Mattress Forum

Thanks, Ahhmunky! I've been thinking over this possibility. Does anyone out there have any experience with soft sided waterbeds? I have a massive wooden bedframe that I am loathe to deal with selling and replacing, but then again, it might be worth it, if I was sure a hardsided waterbed was what I wanted and would be happy with. The hardside waterbed mattresses certainly are attractively priced. What about emptying and moving waterbeds? How hard is it with a pump? I've read people say it's a PITA and still rather heavy to move and deal with even when emptied, because, I gather, it's relatively impossible to remove all the water, even with a pump. I'd be interested in any readers' experiences with waterbeds in general. Thanks, again!

As far as comfort goes, it was fine when I first got it.  After about 7 years, if two people slept in it, there was a tendency to sag to the middle.  With one person, it wasn't as noticable.  I have not added any water to the tubes in years.  In fact I have not added any water bed tablets either :-)

It's difficult for me to remember what the bed was like 5 years ago.  While the individual components seem to still be in good shape, it's not as comfortable as it was when new.  I'm guessing it has about a 10 year life.  Mine has never flooded or leaked.  But lf you exploded one tube, you should still be able to vacuum it up with a wet dry vac without too much damage.  It would be a mess, though.  You should be able to find out how much water each tube holds.  It might be a problem if your bedroom is on an upper floor.  Mine is on the first floor so it's not an issue.

When I went mattress shopping, the salesman laughed when I told him I had a waterbed.  They have largely gone the way of disco.  In the 80s there wasn't much choice for mattresses. Today there are lots of choices including combinations of materials that are affordable.

I don't regret the choice I made in 1996.  But today I would pass on the water bed.

As for your pain, that's not something I can comment on.

Give Dave or Terry a call at George street waterbeds! They're really helpfull, they could probably convert your old bed into a waterbed, they offer a moving service too, they will drain and move the bed for you, the cost depends on your location so give them a call on 01633 211448 or email info@georgestreetwaterbeds.com or visit the website and fill out the form at http://www.georgestreetwaterbeds.com/ the moving service is the last button on the menu.
 

Our new mattress is latex and we are happy with it.

I have a waveless hardside waterbed and love it!  Like I said in one of my earlier posts, I don't have to worry about dust mites and my allergies are much better now.

In the winter it is nice and warm and in the summer I turn down the heater and it is nice and cool.  I find the maintenance very easy and wish I had discovered these years ago.

I appreciate these comments and all of the comments from the members of this forum. We are so lucky to have this forum and be able to learn from the experiences and knowledge of others. I really appreciate you all!

I have a couple more questions or comments about waterbeds. I have read that the electricity required for warming the water is significant. As a "green" I'm concerned about electricity consumption due to the environmental costs and consequences of electricity production. So my question is: if you don't heat the water, are waterbeds with foam or other toppers between you and the water mattress "cold"? I've read some comments saying they tend to feel on the cool side. This might be all right in the summer, but what about winter? Has anyone succesfully overcome this with the use of toppers (latex, wool, other) or going with a particular manufacturer's covering?

Another question: how heavy are filled waterbeds? What kind of platform or foundation is required to support the weight?

Another question: with the softsided mattresses, does the foam structure surrounding them tend to break down over time? How durable are they?

Thanks again!

I set my waterbed heater between 87 -90 degrees.  I keep the blankets pulled up to help hold in the heat and insulate the waterbed.  I think it costs me around 14 to 20 dollars a month but it also allows me to keep my thermostat turned down in my bedroom, so my heating bill is lower.

No doubt a waterbed is heavy when filled but when it is drained it is lighter then a conventional mattress.  A hardside mattress requires a special frame that holds the bladder.

Newer hybrid waterbeds(softside) have largely done away with the need for a heating system and the decision of whether or not to have a heater is strictly one of a personal preference and comfort. 

The foam along the edge of my bed has not broken down.  The edge of the bed seems firm.  It sags in the middle.

Water weighs approximately 1 lbs per gallon.  According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbed">wikipedia</a> waterbed of size 160 x 200 x 020 cm weighs about 1400 lbs/640 kg.  YMMV.

Given the number of choices on the market today, I would not recommend purchasing a waterbed.  Unless you have special needs that only a waterbed can satisfy, buy something else.

Sleepswithcats, do you think the sagging in the middle is due to the breakdown of the baffles (fibers) that make it a waveless bed? I read about the various systems and it seems to be a potential problem since there are not some really good solutions out there, or so it seems to me. Waves are a problem, too, of course, when you're tossing and turning, trying to get some sleep, or filling it to the point you get a very hard surface so as to avoid the problem of waves.

Again, many thanks! Better to know what you're dealing with in thoughts and words before you have to deal with the actual thing itself, particularly when they are so big and expensive.