gifts - like smart speakers, games consoles and laptops - it'll be one of the toughest periods for Wi-Fi, and having a poor connection will no doubt cause frustration.
Ahead of December 25, Virgin Media has issued a fresh warning in the form of an email, highlighting where you shouldn't install your router - including some handy hacks to ensure that your speeds don't stutter.
Read more: Millions of BT, Virgin and Sky users affected by broadband shake up next week
The Daily Express reports that the latest advice from the popular Internet Service Provider (ISP) states that the worst place to set-up shop for your router is the kitchen, as the signal to and from it can be interfered with due to the vast amount of appliances which clod up the room.
The worst of which comes in the form of the humble microwave, which can bring broadband to a complete and utter halt when in use. Explaining more, an expert from Virgin, added: "It’s not just electronics that interfere with your WiFi signal: metal can also wreak havoc with your connection.
"Kitchens are often home to heavy-duty metal appliances (think ovens, fridges and washing machines), as well as signal-emitting electronics like microwaves, making them a particularly inhospitable environment for your router."
If your flashing box is placed nearby an oven, it's a great idea to find a new home for it should you want to stream music and movies without interruption. And while finding the right room can have a huge impact on internet speeds alone, there are also a number of other things you can do to boost your Wi-Fi.
Virgin also revealed that it's best to keep your router well clear of other objects, and if possible, located in the heart of the home. That will ensure that each room of the house will receive decent coverage, and should remove any unwanted dead spots.
Other appliances to avoid are fish tanks and mirrors, which also can cause chaos with signals.
The final thing to be vigilant of is your Christmas Tree. Although it may be a sight to behold with its dazzling decorations and luscious lights, Wi-Fi is its worst enemy.
Virgin, added: "Whether you’re going for a real tree this year or a pretend one, we bet there’s going to be twinkling lights all over it. But did you know that fairy lights can actually obscure your router’s wireless signals?
"Yep, if your router ends up stuffed behind the tree, you’ll likely see a reduction in your WiFi speeds."
Top 5 Wi-Fi tips
• Don't place your router in a cupboard or behind the TV as this can block the signal.
• Don't switch your router off overnight as it won't get vital updates to keep things up to speed.
• Switch your router off once a month then reboot it as this will help clear any issues.
• Check your speed using services such as Ookla. If it's not what you are paying for call your ISP.
• Don't lie the router on its side. Keep things upright if you want the best speeds.
Read next:
- Calls are growing for DWP to halt Covid Universal Credit clawback
- 41 percent of kids in key worker families in North East living in poverty
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Kemp brands right to buy scheme 'evil'
New rules mean 300,000 households will miss out on energy discount this winter
DWP: Why you might not have received your Cost of Living payment and what to do
