A relaxing bedroom is a crucial part of a good night’s sleep, and temperature is one of the biggest influences on comfort. Adjusting the temperature of your room every night by just a few degrees can benefit the length and quality of your sleep. But just like how people have different comfort preferences, they also have different preferences for sleep.

We’ll learn 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 approximately 65 degrees. Your specific preferences should have an impact, so anywhere around 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 balance with what’s needed for healthy sleep. Since the sun’s warmth disappears at night, the circadian rhythm interprets 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 stops a lot of automatic processes that help regulate your internal temperature. For example, sweating helps dissipate excessive heat while shivering is the muscles’ attempt to warm themselves up. When you don’t regulate the temperature of your bedroom, even minor 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 in tune 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 can be too warm, and any parent will tell you that infants only have one way to express dissatisfaction.

Tips for Fine-Tuning Sleep Temperatures

If you’re having trouble maintaining your ideal sleep temperature, there are a few pieces of HVAC equipment that can make a big difference. These systems are especially 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 redirect airflow. If you want to adjust the temperature for a specific 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 existing equipment and personal preferences just aren’t compatible. Thankfully, a ductless mini-split can generate fine-tuned comfort for single rooms or smaller areas. As the name implies, you don’t need any new ductwork, which helps reduce 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 record how you use your HVAC system and create the best daily schedule. So, if you enjoy a cooler bedroom each night, a smart thermostat can automatically cool things down close to bedtime. They’re compatible with zoning systems and mini-splits as well, enhancing your control over the temperature in every room of the house.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep with Refrigeration Systems Ltd.

If your HVAC system is the reason you can’t fall asleep, let Refrigeration Systems Ltd. know. We can offer suggestions and quality products ideal for maintaining comfortable nighttime temperatures. Schedule an appointment by calling us at 778-693-2532.