How Can Temperature Affect Your Sleep?

Girl Sleeping You might be surprised to learn that your brain sets your “internal thermostat” lower at night than it does during the day, which means your body’s ideal temperature is cooler at night than it is the rest of the time. In fact, scientists believe that the ideal sleeping temperature ranges from just 60 – 67 degrees at night versus somewhere around 74 degrees during the day.

Why We Sleep Cooler

This might be, in part, because your bed and covers retain so much body heat that a 74-degree bedroom quickly becomes much too hot once you crawl into bed. By keeping your room cooler at night, you accommodate the “trapped” heat that results from your mattress, sheets, comforters, and cosleepers (significant other, toddlers, pets, or all three).

The Role of a Programmable Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat makes it easy to maintain multiple different temperatures depending on the time of day. For example, you may choose to conserve energy during your work hours, cool the house down to a comfortable day temperature when you’re home and awake, and cool it further when you go to bed at night.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, don’t fret. You can still adjust your temperature settings to suit your needs with one minor difference: your home won’t begin cooling down after work until you actually get home and can adjust the thermostat. The same applies in the morning – you might awake to a cold house while a programmable thermostat allows the temperature to come back up before you get out of bed.

Getting Comfortable in Kansas City

If you don’t have central air (that’s a sin during Kansas City summer!) or your thermostat isn’t programmable, contact Apex Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. today to find out how you can get comfortable at an affordable rate. Many clients even find that air conditioning proves to lower their bills, especially if they’ve been using fans and window units to keep their home cool. Our knowledgeable staff is standing by to answer your questions and meet your needs.

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