What Do You Need for a Waterbed?

Frame

• Hard frame water beds are composed of a plain rectangular wooden riser or a set of drawers on which rests plywood decking and a wooden mattress frame. Soft-side water bed frames look like regular spring mattresses and consist of one or more mattresses housed within a foam frame and covered with a padded mattress cover. These mattresses rest on top of a metal frame and a base that resembles a box spring. You must obtain the necessary brackets and screws for your water bed before assembly.

Heater

• A properly functioning water bed heater is essential for comfort and safety. The heater keeps the water inside the mattress at an optimal temperature for sleeping, and turning the heat too high or low can cause muscle aches and sleeping problems. Place the heater on top of the decking or on the bottom of the mattress housing, and add a mattress liner and the mattress. Test the heater before filling the bed.

Liner

• The mattress liner should be placed on top of the heater in both hard frame and soft-side water beds. The liner protects the frame and heater from moisture in the event of a mattress leak. It also provides a layer of protection for the mattress itself, protecting the vinyl from splinters in the plywood decking. Soft-side beds feature built-in liners, but you will have to purchase a size-specific liner for your hard frame water bed.

Mattress

• Frames and mattresses are available in any size from twin to California king. A water bed mattress should be free of holes or patches. The vinyl should be supple and should be wiped down with vinyl cleanser each time you change your sheets. During assembly, pull the corners of the mattress towards the frame corners and continually shift the mattress to remove wrinkles. Fill the mattress with about 2 inches of water, and make any final adjustments before you continue.

Conditioner

• Water bed conditioner is available at many furniture stores, online shops and large retail stores. It protects the interior of the mattress from bacteria and reduces bubble formation. Conditioner must be added every six months to one year, according to package directions. Bubbles may still form inside the mattress, especially after initial setup. Open the fill valve, and run the handle of a broom along the top of the mattress to burp any bubbles out through the hole.

Sheets

• Water bed sheets have deeper corners, are larger than regular sheets and are often sewn together at the foot of the bed for convenience. Water bed mattresses are of slightly different dimensions than regular mattresses, and though using regular sheets is possible, they will often slide off the corners of the bed. You may modify your regular sheets by adding fabric to the corners or fitting the corners with an elastic strap for stability.