How Your AC Can Help You Sleep

Summer is here and that heat and humidity can cause for many nights of unpleasant sleep. You may be the kind of sleeper that relies on a steady environment to help you get a full night’s rest.

But how does your AC affect your sleep? One of the solutions many resort to during summer nights is to crank up the air conditioning at night. While this can create a cool and comfortable sleep environment, are there other things to take into consideration before dropping the temperature?

Baker’s Heating and Cooling has the answer!

It’s no doubt that sleep is essential to all facets of your health. Everything from the immune system function, heat health, mental health, or weight control – getting a full night of rest is important for your body. Just one night of disrupted sleep can cause problems for your body. Furthermore, lost sleep piles up and your body could be playing catch up all summer.

Temperature Regulation IS Important!

The environment we sleep in does have an impact on our sleep patterns.

Our internal temperature drops when we sleep, and your body temperature is coolest during your deepest phase of sleep. Which means that sleeping in a cooler environment will allow you the best chance at getting better rest. Because of the sleep-temperature relationship, cooler temperatures cause sleepiness and can help you achieve better sleep. The ideal cool temperature at night is from about 60 degrees to 67 degrees Fahrenheit. So, keeping your bedroom cool in the evening is important to help you achieve the best rest possible.

But, even if your AC is on, it can sometimes cause more harm than good to your health. You need consistent AC maintenance at home to ensure your AC isn’t blowing around any bacteria.

Air Conditioning Tips

As a homeowner, it is recommended to schedule HVAC technicians to come inspect your AC unit a couple times a year. But there are things you can do to maintain your AC in between those appointments.

Here are some places to start to make sure your AC system is actually helping you sleep better and keeping you healthy:

Thermostat

Let’s start with the thermostat! The thermostat is like the control center of the HVAC system. It’s also one of the easiest parts to clean and maintain.

• Check the battery. If your thermostat is battery powered, check it’s battery life. Most thermostat batteries have a lifespan of about 2 years depending on the model and usage. If the battery is low, go ahead and change it out.
• Clean dust and debris. Usually a q-tip, small brush, or canned air can easily clean the dust and debris off your thermostat. If your thermostat is a touch screen, clean it with products that are made for clean touch screen devices.
• Test the heating and cooling. You’ll want to make sure it heats up for the winter and cools for those hot summer nights. Pay attention to the delay in the heating or cooling turning on. If the unit doesn’t turn on within a few minutes, this could potentially indicate that something is wrong.

Throughout the House

You want to make sure that every indoor element is in good shape.

• Remove blockage form air ducts. Each room in the house should have an air vent. If these are dirty, remove them and clean them with soap and water. While the vent is removed, you can check for any debris and blockages with a flashlight.
• Change the filters. This is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to help make your AC system remain efficient and clean. Filters should be changed every 3 months depending on the type. If you have pets or bad allergies, you may want to change the filters more often. By changing the filters, you’re helping keep allergens and dust from blowing around the house, and keeping you healthy.

At Barker’s heating and cooling, we want your home to be a healthy, comfortable environment for you all year long. If you have any questions about your home’s conditioned air or want to schedule your HVAC tune-up, call us today!