You’ve got a great Wi-Fi connection, everything’s smooth, and suddenly, buffering. You might notice your music cut out, the YouTube video stalls, the movie you are watching stops, or even your Bluetooth headphones disconnect for a second. As it happens, you just hit the start button on the microwave. This is not a coincidence.

It might sound odd at first, but your microwave can mess with your Wi-Fi. Both devices actually share something in common — they operate around the 2.4 GHz frequency band. That’s the same space used by many wireless devices in your home. And while your microwave isn’t sending emails or streaming Netflix or checking out the date for the next Black Friday sale, it is still shooting out a powerful electromagnetic wave that can step on your Wi-Fi signal’s toes. That’s why the connection can get wonky when you’re reheating leftovers.

Microwaves give off energy at a much higher power than your Wi-Fi router. We’re talking about up to 1,000 watts from the microwave, compared to just 28 milliwatts from the router. That’s a huge difference. Imagine trying to hear someone whisper while a jet engine is roaring right next to you — similarly, the soft Wi-Fi signal doesn’t stand a chance. It gets drowned out by the loud, buzzing energy coming from the microwave.

Devices like Bluetooth speakers, baby monitors, cordless phones, and wireless headphones can also start acting up when a microwave is running nearby. If your AirPlay speaker cuts out or your Bluetooth headphones disconnect while someone’s heating food, the microwave is probably to blame. All these gadgets use the same general frequency to send signals, but the microwave doesn’t play nice. It basically blasts through the signal like it owns the place, leaving everything else struggling to stay connected.

The good news is you don’t have to toss your microwave or move your kitchen to fix it. Distance is your friend. Try moving your Wi-Fi router at least 10 feet away from the microwave, and that small adjustment can make a big difference. If you’ve got a dual-band router, switch your main devices to the 5 GHz band. It’s faster, cleaner, and most importantly, microwave-free. But just remember that 5 GHz has a shorter range and doesn’t work as well through walls. However, for most homes, it’s a solid fix. You can also try changing your Wi-Fi channel settings, like to Channel 1, to dodge interference.

Still seeing signal drops? Maybe it’s time to change your microwave. In comparison, the older models tend to leak more radiation, even if they still work fine. Even new microwaves are legally allowed to leak a small amount, but with older units — especially ones with bent doors — leakage can be much worse. This radiation isn’t harmful to you, but it can mess with your connection.