Can a refrigerator interfere with WiFi? If you’re pondering over this question when experiencing issues with your WiFi speed and strength, especially.
This is because you’ve set your router near your refrigerator, I’ll help you figure out everything and solve your problem.
If your fridge is close enough to the router, it may interfere with the wifi connection. Refrigerators can disrupt radio frequency signals in general, regardless of how new or old they are.
First, let’s understand how Wifi devices work before going into detail about how wifi signals can be affected by your refrigerator!
How Do WiFi Devices Work?
Wi-Fi employs radio frequencies to transmit data between devices.
The wireless adapter of a computer converts data into a radio signal and transmits it with ease using an antenna.
The signal is then picked up by a wireless router, which figures out what it means. With a wired Ethernet connection, the router can also send information to the internet.
The system then works to put all of the original messages back together into a single string that your computer can understand. In this way, Wi-Fi devices work.
If you’re still wondering how a refrigerator might affect Wi-Fi, this in-depth explanation should put your mind at ease.
Can A Refrigerator Interfere With WiFi? Why & How
Do refrigerators interfere with Wi-Fi? Unfortunately, yes! Below are the ways through which your refrigerator may meddle with your Wi-Fi signal:
- Transmission of radio waves
- Electromagnetic Interference
- Structural components
- Refrigerator compressors
Note: In general, electrical appliances with water-circulating pipes are unfriendly to WiFi signals.
Because water can retain some of the energy carried by wireless waves, it can have a detrimental effect on the quality of an internet connection.
Refrigerator Interfering with Wi-Fi? – Here’s why
Let’s go through detailed coverage of how a refrigerator may interfere with your Wi-Fi.
Refrigerator Compressors
The compressor compresses and regulates the flow of coolants. The compressor converts low-pressure gas from the evaporator to high-pressure gas.
The temperature rises as the gas is compressed and the pressure rises.
When turned on and operating, compressors generate a significant magnetic field and consume a significant amount of electricity.
It is possible that this magnetic field, which has a low magnitude when compared to the frequency of a Wi-Fi signal, will cause interference with the Wi-Fi in your home.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
When connected to an energy source, your refrigerator generates power by using electrons.
An electromagnetic field of some kind is generated during the utilization of these electrons.
Electromagnetic radiation affects your router/modem through induction or electrostatic coupling, reducing Wi-Fi performance.
Tip: EMI can slow down your Wi-Fi, so it makes sense to use some kind of EMI shielding technology to make sure your router works as it should even when there's interference.
Structural Components Of The Refrigerator
Wireless signals have an impact on radio waves. Radio waves are created by a variable electromagnetic field.
Unfortunately, because metal conducts electricity and magnetism, it absorbs radio waves. The more metal a refrigerator contains, the worse the Wi-Fi signal.
If the signal has to travel directly through the refrigerator on its way from the router to the device, the signal will be significantly or completely weakened by the appliance’s metallic components.
In addition to the fact that they are typically stuffed with ice, which can act as a barrier, the motors that are found on the interior of a refrigerator have the potential to interfere with WiFi signals.
It’s always a good idea to keep WiFi broadcasting devices at least a few feet away from refrigerators.
Note: When the condenser on the refrigerator turns on, there is a momentary drop in voltage throughout the rest of the devices that are plugged into the same electrical circuit.
This could affect a wireless router, causing it to temporarily lose signal.
Potential Causes Of Wi-Fi Interference
There are a few other potential causes of Wi-Fi interference. They include:
Your Neighbors WiFi
Your router transmits wireless signals by utilizing one of several available channels – in essence, electromagnetic frequencies that a transceiver can employ.
Modern routers will attempt to automatically identify the best and least congested channel; however, this may result in you and your neighbor sharing the same channel.
If the routers are too close to each other, your connection may experience significant interference.
Note: Changing your channel is normally done through your network provider – most of them will have instructions for their routers on their websites.
Your Location
Some locations simply have better internet, and thus wi-fi, coverage than others because of how well connected they are — there can be enormous geographical variances in speed.
Your Bandwidth
Programs that consume a lot of data may disrupt your Wi-Fi.
When numerous users use a single path, more devices consume the connection’s limited bandwidth.
Therefore, each device is allocated a smaller portion of the available bandwidth. As a result, all devices may experience a slower data transfer.
Many People Connected
Have you ever wondered why your wi-fi gets worse when you have a large home party?
No, it’s not only that there may be a large number of individuals hogging/stealing it all at once.
The number of physical bodies in the vicinity can affect a signal. A University of California experiment discovered that wireless signals changed dramatically in the presence of people.
Interference From Household Appliances
A wide variety of common household appliances, such as cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens, are all potential sources of wireless interference.
This is because each of these devices transmits radio waves that are analogous to the signals that are transmitted by your network.
Radio waves that resonate with those of your Wi-Fi typically result in network interference.
Tip: The most effective method for avoiding this issue is to position your router in such a way that it is not in any way close to these or other electronic objects of a similar nature
Technical Settings
Encrypting routers is an important security measure, especially if you want to keep your customers’ data safe.
But if you have ancient or less expensive equipment, security settings may keep your wireless network from working as well as it could. This doesn’t mean you should turn them off, though.
If your company set up a network a long time ago and hasn’t updated it in a long time, the firmware may be out of date, which can slow down the performance of end-users.
How to Improve Your Home WiFi Signal
To get the most out of the internet connection at your house, there are a few things you can do. Keep the following in mind if you find yourself frequently coming across a poor signal:
Solution #1 Select A Suitable Position For Your Router
Place the router in the middle of your house, position the router’s antenna vertically, and Elevate your router away from floors
Solution #2 Update Your Router
Keep your router up to date and invest in a stronger antenna.
Solution #3 Protect Your WiFi
Protect your wireless Internet connection by encrypting it and using a password that is difficult to figure out.
Solution #4 Boost the WiFi Signal
Buy a WiFi amplifier, which is also called a WiFi extender. Using only the newest and most advanced WiFi technologies could also help boost signal strength.
Solution #5 Change WiFi Bands
Since there are fewer devices on the 5 GHz spectrum than on the 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz broadbands usually offer a much faster connection than others.
Solution #6 Reset the Router
Reset the router, even if it sounds like a cliche. This will clear its memory, which will let you install updates.
Tip: You ought to also think about the materials that the router is near.
Putting the router on a metal surface, such as a metal desk or a metal wall, will result in connectivity problems.
Read Next: How to Stop Hackers From Using My WiFi?
Wrapping Up
Can a refrigerator interfere with WiFi? Short answer, yes! We’ve looked at all the ways your refrigerator can interfere with your WiFi signal and a couple of ways you can improve the signal.
If the problem persists even after trying out all the solutions above, it would be best to contact your internet service provider.
You could be blaming the refrigerator when the issue is a service outage on the provider’s end.
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.