As configuring your router at home by yourself can be a difficult thing, thanks to the complicated technical jargon, we’ve decided to share some expert tips and advice on how often should you replace your router and everything you need to know about this device.
Therefore, if you are one of the many people getting headaches because of WiFi and router issues and contemplating why your Internet is slow, read this article to the end and eliminate this problem from your life once and for all!
How Often Should You Replace Your Router
As WiFi and routers come with a vast amount of jargon of technical terms that only experts can understand, many people are still in the shadow of how often should you replace your router and how you know that your router is performing well.
Namely, as with every device out there, the WiFi routers also have an expiring date. But, compared to other products where you can see this date on the products themselves, with the routers, you will have to figure out that date by yourself or ask WiFi experts, which can cost a lot of money.
That being said, as this information can vary from router to router and brand to brand, the optimal amount of time when you should replace your router is every three to four years, five years tops, and we will explain why.
Why do you need to replace your router?
With time, the WiFi router, such as every other router, can become slower, which will cause your entire Internet connection to get slower. When your Internet gets slower, you might think that the problem lies in the Internet provider, and you will most likely pay for an even more expensive Internet packet that will deliver the same results. Also, as the Internet router regulates data transfer, it might make your devices significantly slower than they are.
This is one of the many examples of why regularly replacing your WiFi router might save you from many problems and troubles and save you some coins as well. In continuation, you can read the most common indicators that show when you will need to say goodbye to your old router and replace it with a new one as soon as possible.
How Do You Know When You Need to Replace Your Router
The router can not handle all your devices
If you have many devices connected to the same router, and all seem slower than usual, the problem is probably in the WiFi router. This weak Internet connection will cause your devices to underperform, and you will be unable to do absolutely anything as you constantly need to reconnect the device to the router.
A new and high-quality WiFi router does not have a problem supporting and handling many devices at once and provides them with an equal amount of fast Internet connection.
It does not provide you with the Internet speed you are paying for
If you are paying for a certain Internet speed, and you know for sure that the Internet provider company is not the problem, then your router is the one to blame. Therefore, as we suppose you do not want to overpay for something you do not get, changing your router is the wisest thing you can do.
Read more: How to Control Devices Connected to Your WiFi
It gives you additional problems that a simple restart can not resolve or fix
If you find yourself constantly poking around and restarting your router, but the result is always the same, and you do not see any improvement, it means that it is time for your router to be replaced. Every router can lag from time to time, and restarting it will usually fix the problem. But when nothing you do seems to fix the problem, it is obvious that your router’s time has come.
It is difficult for your devices to keep a steady Internet connection
One of the main indicators that you must replace your router as soon as possible is when you need to unplug it and re-plug it constantly, a few times a day. Also, if the connection on your devices keeps dropping or is unsteady or weak, and you need to turn on and turn off the Internet every hour, or worse, every few minutes, there is nothing much you can do but replace the old router with a new one.
New upgrades available
If there are already many new router upgrades available on the market, and you still stick to the old model, it is no wonder you might be experiencing weak connection and other router-related problems. As there are new models of routers coming out every year or so, try to keep up with them and do not wait more than five years to replace your old model of router.
The status lights on the router are not performing
The lights on your router show how well the router is performing. Usually, when they are all active, it means that the router is performing well and everything works in order. But if you notice that some of the lights constantly blink or do not work at all, there is doubtfully a problem which will later reflect on the overall work of your devices connected to the router.
The router constantly overheats
If you can use your router as a heating pad or heating device, replace it immediately. This can be a potential safety hazard because in some cases overheating can cause more serious damage and consequences.
Slow loading
When it takes an eternity for a simple image or video to load while you are online, and your router is older than four years, that is a strong indicator that the router’s last days have come. Instead of getting frustrated every time you need a video or photo to load, you can simply replace the router and load and watch whatever you want in no time with the new one.
Continuous and repeated fails to open a browser
Failing to open any browser combined with a router older than a few years might be a clear sign that the main problem might be in the old router and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Conclusion
If you are having trouble with a slow Internet connection and if you seem to have an old router, in this article, you could have read some valuable advice on how often you should replace your router and how to know when to replace your router. With this information in mind, you will finally be able to put an end to the slow and frustrating Internet connection once and for all!