British people must prepare for this enjoy a four-day heat wave with temperatures that can rise above 30ºC. With the mercury set to rise this week, the Met Office has issued a health warning from today (June 24). The yellow alert – which applies to every region in England except one – started at 8am and will run until Thursday afternoon.
And now experts have warned of another side effect of rising temperatures in the UK: broadband disruptions. Telecoms expert Simrat Sharma told GB News that higher temperatures could have a detrimental impact on home appliances such as your Wi-Fi router.
If your Wi-Fi router overheats and goes offline, you will lose internet access on all your devices. Whether you work or study at home, stream music, listen to the radio via the internet or watch television via Skystream or a streaming service such as Netflix, Disney+or Prime Video — losing Wi-Fi and wired broadband connections can be a huge inconvenience.
Temperatures look set to rise over the next few days, reaching almost 30ºC in many parts of Britain
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Those who have been switched from a traditional landline to a Digital Voice handset will also lose the ability to make or receive calls via the landline. Critical personal alarms can also be affected.
Ms Sharma, who works for broadband comparison service uSwitch, has warned that you should be wary of overheating gadgets when temperatures rise to around 30ºC. And those with busy households or many internet-connected devices should be especially careful.
“The more devices you have connected to your router, the harder it has to work to keep them all online, making it more likely to slow down or switch off,” Ms Sharma told GB News.
The telecoms expert has three simple, easy-to-follow instructions to help prevent a broadband outage due to overheating Wi-Fi routers – or damage to your other gadgets during the summer heatwave.
- Beware of hotspots | Place your router in the coolest room of your house, away from direct sunlight. Usually a central location in the house works best to have a good WiFi connection everywhere And a cooler environment to work in. Keep your router away from sunny places, such as a windowsill
- Ensure good ventilation| Wi-Fi routers require airflow to prevent overheating. Place your router on a stable, flat surface, preferably one that stays cool. This ensures good ventilation around the device, especially underneath. Never place the Wi-Fi router on a carpet that could block airflow
- Working outside | If you’re lucky enough to be able to work from your garden, it’s important to keep your tech gadgets away from direct sunlight, where they can overheat. Don’t be tempted to leave your router outside in the sunlight; instead, consider a Wi-Fi extender if necessary
While it may seem like a good idea, experts warn against turning off your Wi-Fi router, especially at night. That’s because broadband companies typically release critical security and performance updates overnight, as this is the least disruptive time to make adjustments.
If your Wi-Fi router isn’t connected to the Internet, you may miss these important firmware updates. That said, a simple restart (also called a power cycle) every now and then can improve the performance of your Wi-Fi router, as it gives the components a chance to reset.
Of course, the heat wave promises to have more consequences than that just now your Wi-Fi router. Ms Sharma has expert advice for those worried about their smartphones even during the sweltering temperatures.
- Take heat load into account | Most phones are designed to operate up to 35ºC and can keep themselves cool. However, direct sunlight puts extra strain on your device, so keep your phone out of direct sunlight
- Give your phone a rest | If you feel your phone really starting to heat up, start by giving it a helping hand and closing down unused apps or features like Bluetooth connectivity and App Refresh. All of your phone’s functions require the processor to generate heat, so closing it may add heat
- Avoid a cold reception | A drawer or glove compartment is usually the best place to keep your device cool. Never put your phone in the refrigerator or freezer to lower the temperature
- Check your charger | Unofficial chargers, especially cheaper replacements, can often overload a smartphone while charging, which can become a bigger problem if your phone is already suffering from the heat
Simrat Sharma warns: “We’re all happy that summer is finally here in the UK, but of course your technology may not always feel the same way and there is a real risk that your mobile phone or router could suffer long-term damage.
“Cell phones and routers have built-in hardware to keep them cool, but there are some things you can do to help. In general, direct sunlight can often have a damaging effect on your technology.
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“Electronic devices all rely on ventilation to stay cool. This means they need space around them to let out the warm air caused by all the processing they have to do. If your router is surrounded by a lot of other objects, it may not ventilate properly and overheat. For your cell phone, a case can have the same effect.
“The more devices connected to your router, the harder it has to work to keep them all online, increasing the chance that they will slow down or shut down. The same goes for your mobile device – if you have too many applications running this will force the processor to work harder and generate more heat.
“If your phone is overheating, you should never put it in a refrigerator or freezer to cool down as the rapid change in temperature can do more harm than good. Instead, turn off the power and let it cool in a well-ventilated space out of the sun.”