Want to sleep better? Go ahead and touch that thermostat.
Although many homes have a ‘don’t touch that dial’ policy in place once optimal household settings have been achieved, making some minor adjustments can actually help improve the quality of your sleep and that of your family. Of course, a programmable thermostat with AC, heating and fan options presents homeowners with the best choices for features and the ability to experiment. Even better is a HVAC system that divides different areas of your home into different HVAC zones. If your home doesn’t have this kind of controllable thermostat, a Bay Area HVAC specialist can help install one.
The ventilation in your bedroom, however, is a good place to start seeking improvements, especially in summer, where outside temperatures can drop from warm to cool in the evening and then warm up again in the morning.
Try these strategies:
Before bed.
A cooler room makes it easier to fall asleep. This doesn’t necessarily mean super cold, which can produce shivering and higher alertness, but slightly cooler, maybe 60-67 degrees F at the most. Having a room’s temperature dip a little around bedtime can help you start to relax.
In the night.
The body’s temperature also drops slightly during sleep so it’s OK to keep the HVAC cool. Plus, people also conserve heat with sheets and blankets. It also makes sense to keep the rest of the house a little cooler too if the whole family is asleep. This also helps save money on heating costs, rather than having it be constantly warm. You can program the temperature to rise a little in the morning when people start to wake up.
Make some noise.
A ceiling fan can have the double bonus of circulating air and also creating soothing white noise. By moving air around, it can help reduce humidity and bring in a bit of a cool breeze, especially if you sleep with the windows open. The soft roar of a fan can also muffle outside noises, which also can lead to fewer interruptions while sleeping. A box fan can also provide noise and improved airflow, although a company that offers Bay Area HVAC services can install a fan easily.
Avoid moisture.
Too much humidity can actually make it a little more difficult to sleep and even breathe well. It can make things muggy, promote the growth of mildew and increase the possibility of insects and pests. Too little humidity can have other problem including drying out sinuses. If you’re concerned, there are tools to measure these levels yourself or contact a Bay Area AC repair specialist for advice. The optimal level should be around 40-50 percent.
Is your A/C functioning poorly? Give us a call, we offer affordable HVAC services!
Please contact Element Home Solutions for more strategies to improve air flow and energy efficiency, as well as HVAC repair and replacement options for your existing system.
