A cozy bedroom is a key part of a good night’s sleep, and temperature is one of the strongest influences on comfort. Tweaking the temperature of your room every night by just a few degrees can improve 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 discuss what temperatures are better for sleep and why. Then, we’ll provide some recommendations for HVAC equipment or accessories that could help improve sleep.

Your Body Is Designed to Cool Down During Sleep

According to the Sleep Foundation, the ideal bedroom temperature is around 65 degrees. Your specific preferences will have an impact, so anywhere around 63-67 is a good rule of thumb. But why is a cooler temperature easier to sleep in?

Sleep happens in cycles, and this pattern is known as a circadian rhythm. Our bodies take in information such as the amount of light and heat around us to keep the circadian rhythm in balance with what’s required 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, dark bedroom is easier to fall asleep 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 regulate 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 minor changes can be noticeable 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 best, but make sure you’re also taking sleepwear and blankets into consideration. Heavy layers could 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 finding your ideal sleep temperature, there are a few pieces of HVAC equipment that can make a noticeable difference. These products are particularly useful for families, because different preferences can lead to butting heads over the nighttime thermostat setting.

Zoning systems: A zoning system has 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 fast and easy. Members of your family that prefer 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. Luckily, a ductless mini-split can provide 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 record how you use your HVAC system and generate the best daily schedule. So, if you enjoy a cooler bedroom each night, a smart thermostat will automatically cool things down around bedtime. They’re compatible with zoning systems and mini-splits too, bolstering your control over the temperature in every room of the house.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep with ACS Heating and Air Conditioning

If your HVAC system is the reason you can’t fall asleep, let ACS Heating and Air Conditioning know. We can offer suggestions and quality products ideal for maintaining comfortable nighttime temperatures. Schedule an appointment by calling us at 770-450-1539.