Getting enough sleep is important to your overall health and well-being. What you may not realize is that the HVAC system in your Phenix City, Alabama, home could play a role in how well you sleep at night. Check out these simple adjustments you can make to the settings on your HVAC system to improve your quality of sleep and wake up feeling more rested.
Temperature
The temperature in your bedroom is an important aspect of the overall comfort in the space. As you prepare to fall asleep, your body naturally lowers its core temperature. If the thermostat is set too high, you may not be able to fall asleep or stay asleep.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends setting your thermostat between 60 and 67 degrees around bedtime. If you get chilly, use blankets rather than cranking up the heat. You may also choose to keep a fan running in your bedroom to improve airflow and create a cooling effect.
If your bedroom is on an upper level and can’t get cool enough for your comfort, you might want to think about adding mini-split systems to create zones in your home. A mini-split HVAC unit can produce cool air in a specific area, such as to cool down your bedroom at night when you go to sleep.
Light
If your bedroom houses any components of the HVAC system, the lights from these units can make it hard to sleep as well. A thermostat typically has glowing lights on it, while a smart thermostat might have a lit-up screen that shines too much light in your bedroom.
Cover any of these components before you go to bed to prevent the light exposure from messing with your body’s natural sleep patterns.
Humidity
Humidity levels can also impact your comfort level, which may make it difficult to fall asleep. Excess moisture is a problem throughout the changing seasons in Alabama, so it’s important to use your air conditioning system to remove the humidity.
If you notice condensation on the windows or a muggy feeling in the air, your humidity level is probably too high. Using a dehumidifier to remove some of the moisture can also help you get more comfortable in your bedroom.
Noise
When an HVAC system makes a lot of noise as it operates, you may not be able to block it out and drift off to sleep. Some noise is normal, but you shouldn’t hear grinding, banging, squealing, or thumping noises coming from the unit. If you do hear any of these sounds, contact an HVAC professional to figure out what’s causing them and get the issues resolved. Older units may make more noise as they operate, but unusual sounds should never be ignored.
Indoor Air Quality
The quality of the air you breathe can also play a major role in how well you sleep and how you feel when you wake up each morning. Poor indoor air quality is a growing problem across the nation. Your HVAC system recirculates air several times per run cycle, which means you could be breathing in contaminants found in the ducts or that have settled throughout the house.
Dust, dirt, pollen, pet hair, dander, and other debris can all be found in your ducts, which can drop the indoor air quality and make you feel sick. Common symptoms include congestion, sore throats, eye irritation, and headaches. You can combat the problem by having an HVAC technician clean out your ducts regularly. This service is beneficial to both your health and your wallet, as it can help your heating and cooling system operate more efficiently.
It’s also important to change the filter in your furnace often to prevent contaminants from getting into the system. If your allergy symptoms are still making it hard to fall asleep or causing you to wake up feeling sick, consider adding an air purifier to your home. These units can be placed on a tabletop for single-room purification or installed as part of an HVAC system for whole-home air treatment.
At Indoor Solutions Inc., we can set up your HVAC system to help you get the best possible sleep, so contact us at 706-225-8241.
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