Winter storms and freezing temperatures can disrupt your comfort... and your internet connection. Power outages, frozen pipes, and storm damage can quickly dampen the joy of the season. But with the right preparation, you can minimize disruptions and stay connected when it matters most. For those working from home, streaming holiday favorites, or video calling loved ones who are miles away, strong, reliable internet is essential.
Prepare for power outages
One of the most important steps you can take is planning for power loss. Because Wi-Fi depends on electricity, even brief outages can interrupt your connection. A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) can keep your equipment running during short power disruptions and help protect your it from surges.
Just as providers like Ripple Fiber build redundancy into their networks, you can create backup power options at home. Enable your mobile hotspot as a secondary connection, and if a storm is approaching, make sure all devices are fully charged. After power is restored, allow 5 to 10 minutes for your connection to stabilize before restarting your modem/router. If needed, power it off and back on to reestablish connectivity.
Optimize your in-home setup
Your equipment’s placement plays a major role in performance, even more so during the colder months. Keep your modem/router in a warm, dry, and centrally located area of your home. Look for a space with good ventilation, but avoid areas exposed to cold drafts or moisture.
If your current setup doesn’t meet these conditions, consider relocating your equipment, and reach out to your internet provider for guidance if needed. Taking this step makes an even bigger difference when paired with a strong, high-performance connection like fiber.
Enhance your connection by choosing fiber
Fiber internet stands out for its reliability, especially during harsh winter weather. Fiber cables are more weather-resistant and typically buried underground. Even when installed aerially due to geographical constraints, they are designed to be more durable than traditional cable lines.
Additional benefits of fiber internet include:
Know how to get support during a storm
Even the most reliable networks can be affected by severe weather and widespread power outages. To prepare for times like these when your internet connection can become unavailable, you should write down your provider’s customer support phone number and keep it somewhere easily accessible. Conditions can quickly turn unpredictable, so having a provider whose responsiveness you can depend on is just as important as your own preparedness.
With Ripple Fiber, customers receive proactive communications ahead of potential service disruptions, as well as timely updates when weather does impact service. Plus, our support hub is available 24/7 and provides easy-to-follow troubleshooting guides designed to help you maintain a reliable, high-speed connection at home.
Remember, always stay informed by monitoring local news, weather forecasts, and government advisories so you know what to expect in your area. A little preparation goes a long way toward protecting both your home and your internet. Do you need to take the next step to winter-proof your home? Check availability in your neighborhood and make the switch to Ripple Fiber today.