Using Your HVAC System to Get the Best Sleep
A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do to keep your health and happiness at optimum levels. If you are having trouble staying asleep or would just like to improve your nightly snooze, there are tweaks you can make to your HVAC system to help.
Making a few simple changes can improve your sleep and help you get out of bed in the morning feeling refreshed:
Cool, Calm & Collected
When your body is getting ready to fall asleep, your internal temperature will drop to help you relax. If your bedroom is cool, you’ll be in an even better position to fall asleep with ease. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the ideal temperature for optimal sleep is 60-67 degrees.
Keeping your home cool in the fall and winter is easy; just turn your thermostat down to keep your heater from running at night. The difficult part is avoiding the temptation to run your A/C all night long during the hot, summer nights. If a fan just isn’t cutting it, consider a zone-controlled air conditioning system. This type of system allows homeowners to set the temperature in individual rooms. You could turn down the temperature in just your bedroom without cooling the entire house. This would allow for a better night’s sleep at a fraction of the energy cost.
Humidity Harmony
Finding a balance for indoor humidity can be a challenge. If the humidity in your bedroom is too high, the air will feel thick and muggy, making it harder to breathe and subsequently more difficult to relax and fall asleep. Humid rooms are also breeding grounds for mold, which can cause respiratory irritation.
But, before you throw away your humidifier, remember that a room devoid of humidity will be dry. This can cause your throat and nasal passages to be irritated while you sleep, which is not going to be the best way to wake up in the morning.
If humidity is an issue in your home, consider investing in a digital hygrometer. This small tool can easily measure the humidity levels in your bedroom. The ideal level is 40 to 50 percent. If you need to swing the levels in a different direction, use a small, standalone humidifier or dehumidifier to push the number toward the sleeping sweet spot.
Fan-tastic Fans
Fans are a nighttime multi-tool and offer a range of benefits for your bedtime routine. Ceiling fans keep your skin cool throughout the night, helping you stay comfortable and closing the gap to that ideal sleep temperature range. Fans also circulate air, keeping it fresh and making it easier to breathe while you sleep.
Fans are also a great source of soothing white noise. Instead of using an expensive machine that pumps out whale sounds, try a box fan. The steady hum of white noise will help you fall asleep, and can even help you stay asleep by muffling middle-of-the-night noises that might otherwise wake you up.
Do you want to learn more about how zone cooling, fans and humidity controls can make your home more comfortable for a restful night’s sleep? Call us at 800-994-2577 or contact us through our website with any questions!