How HVAC Can Help Your Sleep

We have all had sleepless nights, but some have more than others. This post will share some tips and tricks we have collected to help you and your family get better sleep because of your heating and cooling system.

Maintenance if Required

• This one may seem obvious, but if you are being awoken by clanks and bangs from your heating or air conditioning system, you should have someone come and check on your system. This is one of the clearest signs that something may be wrong.
• Others are if there is a weird smell or if it is failing to keep the home at the desired temperature.
• The odds of a system needing maintenance increases as it gets older, and almost all systems should be replaced every 15 years.

Temperature to Sleep

• Humans tend to sleep best in a temperature range of 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Having a heating and cooling system that can keep this temperature steady, all night and all year, can be very helpful in improving sleep.
• Research is currently being done to see if sleeping in even colder conditions is better. Colder environments tend to make people more sleepy as the body burns more energy to keep your internal temperature up. This could also mean that sleeping in the cold could help with weight loss by helping you burn more calories at rest.
• Another thing that can aid in this is making sure your home is properly insulated. If you live in Massachusetts, a state-run program called Mass Save offers free or heavily discounted insulation as a way of working towards their goal of a greener tomorrow. If you spend less energy on heating and cooling your home, less fossil fuels are used to generate power.



Air Quality

• Air that is full of dust can irritate the sinuses, and anyone can tell that it's no fun trying to sleep with a clogged nose. Poor air quality can also make colds and other illnesses feel worse because of that sinus irritation.
• The easiest way to avoid this is to make sure you are replacing the heating filter regularly and keeping an eye on your system as it gets older. Dusting regularly can also help, but that's not HVAC related.

Some Extra, Non-HVAC, Ways to Improve Sleep

1. Limit caffeine intake in general, but especially after 2 p.m.
2. Relax for 30 minutes before bed without a screen. Activities like drawing, crocheting, or reading a physical book are all great ways to help you wind down
3. Close the blinds at night to block out light, but open them in the morning as sunlight helps our bodies wake up and feel awake
4. Get at least 20 minutes of exercise a day. Everything from intense lifting to a casual walk counts

What If I Want to Replace My HVAC System?

• Now is an excellent time for Massachusetts residents to replace their HVAC system. Mass Save is a state run program that offers massive rebates on new Heat Pump systems. But this amazing opportunity given by MassSave won't last forever, especially as Heat Pumps become a stable part of the HVAC market.
• We at Modern Energy can help with everything from understanding the rebates to replacing and installing your new system. Call us soon if you want a new system in time for summer as our calendar is starting to fill up!
• If you wish to know more about the specifics of the Heat Pumps available for your home, check out other articles on our page. We have informational articles covering topics from how Heat Pumps work to breakdowns of the different models available, such as Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, and Goodman.
• Let us use our expertise to help you and your family. Call Modern Energy at (508)-449-0449 for help with any part of this process.