Why Is My Internet Slow? Surprising Things in Your Home That Could Be Slowing You Down 

Kaylee Cameron • January 23, 2026

You’ve signed up for high-speed internet, connected all your devices—and suddenly things feel sluggish. Your favorite show keeps buffering, your Zoom calls freeze, or your smart home devices go offline. 

Before blaming your internet provider, it’s worth looking around your home. Everyday items such as building materials, and even furniture placement can interfere with your connection. 

Let’s explore the most common home-related culprits that could be affecting your Wi-Fi and what you can do to boost your speed. 

1. Thick Walls & Building Materials 

The materials of your home have an impact on your internet strength. Wi-Fi signals weaken as they pass through solid materials—especially concrete, brick, metal, or stone. If your router is behind one of these, or on a different floor, signal strength may drop significantly. 

What you can do: 

  • Move your router to a more open and central location. 
  • Avoid closets or spots behind large appliances or heavy furniture. 
  • Consider using Anthem Wi-Fi extenders or mesh systems to cover difficult areas & prevent this in your home. 

2. Distance From Your Router 

The farther you move from your router, the weaker your Wi-Fi signal becomes. This is especially noticeable in larger or multi-story homes, where the router might be tucked away in one corner or on a different level than where you’re trying to connect. If you notice that your Wi-Fi works great in one room but lags in another, distance (and obstacles) are often to blame. For instance, signals can struggle to travel through thick materials like concrete, brick, or metal, and even large mirrors or fish tanks can reflect and weaken your signal. 

What you can do: 

  • Position your router in a central, elevated location. 
  • Avoid placing it in low corners or behind objects. 
  • Use extenders to for the basement or the second story of your home increases your internet connectivity greatly. 

3. Electronics & Appliance Interference 

 Believe it or not, some of the everyday electronics in your home could be slowing down your Wi-Fi. Devices like microwaves, cordless phones, Bluetooth speakers, and even baby monitors can all interfere with your wireless signal. That’s because many of these gadgets operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency that your Wi-Fi uses. This type of interference can cause your connection to drop, slow down, or fluctuate—especially if these devices are running while you’re online. For example, if your Wi-Fi suddenly lags every time someone reheats their coffee in the microwave, interference is the likely culprit! 

What you can do: 

  • Keep your router away from appliances and other electronics, especially those that emit wireless signals. 
  • If your router supports it, switch to the 5 GHz band, which is faster and less crowded. Most modern devices can automatically connect to whichever band offers the best performance. 

4. Furniture & Clutter 

Why it matters: 
Large furniture or heavy décor can absorb or block Wi-Fi signals. Even mirrors and metal furniture can reflect signals away from your devices. 

What you can do: 

  • Clear a path between your router and the areas where you use Wi-Fi the most. 
  • Avoid hiding the router behind large furniture or inside cabinets. 

5. Too Many Connected Devices 

 Each device in your home shares the same connection. Phones, tablets, smart TVs, cameras, and other smart home gadgets all use bandwidth—even when idle. Meaning the 5 security cameras, your kids’ tablets, your phone, the computer, and the tv are all competiting and using the internet at the same time. 

What you can do: 

  • Make sure your internet plan speed can handle the correct number of devices you have in your home. 
  • Disconnect devices you’re not using. 
  • Turn off auto-updates during peak hours. 
  • Monitor what’s connected to your network through your router’s admin settings. 

6. Weather Conditions (for Some Types of Internet) 
If you’re using satellite internet, bad weather like heavy rain or snow can disrupt your signal. While this doesn’t apply to fiber or fixed wireless connections, it’s a known factor for satellite users. 

What you can do: 

  • There’s not much you can do during a storm, but you can ensure your equipment is installed properly and has a clear line of sight to the sky. 

7. Outdated Equipment 

 Older routers and modems may not be able to handle today’s speeds or the number of connected devices you have. 

What you can do: 

  • Upgrade your router if it’s more than a few years old. 
  • Look for models that support newer standards like Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 for better performance and range. 

Final Thoughts 

Slow internet can be frustrating—but the problem isn’t always with your provider. The layout of your home, the materials it’s built with, and the devices inside it can all affect your signal strength and speed. Thankfully, small changes—like repositioning your router or reducing interference—can make a big difference. 

Still struggling? Reach out to Anthem Broadband to explore equipment upgrades or solutions that can give your home the full-speed connection you deserve.