Router rebooting

I cannot believe I am saying this, but my issues seems to have (mostly) gone away over the holidays.  I am not sure if that is due to less traffic with more people in the area traveling potentially, all the leaves are off tress to clearer direct line to tower, etc.  The final theory I have (and I am begging someone to verify and explain) is that my wife put a small, metal, decorative Christmas tree (think 10 inches tall or so) on the mantle directly behind the device.  I put the decorations away New Year's Day… and the internet dropped.  So put the tree back and I am content to leave it there.  I have heard elsewhere (reddit forums, google searches. etc) that people have used foil to somehow improve device performance.  If for me, that is a Christmas decoration that stays up year round, so be it.  I am not now willing to remove for either true performance or plain superstition.