How Air Conditioners Improve Your Sleep

When does your air conditioner get used the most? At noon when the sun is at its highest point, but before the house has had a chance to heat up? During the late afternoon when temperatures are at their peak? Chances are, your air conditioner gets put to sleep when you do, or at least it stops working quite as hard to maintain your desired room setting as the outside temperature drops. But maybe you should crank it up in the evening, or so say sleep experts. While using an air conditioner during the daytime is all about comfort, using it at night as all about rejuvenation. This is because your sleep is improved when the temperature drops below 70 degrees.

Set Your Air Conditioner Between 65 and 72 Degrees for the Best Sleep Quality

According to Web MD, most experts believe that humans get the best sleep when the room is between 65 and 72 degrees. However, when it comes down to it, it is all about your personal comfort. Larger people, particularly men, may find 65 degrees more sleep inducing than women. According to Craig Heller, professor of biology at Stanford, “When you go to sleep, your set point for body temperature — the temperature your brain is trying to achieve — goes down.” It is easier for the body to achieve this temperature in a room that is too cold than too warm, though having a cool rather than cold room is ideal to maximize sleep quality and minimize time to fall asleep.

Worried About Your AC Bill Rising by Using it at Night?

If the electricity bill has got you down, consider using other techniques to cool the house off during the day and night. Use box fans to suck in cold air in the morning, keep your blinds closed during the day, and get the box fans out in the evening again as the outside air temperature cools down. Then, once your home is down to a reasonable temperature and you are getting ready for bed, set the air conditioner to low and close the windows if it is still warmer than your desired sleep temperature outside. Also, by setting the air conditioner at night and closing your bedroom windows, you get a consistent temperature. This means that instead of the room starting at 73 degrees at night and dropping to an uncomfortable 54 degrees by morning, you sleep in a consistent 68 degrees, for example. By using these methods, you can get better sleep and reduce your electricity bill enough during the day to afford using it at night when air conditioning really matters.

Contact Us to Schedule an Appointment

Air conditioners can be finicky, especially when they have not been properly cared for by regular maintenance. Let the professional repair technicians of Van Drunen Heating & Air Conditioning help you maximize your sleep by fixing your air conditioner. Feel free to call us at 708-339-6444 today.