Whats the Best Temperature for Sleeping? | Dial One Mears Air Conditioning & Heating Inc
A relaxing bedroom is a key aspect of a good nights sleep, and temperature is one of the largest influences on comfort. Tweaking the temperature of your room each 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 varying preferences for sleep.
Well learn what temperatures are better for sleep and why. Then, well share some suggestions for HVAC equipment or accessories that can help improve sleep.
Your Body Is Designed to Cool Off During Sleep
According to the Sleep Foundation, the ideal bedroom temperature is around 65 degrees. Your personal preferences should have an impact, so anywhere around 63-67 is a good rule of thumb. But why is a cooler temperature more beneficial to sleep in?
Sleep happens in cycles, and this pattern is called the circadian rhythm. Our bodies take in information including the amount of light and heat around us to keep the circadian rhythm in sync with whats required for healthy sleep. Since the suns warmth disappears at night, the circadian rhythm can interpret cooler temperatures as a better environment for sleep. This is why a cooler, dark bedroom is easier to sleep in than a room thats hot and well-lit.
As you fall asleep, your body shuts down a lot of automatic processes that help balance your internal temperature. For example, sweating helps dissipate excess heat while shivering is the muscles attempt to warm themselves up. When you dont regulate the temperature of your bedroom, even little changes can be strong 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 youre also taking sleepwear and blankets into account. Heavy layers can be too warm, and any parent will tell you that infants only know one way to express dissatisfaction.
Tips for Fine-Tuning Sleep Temperatures
If youre having trouble sustaining your ideal sleep temperature, there are a few pieces of HVAC equipment that can make a big difference. These systems are particularly useful for families, since different preferences can lead to disagreements over the nighttime thermostat setting.
Zoning systems: A zoning system uses a series of dampers and levers in your ductwork to redirect airflow. If you want to adjust the temperature for a specific room or space in your home, a zoning system makes it fast 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 current equipment and personal preferences just arent compatible. Thankfully, a ductless mini-split can generate fine-tuned comfort for single rooms or smaller areas. As the name suggests, you dont need any additional ductwork, which helps lower installation costs. These compact systems are ideal for rooms adjacent to unfinished spaces like the garage or attic.
Smart thermostats:These programmable thermostats are one of the simplest ways to make precise, energy-efficient improvements to the indoor temperature. Intelligent programming can learn how you use your HVAC system and create the best daily schedule. So, if you enjoy a cooler bedroom at night, a smart thermostat will automatically cool things down near bedtime. Theyre compatible with zoning systems and mini-splits too, enhancing your control over the temperature in every room of the house.
Get a Good Nights Sleep with Dial One Mears Air Conditioning & Heating Inc
If your HVAC system is the reason you cant fall asleep, let Dial One Mears Air Conditioning & Heating Inc know. We can offer recommendations and quality products ideal for maintaining comfortable nighttime temperatures. Schedule an appointment by calling us at 602-584-2884.
