Sleeping is essential to one’s overall health and well-being, so it is vital to ensure you get enough of it. Unfortunately, depending on the circumstances, your home’s HVAC system can significantly impact your family’s sleeping habits.

You’ll want to ensure a good night’s sleep for you and your family, which is why it’s important to know how your HVAC system may be affecting your sleep cycle.

4 Ways Your HVAC Unit Affects Your Sleep Cycle

You might be wondering how your home’s HVAC system affects sleep. There are several variables that can impact sleep quality, including temperature, humidity, noise, and indoor air quality.

1. Inconsistent Temperatures

Temperature plays a vital role in your ability to fall and stay asleep. Studies have shown that the ideal sleeping temperature is 60 to 67 degrees. Babies and younger children prefer a slightly higher temperature, between 65 to 70 degrees. Because of this, you’ll want to set your HVAC system to a temperature that fits your family’s needs and preferences.

If your HVAC system is older or needs service, it might not be able to maintain an ideal consistent temperature. Fluctuating temperatures can hinder your ability to fall asleep or cause you to wake up in the middle of the night.

If your HVAC is having trouble maintaining a consistent temperature, it could be issues with your thermostat, or your unit may require maintenance or repair.

2. Humidity Issues

Humidity can make things uncomfortable relatively quickly. Too much humidity in your space will cause muggy, hot temperatures, leaving you to toss and turn all night. On the other hand, too little humidity can leave you with dry, itchy skin, along with chapped lips and dry sinuses.

There are a several factors that might be affecting your home’s humidity levels, including:

• Your heating and cooling units are too large for your home
• The HVAC unit is limited to a single-speed
• There is negative air pressure inside of your home
• You’re using the wrong thermostat setting
• The old HVAC unit can no longer handle the load

Maintaining proper humidity in your home can be tricky, especially during seasonal changes. However, doing so is essential for quality sleep. If you’re struggling with too little or too much humidity, consider getting a humidifier to add moisture to the air, or a dehumidifier to decrease moisture in the air.

By doing so, you can maintain healthy humidity levels in your home, ultimately helping you to get a better night’s rest and improving your indoor air quality.

3. Noisy HVAC System

Have you ever woken up to the sound of your HVAC unit kicking on in the middle of the night? If so, you know how difficult it can be to get decent sleep when it consistently turns on and off all night. Depending on the outside temperature, your HVAC system might have to kick on multiple times per night, stopping you from getting the sleep you need.

One way to fix this issue is to adjust the thermostat schedule of your unit, thereby minimizing HVAC activity during your typical sleep hours. Programmable thermostats can help automate this process.

Whether it’s your AC unit or your furnace, loud noises could also mean your unit needs repair. Call a technician to service your HVAC unit before minor issues become more prominent and expensive.

4. 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, they are likely to scatter throughout your home, negatively impacting indoor air quality.

If someone in your family has allergies, these contaminants can significantly affect their breathing ability or even make them feel sick. If you regularly wake up with congestion, eye irritation, sore throats, or headaches, it might be due to your HVAC system.

Follow these easy steps to help improve your indoor air quality for better sleep and overall health:

• Change air filters frequently
• Open windows to let fresh air in
• Keep up with HVAC maintenance

With your HVAC system’s impact on your family’s sleep, keeping it properly maintained is essential. If you’re having trouble sleeping due to inconsistent temperatures, poor air quality, and more, it might be time to call a professional.

At Fayette Heating and Air, we have years of experience working with Lexington, KY, families. Our team of experts can perform HVAC services, including repairs and tune-ups. Let us help your family sleep better by contacting us today.