Thermostat wars, where people sneakily reset the temperature, are a well-worn cliché, but many families do have one member that’s more temperature sensitive than the others.
There’s a lot more to temperature sensitivity than preference, so how do you find a temperature that works for everyone?
What Makes Someone Temperature Sensitive?
Age, height, weight, age, and metabolic rate are just a few of the factors that contribute to how you handle hot and cold temperatures. Studies also suggest that women are generally more temperature sensitive than men.
Sensitivity may also be a symptom of medical conditions like:
- Menopause
- Thyroid disease (like Hypothyroidism)
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Anemia
In addition to these and other conditions, dietary choices like excess caffeine might also affect your temperature sensitivity.
Use This Simple Experiment to Find the Right Temperature
It takes some time to find a temperature that works for everyone. Try this experiment:
Raise or lower the temperature in your home (or workplace) by a few degrees a day. When someone complains then you have found your family’s limit.
This method allows everyone to adjust to the temperature without becoming too fixated on a number they think is ideal. In fact, most members of your family will not even notice a change that’s a degree or two warmer or colder.
You may find that you need to let your family in on the experiment, so no one changes the temperature and impacts the outcome. But the idea here is to let everyone focus on how they feel, not what they think would be the correct temperature.
Tips for Temperature Control
Keeping your home comfortable for temperature sensitive members of the family can also extend beyond the thermostat. Here are some ways you can regulate the temperature of your home without touching the dial:
- Avoid Appliances. You can help the heat sensitive by using the oven sparingly in summer. Or, at least not during the hottest part of the day. The heat from indoor appliances can make your home less comfortable.
- Close the Blinds. If no one is home, consider drawing your blinds. Sunlight can heat your home and cancel out the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner. Open the blinds when you return and enjoy the natural light, without excess heat.
- Shower Smart. It might be a hard sell, but taking shorter, cooler showers can prevent your home from becoming hot and humid in the summer. It also helps your body acclimatise to the cold in winter.
- Unblock Vents. Make sure that your vents are unobstructed. You want climate-controlled air to circulate as freely and efficiently as possible.
Contact the Experts for Help
If finding a solution that works for the temperature sensitive members of your family remains a challenge, then get in touch with us, and we’ll do our best to help resolve the issue.