Optimizing Your HVAC System for a Good Night’s Sleep

A good night’s sleep can make a huge difference with respect to how you function the next day. Lack of sleep can negatively impact productivity and your ability to engage with people and activities.

As many as 50 million to 70 million U.S. adults have sleep or wakefulness disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey in 2009 determined that among
74,571 adults in 12 states, 35.3 percent reported fewer than seven hours of sleep during a typical 24-hour period.

Adults need seven or more hours of sleep per night for the best health and well-being. Short sleep duration is defined as less than seven hours of sleep per 24-hour period, according to the CDC. The CDC recommends that adults 18 and older should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, while children generally need 8 to 10 hours.

Consider how easy it could be to enhance the quality and extend the duration of your sleep by simply adjusting your HVAC system. Factors such as temperature and humidity in your bedroom can significantly affect your sleep.

Here are some tips on how to leverage your HVAC system as your ally in enjoying a better night’s sleep.

What is the Optimal Temperature for Sleeping?

The human body naturally drops its temperature when we prepare to go to sleep. It’s helpful and more conducive to a better night’s sleep to have the room a few degrees cooler. You should actually set your bedroom temperature between 60 degrees to 67 degrees for optimal sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

This would make having a programmable thermostat very helpful to adjust the settings on your HVAC system. Simply set a basic programmable thermostat to lower the room temperature at bedtime and adjust it back to warmer temperatures during your waking hours. Other thermostat types, such as 5-2 and 5-1-1 allow different weekday/weekend cycles.

Your local AC repair technician at Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning can help with installation and programming if you want to upgrade from a traditional thermostat.

Control Humidity

When set to the right level, relative indoor humidity can make your bedroom more comfortable for sleeping. When the humidity is exceptionally high, as it tends to be during the summer month in the Tri-Cities, it makes the air feel thick and muggy. During winter, the air can become too dry as the humidity levels become lower, resulting in dry skin, throats, and nasal passages. Our HVAC contractors at Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning in Kennewick can install a humidifier/dehumidifier system to balance relative indoor humidity levels.

Turn On Your Ceiling Fan

Your ceiling fan can sustain air currents that help keep you cool at night, which also reduces the required cooling output from your HVAC system. It can also reward you with some energy savings. Some people find fan noises soothing, which can help promote sleep if you are not entirely at ease in quiet rooms.

Air Flow

The easier you can breathe, the better sleep you will have. Having good airflow can help you sleep better. To improve the airflow open your windows if it is nice out. If it is too hot or cold, try fans to move the air around. Fans can also create white noise which many people find can help them fall asleep faster.

Noise

Noise can affect sleep quality. If you notice grinding or thumping noises coming from your AC unit, call your favorite air tech company, Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning, as you could need an air conditioning replacement.

Get Your AC Unit in Top Condition with Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning

Now is the time to ensure your air conditioner is in prime condition with the hot summer months almost upon us. We invite you to contact the HVAC specialists, Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning in Kennewick.

Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning is the best HVAC company in the Tri-Cities.

Contact Apollo Heating and Air Conditioning today to get your AC unit ready for summer by calling (509) 396-COLD (2653). You’ll sleep better knowing you did.