When we have extreme heat, it is quite normal to find it affects your wireless signal. In the summertime for example, many people will notice a decrease in their WiFi speed and range. This comes down mainly to the way that WiFi signal works. As the signal travels through the air it is susceptible to being heated by the sun’s rays. Therefore, if there are more heatwaves in the area, it can have an impact on your router’s ability to both transmit and receive data at the speeds you are used to.
Heat can also impact your WiFi router components making them hotter than usual which will lead to reduced performance and may make it difficult to establish a secure internet connection.
As we are surrounded by technology and the internet in today’s modern landscape, securing a reliable internet connection is important, especially for people who now rely on the internet for work and working from home. A key element to keeping your router and modem running at its best is to keep your equipment cool. Even something as simple as running your air conditioner or using a fan to circulate the air can affect the device’s temperature and help it perform better.
Businesses will often have a server room, depending on the size and amount of network equipment they need to function. Server rooms will often be air-conditioned, and the equipment stored in a well-ventilated cabinet in order to keep it at the optimal temperature.
Monitoring Wi-Fi Router Heat
If you are lucky enough to live somewhere that has continuously higher temperatures, it’s important that you keep an eye on your router’s temperature and ensure it doesn’t exceed the manufacturer’s suggested safe operating temperature. If it does, you are likely to experience some connectivity problems, slower speeds and you may find you have dropped connections. Additionally, since routers generate heat during operation, placing them in a cool location can help extend their lifespan.
How to Keep your Router Cool
Issues with your WiFi connection could very well be caused by an overheating router. As routers generate their own heat while in use, added excessive heat may very well lead to malfunctions and in some cases can cause permanent damage.
If you are aware of the impact that heat can have on your WiFi router, you can take appropriate measures to keep your equipment cool therefore improving your overall connectivity and the life of your equipment.
Most routers on the market will be designed to work with a certain temperature range which you will be able to find out with the manual or by contacting the manufacturer. If the temperature range exceeds this range for a prolonged period, you may find yourself having to repair or replace your equipment more often than necessary.
To maintain your Wi-Fi router’s temperature, consider these steps:
- Avoid placing it behind furniture and away from direct sunlight. You can place the router on shelves or stands but ensure these stands do not block the vents on the bottom or sides to allow airflow. Avoid enclosing the router in a cabinet which isn’t designed for this purpose, as it may lead to overheating. This will enhance the ventilation and cooling of internal components, potentially prolonging the system’s lifespan and saving you money in the long run if properly cared for.
- Consider using a WiFi router cooler if you live in a constantly warmer climate, there are several products available on the market that can assist in keeping your router cool.
- Try to keep your router away from other heat-generating electronics such as stereos, televisions, and microwaves, as they can cause the router to run hotter and potentially damage it.
- Avoid placing your router near water or moisture sources, as humidity and water can lead to corrosion and short circuits in the router’s metal components.
- Ensure the vent holes on your router, responsible for expelling heat, are clean and unobstructed. Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to clean them, allowing for better airflow.
- Consider using timers or scheduling features available in some routers. In doing so, this will allow you to turn on the router slightly before you arrive home or to set specific times to have your WiFi working, especially if you know you won’t be using the internet during certain hours.
Effects of Overheating
Slower Performance
When a wifi router gets hot, it can lead to significant slowdowns in internet speeds. This can result in frustratingly slow loading times for websites, online videos buffering frequently, and overall poor browsing experience.
Frequent Disconnections
Overheating can cause the router to disconnect devices more frequently than usual. This can lead to interruptions in online activities, such as online gaming sessions being disrupted or video calls dropping unexpectedly.
Unstable Connections
An overheated router may cause intermittent and unstable Wi-Fi connections. This means that even when connected, the signal might fluctuate, leading to inconsistency in internet performance.
Network Outages
In extreme cases, an overheated router might fail completely, leading to network outages and rendering the internet inaccessible for all connected devices.
Reduced Lifespan
Continuous exposure to high temperatures can reduce the lifespan of the router’s components. It might lead to premature failure of the device, necessitating costly replacements sooner than expected.
Potential Fire Hazard
In very extreme cases, your router can become a fire hazard if it reaches critically high temperatures. This poses a risk to both your safety and your property.
Ensuring Optimal Performance and Longevity
In conclusion, wifi routers, like any electronic device, generate heat during operation and can become dangerously hot. In severe cases, excessive heat can lead to permanent hardware failure. To ensure optimal performance and avoid such risks, it is essential to keep your wifi router operating in a room-temperature environment. By maintaining a cool and well-ventilated setting, you can prolong the lifespan of your router and enjoy uninterrupted internet connectivity. If you are concerned about your equipment placement or you are experiencing issues with your connection and believe it may be to do with over heating, our engineers at The WiFi Specialist can help. We can discuss your set up and advise you on the best possible solution.
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I was struggling to get a decent wifi signal down to the garden office until the Wifi Specialists recommended a Point to Point kit. Now the internet is faster in the office than it is in the house. The guys did a great job installing too, keeping all the cabling very neat and hidden wherever possible. Even sorted out the TV aerial cable while they were doing the P2P cabling! Great service, strongly recommend.
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Indy and Rakki are first class guys, they did a professional job in record time and I ended up with a better router indoors as well as the Access point outdoors which now covers the whole garden. Definitely recommend the Wifi specialists.
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I'm absolute delighted with the service provided by The WiFi Specialist in running an ethernet cable out to my garden office. Indy was extremely helpful in discussion the options available to me, and recommending the right approach, and the work was carried out efficiently and with minimum disruption. I'm thrilled to now have a secure connection, and would definitely recommend The WiFi Specialist to anyone looking to improve connectivity.
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I had been struggling with my wifi signal around my house for a number of years and the situation only got worse as we moved to remote working. After many attempts to get the issue addressed through the local ISP, I (my wife and kids) decided that I needed a specialist to come in. Indy made the whole process very simple from the initial site visit, design guidance and installation. I had my house refurbished a few years ago so adding new cabling around the house needed knowledge and experience. Indy and Rak did a great job at concealing the cat6 cables and provided a professional finish. I now have full wifi signal all around the house, garden and garage. I would highly recommend The Wi-Fi Specialist. Thank you.
Amarjit K
The IT service from this company was exemplary and resulted in a very good WiFi signal throughout the house. Indy was generous with his time and explained the technology well, without trying to sell equipment that would have been unnecessary for a domestic installation. He is friendly, knowledgeable and very professional. It was a great pleasure to work with him.
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