3 Health Benefits of Using Your AC While Sleeping

An HVAC company is the wrong place to look for medical claims, so we will not promise specific health outcomes from running your AC at night. What we can speak to is comfort, and the practical side of sleeping in a room that is cool, dry and quiet. If you have questions about sleep and health, your doctor is the person to ask.

In the Tri-Cities, summer nights can stay warm long after the sun goes down, and a stuffy bedroom makes it hard for many people to rest. Here are three comfort gains that are easy to notice, and how to get them.

A cooler room is easier to sleep in

Many people find they sleep more soundly when the bedroom is on the cool side. Common advice is a temperature in the low to mid 60s or upper 60s Fahrenheit, though the right number varies from person to person. Try a setting that feels comfortable under your usual bedding, and adjust a degree or two until it feels right.

A programmable or smart thermostat helps here. You can let the house stay a little warmer during the day while you are out, then have it cool the bedroom before bedtime. That way you are not blasting the system at ten at night.

Drier air feels better on hot nights

An air conditioner removes moisture as well as heat. Our climate is dry most of the year, but humid or muggy days do happen, and a room with sticky air is uncomfortable even at a modest temperature. Air conditioning takes the edge off that clammy feeling.

Keep bedroom doors and windows shut while the system runs, so cooled air stays where you want it. If smoke from a late-summer wildfire is hanging over the valley, running the AC with the windows closed also keeps outdoor air from drifting in, and a clean filter helps with the smoke particles that do get through.

A steady hum can be a comfort

A well-running system produces a gentle background sound that some people find helpful for sleeping, especially in neighbourhoods where traffic or yard work carries on late. That only applies if your system is running quietly. Rattling, buzzing, squealing or banging is a sign that something needs attention, and it can be worse than no air conditioning at all.

Bedroom placement matters as well. If the outdoor unit sits right under a bedroom window, its sound may carry more than you would like, and an installer can sometimes suggest a better spot when the equipment is being replaced. Even a small change, such as setting the fan speed one notch lower at night, can make the room feel calmer.

Set the system up for the night

• Replace the filter before the summer season and check it monthly in July and August.
• Keep the bedroom supply vent open and the return unobstructed.
• Use blackout curtains or shades on west-facing windows to keep afternoon heat out.
• Set the fan to auto so the system is not blowing warm, humid air between cooling cycles.
• Give the outdoor unit a foot or two of clear space on every side.

Keep it running for the whole season

A system that has not been serviced can lose capacity slowly, so the house never quite reaches the temperature you set. A tune-up checks airflow, coils, electrical connections and refrigerant levels. The refrigerant part is a job for a licensed technician, and nobody else should touch it.

The heat of an August night is the wrong moment to learn that your AC needs work. If you would like it checked before the next warm spell, Air-Tech can be reached at (509) 392-2021, and our AT Advantage Program includes two visits a year so cooling and heating are both covered.