We’re all in search of a great night’s sleep. While there are several factors that determine whether you will receive one or not, one that is fully within your control is what temperature to set your thermostat at night.
What works for one person may not work for others, so try experimenting with different temperatures and even different humidity settings to see what works best for you.
What’s the ideal temperature?
You’re probably tempted to turn the temperature up in the middle of the night in order to save on your cooling bill, but that may not be the best solution. The National Sleep Foundation recommends a temperature between 60 and 67 for a good night’s sleep.
That’s easy to do in winter, but probably lower than you are setting your air conditioner in the summer. You might consider looking into a zoned heating system that will let you cool only the part of your home where you sleep at night.
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity
Sometimes the right humidity setting will make the difference in a great night’s sleep. Lower humidity will make your house actually feel cooler at a higher temperature. You should be looking for something between 40 and 50 percent humidity at night.
Too much humidity can make it harder to breathe and even promote mold. Too little humidity can make your nasal passage and throat dry and scratchy.
Turn on the fan
Another option to make your room feel cooler is to run a fan at nighttime. A ceiling fan can cool your skin all night long making it feel like it’s cooler in your room than the actual temperature.
The sound of a fan can also drown out some of the noises that tend to keep you awake at night.
Ready to find out how a new home comfort system or a new whole house dehumidifier can make your house more comfortable at night? Call Kohles & Bach for more information.