A comfortable bedroom is an important part of a good night’s sleep, and temperature is one of the strongest influences on comfort. Tweaking the temperature of your room at night by just a few degrees can benefit the length and quality of your sleep. But just like how people have varying comfort preferences, they also have different preferences for sleep.
We’ll discuss what temperatures are beneficial for sleep and why. Then, we’ll offer some suggestions for HVAC equipment or accessories that could help improve sleep.
Your Body Is Designed to Cool Down During Sleep
According to the Sleep Foundation, the ideal bedroom temperature is approximately 65 degrees. Your personal preferences should have an impact, so anywhere within 63-67 is a good rule of thumb. But why is a cooler temperature better to sleep in?
Sleep happens in cycles, and this pattern is known as a circadian rhythm. Our bodies take in information like the quantity of light and heat around us to keep the circadian rhythm in sync with what’s necessary for healthy sleep. Since the sun’s warmth disappears at night, the circadian rhythm interprets cooler temperatures as a better environment for sleep. This is why a cooler, dark bedroom is easier to fall asleep in than a room that’s hot and well-lit.
As you fall asleep, your body stops a lot of automatic processes that help maintain your internal temperature. For example, sweating helps dissipate excessive heat while shivering is the muscles’ way of warming themselves up. When you don’t regulate the temperature of your bedroom, even minor changes can be noticeable enough to wake you up.
Keep Bedrooms Warmer for Infants and the Elderly
Infant children are still developing, and their smaller bodies are more sensitive to changes in temperature. Slightly warmer temperatures around 67-69 degrees are ideal, but make sure you’re also taking sleepwear and blankets into consideration. Heavy layers can be too warm, and any parent can tell you that infants only know one way to express dissatisfaction.
Tips for Fine-Tuning Sleep Temperatures
If you’re having trouble sustaining your ideal sleep temperature, there are a few pieces of HVAC equipment that can make a big difference. These systems are especially useful for families, as different preferences can lead to disagreeing over the nighttime thermostat setting.
Zoning systems: a zoning system has a series of dampers and levers in your ductwork to alter the direction of airflow. If you want to adjust the temperature for a specific room or space in your home, a zoning system makes it quick and easy. Members of your family that prefer extra heat or air conditioning at night can use a zoning system to provide their ideal sleep temperature.
Ductless mini splits: sometimes existing equipment and personal preferences just aren’t compatible. Thankfully, a ductless mini split can generate fine-tuned comfort for single rooms or smaller areas. As the name suggests, you don’t need any additional ductwork, which helps reduce installation costs. These compact systems are useful for rooms near unfinished spaces like the garage or attic.
Smart thermostats: these programmable thermostats are one of the easiest ways to make precise, energy efficient improvements to the indoor temperature. Intelligent programming can monitor how you use your HVAC system and suggest the best daily schedule. So if you enjoy a cooler bedroom every night, a smart thermostat can automatically cool things down near bedtime. They’re compatible with zoning systems and mini splits as well, enhancing your control over the temperature in every room of the house.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep with AC Sales
If your HVAC system is the reason you can’t fall asleep, let AC Sales know. We can offer recommendations and quality products perfect for maintaining comfortable nighttime temperatures. Schedule an appointment by calling us at (337) 234-2345.
