Waterbed Mattress Tips

Hard-side vs. Soft-side

• When most people think of water beds, the traditional hard-side mattress system comes to mind. A hard-side mattress system consists of a vinyl mattress that rests inside a rigid wooden box on a pedestal. A soft-side mattress system is self-supporting, with a foundation mattress and a mattress top featuring a foam cushion edge. The soft-side water bed system resembles a traditional, inner-spring mattress and box spring.

Bedding

• One advantage to soft-side mattresses is that they can use traditional sheets. Soft-side water bed mattress sizes are as follows. King: 76 by 80 inches; queen: 60 by 80 inches; full: 54 by 75 inches; and twin: 39 by 75 inches. Hard-side water bed mattresses are longer and wider. The most common hard-side water bed mattress sizes are California king at 72 by 84 inches; queen at 60 by 84 inches; and super single at 48 by 84 inches. Most hard-side water bed sheets have deep pockets, and many have small, plastic poles at the corners as an extra measure to keep the pockets from slipping out of place. Although you might be able to wrangle a traditional sheet onto a hard-side water bed, the fit will be poor and the corners will frequently pop out. You are better off buying the correct type of sheets. Few retail stores carry water bed sheets, but there is an abundance of online outlets.

Heaters

• All water beds require a heater. Even if you live in a warm climate, sleeping on a water bed without a heater feels cold and clammy. Heaters do not have to make your bed uncomfortably warm. They can be adjusted greatly for personal comfort. Hard-side water bed mattresses and soft-side water bed mattresses require different types of heaters. When purchasing a heater, be sure that it is intended for your water bed mattress type and size.

Filling and Draining

• Once your water bed is filled, its weight makes it virtually impossible to move. Make sure the bed is positioned exactly where you want it before you start to fill it with water. Contrary to myth, however, water beds will not crash through a properly constructed floor.

  Fill-and-drain kits are available from any water bed supplier. These kits include adapters to make a garden hose fit the fill opening on a mattress. If you fill your mattress using a garden hose connected to an outside water supply, remember that the water will be very cold and the heater will have to work for quite some time to bring it up to a comfortable sleeping temperature. If possible, attach the hose to a spigot that also has a hot water supply, such as the faucets for a washing machine, and fill it with lukewarm water.

  Water beds can be drained using a simple siphon method, but an easier and more complete way to drain them is with a pump, also available from water bed suppliers. Even when drained, be aware that a fiber-filled mattress will retain some water and will be heavy. Make sure you have some help when attempting to move the mattress to a new location.