You’ve done everything right. So why is your Wi-Fi still not working properly?

The simple answer: Anything in your line-of-sight negatively affects your Wi-Fi signal. The materials used to construct your home, your neighbor’s networking activity, the layout of your furniture, even certain kitchen appliances can impede the performance of a home network. What are the things we typically miss?

Keeping your eyes open for these and other potential bottlenecks can help you avoid Wi-Fi complications. Check out the full infographic below describing the top Wi-Fi signal obstacles:

This article is courtesy of our partner Access Networks

Contact us today to get started on improving your home network!

When your Wi-Fi signal is weak, you may experience several performance and connectivity issues — here’s what typically happens and why:

🔹 1. Slower Internet Speeds

A weak signal means your device can’t maintain a strong connection to the router. As signal strength drops, bandwidth decreases, causing webpages, videos, and downloads to load more slowly.

🔹 2. Connection Drops or Timeouts

Devices might disconnect intermittently or fail to connect at all. This often shows up as buffering during streaming, dropped Zoom calls, or smart home devices going offline.

🔹 3. Poor Video and Audio Quality

If you use video conferencing or streaming, weak Wi-Fi leads to pixelated video, audio delays, or frozen screens because packets of data are lost or delayed in transmission.

🔹 4. Smart Devices Go Offline

Smart home systems — such as lighting, thermostats, and security cameras — rely on a stable network. A weak signal can cause lag, automation delays, or devices that appear “unreachable.”