Hot Flashes, Cold Sweats, And Air Conditioning In Winter: A Few Things You Should Know
The body does strange things as you get older. Women, in particular, experience hot flashes and cold sweats, no matter what the season or time of day. If you have ever visited your grandparents at their home, then you have probably also witnessed what happens at a much later age when the body is constantly cold and people of a certain age turn the heat up to roasting temperatures (even in summer!). If you are currently at an age and stage in life where you are turning on the air conditioning to feel comfortable at night in the middle of winter, there are a few things you should know.
Running the Air Conditioner in Winter Is Not a Good Idea
If you live in an area that is blasted with colder temperatures and snow, running your air conditioner is not a good idea. When people turn the heat on in winter, it is not just because they are cold and they want a toasty home. It is because they need to keep the pipes in the home from freezing. Water in the pipes can freeze if the home is not kept at or above fifty degrees. If you are trying to run your air conditioner while your home is in the middle of a cold snap, the water in your pipes has time to freeze, and subsequently, the pipes will burst when the water in them freezes.
Damage to the Air Conditioner Is Also a Possibility
Air conditioners have compressor oil inside them. This compressor oil is only designed to flow and operate during warmer months. It keeps the compressor lubricated. Attempting to initiate the operational status of your air conditioner in winter can damage the appliance because the oil in the compressor will not be able to flow freely and adequately lubricate the compressor. Hence, the compressor could be damaged, and your air conditioner will not work.
A Better Option
It is a proven fact that people sleep better when they are cool and not warm. If you are just too hot at night to sleep, turn down your thermostat a few degrees while keeping the heat on and the air conditioning off. Use ceiling fans and other types of fans near your bed to keep you cool if necessary. That way, the pipes in your home will be safe, your air conditioner will continue running next summer, and you will be able to sleep most comfortably with a fan blowing on you.