Tempur-pedic Rhapsody is soft after a year...what can I do?
Dec 19, 2011 9:04 PM
Joined: Jun 12, 2010
Points: 38
I bought a Rhapsody about a year ago and have noticed it has really got soft and I sink into the mattress to the point that my back is really sore in the morning. I've tried rotating the mattess and that helps, however its considerably softer that when I bought it.

Spent the extra money to get the Rhapsody due to its firmness, so this is disappointing.

Is there any sort of topper or modification that I can do to make things better? Doubt Tempur will consider this warranty from what I've been reading.

Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Tempur-pedic Rhapsody is soft after a year...what can I do?
Reply #14 Dec 23, 2011 6:37 PM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
Unfortunately the specs don't tell me 'how' everything is held together.  But I believe that is the European Sleep Works (or something along those lines, forgive me if I goof on their name) coil mattress?  

That might do the trick because of the finer guage of wire and the higher spring count.

Re: Tempur-pedic Rhapsody is soft after a year...what can I do?
Reply #15 Dec 23, 2011 7:16 PM
Joined: Jul 8, 2011
Points: 9
Dallasgirl wrote:

Hey Budgy,

 

Not asking this to be controversial or at all grumpy- just asking as I continue my own search. As you've probably read, I too had had problems with a pillow top bed (no surprise there- lesson learned- just wish I'd found this board before that mistake). I love everything about latex on paper, but in real life I just could not adjust to the 'push back'- but, I think I had an all latex from SleepEZ that ultimately was just too firm. And, while I do love the 'cush' of a nice memory foam, our Sealy Embody is mushing on us far too quickly :( That is unfortunate, bc I loved the feel of this mattress for a few months and now it's just so so. Many mornings I have pretty bad back pain, other days not so much. But, unlike many posters with lower back pain, mine is always middle to upper back. I can't speak to Tempurpedic- I have many friends that swear by them, but my husband just doesnt like the feel, so we havent taken the plunge. The Embody has a bit of a bouncier feel to it, so we tried that.

So- as Roy was making his 'push back' argument, I got back to thinking about good quality, high count coils with about ~2" of medium to soft Talalay latex. That's sort of where we are leaning. We do want the many benefits of latex, but for us, an all latex (8") mattress just didn't seem to be the right fit- probably b/c I do like just a little bit more contour- or sleeping 'in' the mattress. Not a ton, but just a little. Wondering if 2" of natural talalay over springs might give us some of the benefits of latex, but maybe a little more sinking or contour from the pocket springs? Yet- still very durable?

Hi, Dallasgirl !

If the push back feeling is the thing that latex bothers you, have you tried to put a 1" or 2" memory form on top of the latex? That will dampen the pushback(I call it bouncy) feeling.

I have a 11" all latex bed, while I like the latex feeling, I also understand latex is a different feeling from regular inner spring mattress.  I have a 1-2"memory form that I used on my old spring mattress, sometimes I put the memory form on top of my latex mattress to add some extra plush feeling (I like plush bed:-)), I found the memory form does change the feel of latex mattress, it feels less bouncy.

 

Re: Tempur-pedic Rhapsody is soft after a year...what can I do?
Reply #16 Dec 23, 2011 7:49 PM
Joined: Jun 8, 2011
Points: 100
Thanks Sara!

And Budgy- yes, it's Berkeley Ergonomics- European Sleep Works- their Alpine Model 'C' firmness :)

Re: Tempur-pedic Rhapsody is soft after a year...what can I do?
Reply #17 Dec 23, 2011 8:18 PM
Joined: Dec 22, 2011
Points: 15
budgy wrote:

 

 


Hello Dallasgirl, 

Personally I think that if the pushback of all latex was too strong for you, or too harsh so to speak.  Than its hard to imagine springs and latex being better.  The pushback effect of latex has to do with its elasticity and resiliency.  Steel is the most elastic material there is that is used in mattresses (chrome steel is more elastic, and amorphous metal, or 'liquid metal' is even more elastic), it is hard to imagine that springs and latex would work.  Perhaps an incredibly high spring count pocket coil with thinner steel used, although with latex on top its hard to imagine it would still be an improvement.  This is why I mention stuff like Vi-Spring or Lavital.  The cushioning materials are made out of natural fillings like wool, horsehair, and cotton.  They may not technically be softer than what you can make latex, but it is less elastic filling material, although still durable.  

The downside of beds like this is that they are expensive.  Perhaps there is something to be said about them.  

 


latex over coils.  Latex will hold up while the mattress will sag after a few years

This message was modified Dec 23, 2011 by francis61
Re: Tempur-pedic Rhapsody is soft after a year...what can I do?
Reply #18 Dec 23, 2011 11:14 PM
Joined: Jun 8, 2011
Points: 100
Hi Francis,

 

You mean the coils will sag? Do you have a Berkeley Ergonomics mattress? If so, I am very curious of your experience!

This message was modified Dec 23, 2011 by Dallasgirl
Re: Tempur-pedic Rhapsody is soft after a year...what can I do?
Reply #19 Dec 24, 2011 5:57 AM
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 850
Coils are durable...they do not sag....perhaps some really cheap continuous spring systems that are prone to having helical wires being bent from abuse can be sagged out over time....pocket coils do not have helical wires to bend out of place.  The reason modern coil mattresses do not last is because of the cheap polyurethane foam used as upholstery, not the springs themselves failing...this is extremely rare.
Re: Tempur-pedic Rhapsody is soft after a year...what can I do?
Reply #20 Dec 24, 2011 10:32 AM
Joined: Dec 22, 2011
Points: 15
Dallasgirl wrote:

Hi Francis,

 

 

You mean the coils will sag? Do you have a Berkeley Ergonomics mattress? If so, I am very curious of your experience!


Hi Dallasgirl! 

No I do not have said mattress.  I had a Simmons (not pocketed coils) or maybe it was a Spring Air.  Anyways, it was very firm with very little upholstery on top.  I bought a talalay topper from foamorder.com and it slept great, for a few years.

The matress had sagged, the box spring had not, it looked like the springs had just compressed.  I only paid 500. or so for the set and now sleep on a Serta perfect sleeper.  I like the Serta, has just the right amount of padding (it was the firmest on the floor), and the latex topper is nice.  its the egg crate kind.  Going on 3 years with this mattress setup