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Healthy woman doing yoga in home by Degree Residential

HVAC Insights: How Does the Temperature Contribute to Your Health & Wellness?

When it comes to our health and wellness, the temperature is an important factor that people often forget. The temperature of your home can have a significant impact on your health and wellness. In fact, research has shown that both too cold and too hot temperatures can lead to a variety of health problems. Whether you’re trying to avoid getting sick or just striving to feel your best, setting the optimal temperatures in your homes can make a big difference. We’ve assembled a guide to achieving the perfect temperature for several different occasions at home.

A Guide to Achieving the Perfect Temperature at Home

The weather and climate change inevitably play the most significant role in outdoor temperature changes, but the more control you have over your indoor temperatures at home, the more beneficial it can be for your health. Keep reading our guide below to achieve the perfect temperatures at home for various different occasions and seasons.

Temperatures For a Comfortable Home & Good Overall Health:

Maintaining an optimal temperature in your home is important for your overall health and comfort level. Health professionals recommend keeping your home between 20 and 26 degrees Celsius (68- and 78 degrees Fahrenheit) depending on the season in order to maintain a healthy indoor environment. Finding the perfect temperature for your home will have an overarching effect on your overall mood and comfort.

Temperatures For Sleeping:

Finding the perfect temperature to help you achieve the best quality of sleep might be the most important thing you could do for your body. Most people need their bedrooms to be on the cooler side in order to get a good night’s rest as cooler temperatures encourage your body to initiate sleep. According to The National Sleep Foundation, the recommended temperature ideal for sleep is between 15.5- and 19.5 degrees Celsius (60- and 67 degrees Fahrenheit). A ceiling fan combined with your HVAC unit is the ultimate combination for achieving cool sleeping temperatures. Getting a good night’s rest is crucial for giving both your body and mind a break and setting your days up for success.

Temperatures For Relaxing:

When you want to relax at home but don’t want to sleep, a slightly warmer temperature is typically more comfortable. There’s nothing better than feeling warm and cozy while you’re nestled up on the couch watching a movie or reading a book. To achieve this desirable temperature, we recommend setting your thermostat to around 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit). Set your relaxation time up for success by optimizing your thermostat first.

Temperatures For Working Out:

At-home workouts have gotten increasingly popular in the past couple of years. However, if you are planning on working out at home, it’s important to make sure the temperature is not too hot or too cold. Remember, you want to keep your internal body temperature as regulated as possible, especially while exercising. A good range to aim for when you’re working out at home is between 20- and 22-degree Celsius (68- and 72 degrees Fahrenheit). Having a fan in the room will also help you regulate your internal body temperature and keep you more comfortable. Achieving these ideal temperatures will help you get the most out of your workout at home.

Temperatures To Avoid Sickness:

When we are trying to avoid getting sick, it’s important to keep our bodies at a comfortable temperature as it helps with quicker recovery. We should also be aware of the temperatures that viruses thrive in. For example, the flu virus thrives in cool, dry conditions, so to help you avoid the flu you may want to keep your home slightly warmer than you usually would. Temperatures between 21- and 24.5 degrees Celsius (70- and 76 degrees Fahrenheit) are recommended by professionals. On the other hand, if you are trying to avoid a cold, you may want to keep your home cooler than usual since cold viruses thrive in warm, moist conditions. It’s recommended to set your thermostat below 18 degrees Celsius (65 degrees Fahrenheit) to help avoid a cold or enable a quicker recovery.

Temperatures For Summer:

The ideal summer temperature depends on a few factors, including humidity levels. However, most experts agree that the optimal range is between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius (68-76 degrees Fahrenheit). Maintaining these average temperatures throughout the summer rather than sporadically cranking the air conditioning on hot days will also be easier on your energy bill. If possible, you should also try to keep the humidity levels in your home between 40-60%. You can do this by using a dehumidifier or by opening windows and doors on days when the humidity is low. Ceiling fans can also help regulate indoor temperatures during the summer by circulating cool air around the house.

Temperatures For Winter:

During the cold winter months, it’s important to keep your home warm enough to prevent the aggravation of common health problems such as asthma and bronchitis. Colder temperatures also cause sleepiness and poor circulation. Most experts recommend setting the thermostat to at least 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit), but often people are most comfortable with temperatures up to 24 (76 degrees Fahrenheit).  If you have young children or elderly family members living with you, it’s even more important to make sure your home is sufficiently heated as they are more susceptible to health problems associated with cold temperatures.

 

Of course, these are just general guidelines, and you should ultimately adjust the temperature in your home based on your own preferences and comfort level. However, following these tips can help you create a more comfortable and healthy home environment. Degree Residential offers several HVAC system solutions that can help you achieve optimal temperatures for your health and wellness. We can help outfit your home with air solutions that help you live the happiest and healthiest life.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find more comfort at home.