How Your HVAC System Can Affect Your Family’s Sleep
Things like temperature, humidity, noise, and air quality can all affect the way you catch your Z’s every night. Your HVAC system contributes to all of those factors, which means your HVAC can directly affect your sleep quality. Getting enough sleep is important to you and your family’s overall health and well-being. Make sure your HVAC is adjusted correctly to improve your quality of sleep so you can wake up every day ready to take on the world.
Inconsistent or Wrong Temperatures
Temperature plays an important role in your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Studies have shown that the optimal sleeping temperature is between 60 to 67 degrees. Babies and younger children prefer a slightly higher temperature, between 65 to 70 degrees. So your air conditioner doesn’t affect your sleep, program your system to a lower temperature at night with both your air conditioner and your furnace.
If you haven’t had your air conditioner tuned up recently, it might not be able to maintain a consistent temperature. Fluctuating temperatures can hinder your ability to fall asleep or even wake you up in the middle of the night.
One minute, you’re sweating under the covers, and the next, you’re shivering while you reach for another blanket. If your HVAC is having trouble maintaining a consistent temperature, it could be that your thermostat needs calibration.
High or Low Humidity
As anyone living in Louisville, Kentucky, already knows, humidity can make things uncomfortable in a hurry. If the humidity is too high, you’ll probably toss and turn all night. If the humidity is too low, you could be left with dry, itchy skin. Keeping a comfortable humidity is important for proper sleep.
Maintaining the right humidity is a tricky job, especially during seasonal changes. Here are some things that might be affecting your indoor humidity:
- The AC unit is too large for the space, so it hits temperature targets before pulling out enough humidity.
- The unit is limited to a single-speed.
- There is negative air pressure inside your home, which sucks in air from outside, attics, basements, or crawlspaces.
- You’re using the wrong thermostat setting.
- The old unit can’t handle the load and either needs to be replaced or bolstered with a dehumidifier system.
Noisy HVAC Systems
It can be pretty hard to sleep when it sounds like a monster is just outside your bedroom. A sudden loud noise in the middle of the night can wake you up and prevent you from getting a good night’s rest. Depending on the outside temperature, your HVAC system might have to kick on multiple times per night and stop you from getting the sleep you need.
Whether it’s your AC unit or your furnace, loud noises could mean that your unit is in need of repair. Call a technician to service your HVAC unit before small issues become larger, more expensive problems.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
Your HVAC system recirculates the air in your home several times per cycle. If there are contaminants in your duct system like dirt, dust, pollen, dander or pet hair, it’s all being scattered throughout your home and lowering the overall air quality.
If someone in your family has allergies, these contaminants can be a major problem that could affect their ability to breathe or even make them feel sick. If you regularly wake up with congestion, eye irritation, sore throats, or headaches, it might be your HVAC system.
Follow these easy steps to help improve your indoor air quality for better sleep, easier breathing, and overall health:
- Change air filters regularly
- Open windows and let fresh air in when temperatures allow
- Keep up with HVAC maintenance
Sleeping with the Air Conditioner On
It is perfectly fine and healthy to sleep with the air conditioner on. Health problems related to sleeping with the AC on are old wives’ tales with no backing evidence.
Some studies briefly look at fans or air flowing over you while sleeping, and the evidence seems to indicate not to be directly under a fan. Though the truth is, if you sleep fine with a fan on you, then it’s okay.
Cooling down the house at night with the air conditioner will help you sleep better and improve your sleep quality.
Sleeping with the Furnace On
Similarly, there is no problem with sleeping with the furnace on, though perhaps with some caveats. Heat does affect sleep, and large temperature changes are likely to wake you up.
If the furnace doesn’t turn on, you may wake up due to it being too cold. If it changes the temperature too abruptly, it will wake you up. Some homeowners program their furnace to turn on the heat in the morning when they need to wake up, and it can act as a mild alarm clock.
A furnace may wake you if it makes too much noise, as mentioned above, and if it suddenly spikes the temperature at an awkward hour. The best way to ensure your furnace only has to turn on occasionally is to seal any air leaks and ensure your home has good insulation.
Sleep Better with a Professional HVAC Service
With the impact that your HVAC system can have on your family’s sleep, it’s important to keep it properly maintained. If you’ve been experiencing anything from this list, it might be time to call a professional. At Dauenhauer, we have years of experience working with Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, families performing HVAC services, repairs, and tune-ups.
Let us help your family stay comfortable and healthy. Contact us for a quote today, and be on your way to better sleep in no time.
