Millions of Britons will bask in the “hottest week of the year so far” as temperatures soar over 29ºC in parts of the UK. With the mercury rising nationwide this week, experts have warned about another side effect of the summer temperatures across the UK — broadband blackouts. Yes, really.
Telecom expert Simrat Sharma told GB News that higher temperatures can have a detrimental impact on household gadgets, like your Wi-Fi router.
If your Wi-Fi router overheats and goes offline, you’ll lose internet access across all of your devices. Whether you work or study from home, stream music, listen to the radio over the internet, or stream live television on platforms like Sky Stream or Freely TVs — losing a broadband connection is a massive inconvenience.
Those who have been switched from a traditional landline to a Digital Voice handset will lose the ability to make or receive landline calls too. Critical personal alarms could be impacted too.
Met Office’s Aidan McGivern has warned that temperatures across the UK could reach 29ºC in the first few days of May 2025
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Ms Sharma, who works for broadband comparison service uSwitch, has warned that you need to be wary of overheating gadgets any time temperatures climb to around 30ºC. And those with a busy household or plenty of internet-connected devices should be especially careful.
“The more devices that are connected to your router, the harder it has to work to keep them all online, which makes it more likely to slow down or switch off,” Ms Sharma told GB News.
The telecom expert has three simple easy-to-follow instructions to help avoid any broadband blackouts due to overheating Wi-Fi routers — or damage to any of your other gadgets during the summer heatwave.
- Beware of hot spots | Place your router in the coolest room in your home, away from direct sunlight. Typically, a central spot in the home works best for a decent Wi-Fi connection everywhere and a cooler environment for it to operate. Keep your router away from sunny spots, like a windowsill
- Ensure proper ventilation | Wi-Fi routers need airflow to avoid overheating. Place your router on a stable, level surface — preferably one that remains cool. This ensures proper ventilation around the device, especially underneath it. Never place the Wi-Fi router on a carpet that might block airflow
- Working outdoors | 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 may overheat. Don’t be tempted to put your router outside in the sunlight — instead, consider a Wi-Fi extender if necessary
Although it might seem like a good idea, experts warn against switching off your Wi-Fi router, especially overnight. That’s because broadband companies typically issue critical security and performance updates overnight as it’s the least disruptive time to make adjustments.
If your Wi-Fi router isn’t connected to the internet, you could miss these important firmware updates. That said, a simple reboot — also known as a power cycle — every now and again can improve the performance of your Wi-Fi router since it allows the components an opportunity to reset.
Virgin Media has also cautioned against the negative impact sweltering temperatures can have on broadband performance. In a statement, a spokesperson for Virgin Media said: “Although we test our hubs carefully at a range of temperatures, they are better off out of bright sunlight, just like your phone or laptop.
“If the hub gets too hot, it could slow down your connection or even grind to a halt altogether.”
Because of the link between temperatures and the performance of Wi-Fi routers, the full-fibre broadband firm has advised keeping this essential out of direct sunlight. Place the router on a flat, hard surface that allows air to flow freely around the gadget. Placing the router on a carpet can be disastrous.
Ageing Wi-Fi routers can be powered by older, less efficient chipsets that can be more susceptible to heat problems, especially if they’ve been used constantly. Of course, these Wi-Fi routers are also more likely to have security issues too, so it’s worth contacting your broadband firm to talk about an upgrade.
Like all gadgets, Wi-Fi routers can be susceptible to rising temperatures — especially if you continue to use your broadband connection to stream music, make video calls, and other common activities during the Spring heatwave
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Of course, the heatwave promises to impact more than just your Wi-Fi router. Ms Sharma has some expert advice for those worried about their smartphone during the sweltering temperatures too.
- Be mindful of heat strain | Most phones are designed to work up to 35ºC and can keep themselves cool. However, direct sunlight adds additional strain to your device so be mindful of keeping your phone out of the sun’s glare
- Give your phone a rest | If you can feel your phone beginning to really warm-up, start by giving it a helping hand and closing down unused apps or features like Bluetooth connectivity and App Refresh. All your phone’s features require the processor to generate heat, so closing these can add up
- Avoid a cold reception | A drawer or the glove compartment is usually the best place to keep your device cool. Never put your phone in the fridge or freezer as a way of lowering the temperature
- Check your charger | Non-official chargers, particularly cheaper replacements, can often overload a smartphone while charging, which can become a more significant issue when your phone is already struggling with the heat
Simrat Sharma cautions: “We’re all happy to see summer finally arriving in the UK, but of course, your tech might not always feel the same way and there’s a real risk your mobile phone or router can suffer long-term damage.
“Mobile phones and routers have in-built hardware to help them keep cool, but there are some things you can do to help. As a general rule, direct sunlight can often have a detrimental effect on your tech.
“Electronic devices all rely on ventilation to keep cool. This means they need space around them to let out the hot air caused by all the processing they need to do. If your router is surrounded by lots of other objects, it can’t properly ventilate and might overheat. For your mobile phone, a case could have the same effect.
“The more devices that are connected to your router, the harder it has to work to keep them all online, which makes it more likely to slow down or switch off. The same applies to your mobile device — if it has too many applications running this will force the processor to work harder and generate more heat.
“If your phone has overheated — you should never put it in a fridge or freezer to cool off, as the rapid change in temperature can do more harm than good. Instead, turn the power off and leave to cool in a well-ventilated area out of the sun.”
