If you’ve tried everything to fix your troublesome internet connection and nothing seems to work, it could be rooted in an electrical problem.Here’s how your home’s electrical system can affect your internet performance. We’ve all dealt with internet connection issues before.Whether it’s a buffering video, slow load times on websites, a dropped video chat or even frequent outages, they never get less frustrating—or inconvenient. Most of the time, a quick reset of your internet equipment does the trick, and if it doesn’t, there are other ways you can troubleshoot internet connection issues.
But if you’ve already tried these methods and nothing seems to work, it may be time to consider your home’s electrical system as the root of the problem.While this may sound like a far-fetched excuse for slow internet, electricity actually plays a bigger role in your home network connection than you may think.For one, your modem and router (or gateway) need electricity to function and must remain plugged into your outlet 24/7.
If there’s a power outage, your internet will go out as well.But even if your lights are on and everything seems normal, your home’s electrical system could still be causing issues with your home Wi-Fi.Our experts break down how electricity issues can affect your internet connection, and what you can do to fix it. Electricity and internet: How are they connected? First things first, let’s break down exactly what your electricity has to do with your ability to stream movies, surf the internet, take a Zoom call or browse on social media. Your modem, router or gateway device (modem-router combo) are the devices that: Establish the internet connection in your home through your internet provider Allows you to connect your devices wirelessly to the internet Most importantly, these devices need to stay plugged into your electrical outlet to maintain your internet connection 24/7.
That’s why a power outage causes your internet to go out — without electricity, your network devices can’t stay powered up to deliver internet to your home and devices. Since your equipment requires constant electrical input to keep your connection going, any fluctuations, surges or faulty wiring can impact your internet.Common electrical issues that can affect your internet connection Voltage fluctuations – Sudden surges of power can cause your router to reboot, resulting in temporary internet loss.Brownouts – A drop in voltage can weaken the power supply to your modem, router or gateway, affecting performance and your internet connection.
It can cause slow speeds, buffering, dropped calls and more. Circuit overload – If you have high-powered appliances like an AC unit, heater or a microwave on the same circuit as your internet equipment, it can prevent your router from getting a steady electrical current and result in slow internet speeds, dropped connections and even device damage.Poor electrical grounding – Grounding, which directs excess electricity into the ground via a buried wire, protects people and equipment from damage.Poor grounding can cause power fluctuations, electrical noise interference and other issues that result in slow internet speeds, connection drops, pixelated video and gaming lag.
Old or faulty wiring and outlets – Old or damaged wiring can cause power surges, which damage devices, while older outlets may have difficulty holding your equipment’s plugs.How do I know if my internet issues are caused by an electrical problem? Fortunately, determining if your issues are electrical isn’t difficult since electrical red flags are generally easy to spot.If you notice any of these electrical issues, address them immediately, as they can harm your entire home, not just your internet connection. Unusual sounds – Check for buzzing or humming sounds from outlets or your equipment. Obvious damage – Check your outlets and switches for visible abnormalities like discoloration, smoke, sparks and singing.
Check for any frayed or chewed wires. Flickering lights – Flickering or dimming lights can be a sign of overloaded circuits or faulty wiring. Overheating – Check if your outlets or internet equipment are hot to the touch.This can be caused by various electrical issues.Device behavior – Monitor your devices to see if they randomly reboot or drop connection during times of heavy usage.
Expert tip If you haven’t noticed any electrical abnormalities in your home, you can try some general troubleshooting tips to try and boost your internet connection.What you can do to fix it It’s always best to call an electrician when dealing with any type of electrical issue, but there are a few things you can do to isolate the electrical issues causing your internet problems.Check your equipment’s lights and power cycle.
If your modem, router or gateway’s lights are off or blinking, this indicates a problem.Reboot your equipment by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. Check your equipment’s network cables.Identify any damaged coaxial or Ethernet cables.
Test your devices on a different circuit.Try plugging in your equipment to a different outlet or circuit.This can help you determine if the problem is limited to a single outlet or circuit, or if it’s more widespread throughout your home. Relocate your equipment.
Move your network equipment away from other devices like microwaves, cellphones, fans and AC units to reduce electrical noise.If this helps, then the problem is likely some type of electrical interference from your other electrical devices.Check your appliances.
Unplug large appliances one at a time to see if your internet connection improves.Having too many devices on one circuit can create electrical noise.How to safeguard your home network Once you have identified electrical issues in your home, call a professional electrician to address the problem, as some electrical issues can be hazardous.
Afterwards, consider these best practices to safeguard your home network from future electrical interference: If possible, use a dedicated circuit for your internet equipment to minimize potential interference from other electrical appliances.Invest in equipment like a surge protector to protect your network equipment against voltage fluctuations. Consistently check your home for damaged wiring, loose outlets or faulty connections.If you fixed your electrical issues and your internet is still too slow, consider upgrading your internet plan or equipment.
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