Sleeping next to an air conditioner (AC) can make you feel colder. Air conditioners work by removing heat and moisture from the air, thereby lowering the temperature in a room. When you sleep next to an AC, the cool air it produces is blown directly towards you, causing a drop in your body temperature and making you feel colder.
AC units use a refrigeration cycle to cool the air. They extract warm air from the room, pass it through a refrigerant system, and then release the cooled air back into the room. This process continually cools down the air in the immediate vicinity of the AC unit, creating a localized cold zone.
Additionally, AC units often produce a breeze or airflow to distribute the cooled air throughout the room. This breeze can enhance the cooling effect by increasing the rate of heat transfer from your body to the surrounding air. Consequently, if you sleep near the AC unit, the cool air and airflow may cause you to feel colder than if you were sleeping further away.
It's worth noting that individual sensitivity to temperature can vary. While some people may find the cool air from an AC pleasant and comfortable for sleeping, others might feel too cold or experience discomfort. To optimize your sleep environment, it can be helpful to adjust the AC temperature or airflow, use blankets or layers to regulate your body temperature, or position yourself away from the direct airflow if needed.