A comfortable bedroom is a key element of a good night’s sleep, and temperature is one of the strongest 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 different preferences for sleep.
We’ll discuss what temperatures are better for sleep and why. Then, we’ll provide 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 specific preferences can 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 amount of light and heat around us to keep the circadian rhythm in sync with what’s required for healthy sleep. Since the sun’s warmth dissipates at night, the circadian rhythm can interpret cooler temperatures as a better environment for sleep. This is why a cooler, darker bedroom is easier to sleep in than a room that’s 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 don’t regulate the temperature of your bedroom, even little changes can be influential 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 account. Heavy layers may be too warm, and any parent will tell you that infants only have one way to show their 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 all the difference. These systems are particularly useful for families, because different preferences can lead to butting heads over the nighttime thermostat setting.
Zoning systems: A zoning system employs a series of dampers and levers in your ductwork to alter the direction of airflow. If you want to adjust the temperature for a particular room or space in your home, a zoning system makes it quick and convenient. Members of your family that like 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 aren’t compatible. Thankfully, a ductless mini-split can deliver fine-tuned comfort for single rooms or smaller areas. As the name suggests, you don’t need any additional ductwork, which helps lower installation costs. These compact systems are useful 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 monitor how you use your HVAC system and generate the best daily schedule. So, if you like a cooler bedroom each night, a smart thermostat can automatically cool things down at bedtime. They’re compatible with zoning systems and mini-splits as well, bolstering your control over the temperature in every room of the house.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep with Childress Heating & AC
If your HVAC system is the reason you can’t fall asleep, let Childress Heating & AC know. We can offer recommendations and quality products ideal for maintaining comfortable nighttime temperatures. Schedule an appointment by calling us at 540-675-4306.