One common household item could be blocking your broadband connection

If you're experiencing slow internet speeds and frustratingly long download times, the solution might be simpler than you think. Before you start blaming your internet provider for sluggish Wi-Fi, consider this: the cause of your internet woes could be lurking in your own home. Surprisingly, one common household item could be the culprit behind your poor broadband connection, according to tech expert Drew English from Charter & Co.

"You might not realise it, but microwaves and Wi-Fi can interfere with each other. This can be a real pain if you keep getting dropped from conference calls or having issues watching HD videos or doing something important online," he warned.

"Both your microwave and Wi-Fi router use the same 2.4GHz radio frequency. While your microwave uses these waves to heat food, your Wi-Fi router relies on them to transmit data around your home. This results in slower Wi-Fi speed but not less hot food."

While microwaves are designed to concentrate their energy inside the appliance, they can sometimes interfere with WiFi, despite this not being the intended design.

Drew said: "Microwaves leak energy. Microwaves from lesser-known brands often aren't built to the same high standards as those from big-name manufacturers.

"This means there's a higher chance of leakage occurring sooner than with a branded model. Even pricier microwaves can develop leaks in their seals over time, though."

So, what's the best solution to this?

Drew said: "While moving the router away from the microwave is a definite plus, it might not always be practical for everyone's setup. If your router has a 5GHz band, switching to that could be a winner. It's less likely to get messed up by the microwave."

The team at Zen Internet also issued a similar warning about microwave ovens with a survey from the Internet Service Provider suggesting most Britons are completely unaware that simple things such as a cooking device can affect the internet signal being beamed around their homes.

In fact, Zen is warning users to avoid placing their routers anywhere near these appliances as the electromagnetic waves they produce can interfere with Wi-Fi signals.

Other things to avoid placing your router near include baby monitors, cordless phones and even fish tanks as Wi-Fi hates water. Other top tips to keep your broadband running smoothly include restarting your router once a month and making sure you keep it out in the open and not tucked in a cupboard.