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

We’ll review what temperatures are better for sleep and why. Then, we’ll offer some ideas 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 personal preferences can 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 occurs in cycles, and this pattern is known as a circadian rhythm. Our bodies use information like the quantity of light and heat around us to keep the circadian rhythm balanced with what’s needed for healthy sleep. Since the sun’s warmth disappears at night, the circadian rhythm can interpret 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 slows a lot of automatic processes that help regulate your internal temperature. For example, sweating helps dissipate excessive heat while shivering is the muscles’ way of warming themselves up. When you don’t regulate the temperature of your bedroom, even small changes can be strong enough to wake you up.

Keep Bedrooms Warmer for Infants and the Elderly

Infant children are still developing, and their smaller bodies are more reactive 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 may be too warm, and any parent will tell you that infants only know one way to show their dissatisfaction.

Tips for Fine-Tuning Sleep Temperatures

If you’re having trouble reaching your ideal sleep temperature, there are a few pieces of HVAC equipment that can make a noticeable difference. These products are especially useful for families, since 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 adjust 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 like 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 generate fine-tuned comfort for single rooms or smaller areas. As the name implies, you don’t need any additional ductwork, which helps reduce installation costs. These compact systems are perfect for rooms near unfinished spaces like the garage or attic.

Smart thermostats: These programmable thermostats are one of the simplest ways to make precise, energy-efficient adjustments to the indoor temperature. Intelligent programming can monitor how you use your HVAC system and establish the best daily schedule. So, if you like a cooler bedroom each night, a smart thermostat will automatically cool things down near 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 Marios Air Conditioning

If your HVAC system is the reason you can’t fall asleep, let Marios Air Conditioning know. We can offer recommendations and quality products ideal for maintaining comfortable nighttime temperatures. Schedule an appointment by calling us at 760-314-4766.