waterbed questions
Dec 13, 2009 7:08 AM
Joined: Dec 11, 2009
Points: 33
Hello, I'm starting a new thread to attract those that use waterbeds and all their wisdom.... the only time i had a waterbed was one with softsides and TUBES, i would love to have this kind of bed, but i found that my backside slid between the tubes of water!! now this was over 20 years ago, and i wonder if they have changed the design of these tubed waterbed so that this doesn't happen anymore? does anybody have experience with this? also, i would like to hear about waveless waterbeds and back pain... how are people finding waterbeds for the pain? i can't seem to sleep on anything for more than 5 hours without having to get up and let the pain go away... would a waterbed help? and REALLY how much of a risk is there of flooding your home?? should i put a drain under my bed? lol thanks! elaine
Re: waterbed questions
Reply #7 Dec 14, 2009 11:55 AM
Location: Yosemite area
Joined: Sep 10, 2008
Points: 249
You are right, sleeping on water and sleeping on air is vastly different.  You think air...light, soft, without weight, clouds....wrong!  Compressed air runs power tools and is quite firm.  I used to have a water bed way back when, waveless, and when we moved we just stopped using it because it was a PITA to set up.  Probably should have because our bedroom was quite cold in the winter and could have used some warmth.  Bed choices are individual so if it works for you, use it!
Kait
Re: waterbed questions
Reply #8 Dec 15, 2009 12:23 AM
Joined: Dec 11, 2009
Points: 33
Hi Kait!! seems you're quit famous around these parts, good to see ya, i went back to my mattress store coz of you to see if i could buy an innerspring mattress without much padding and add my own stuff on top, i doubled up a latex topper on one such a bed, but it aggravated an injured part of my back to sleep on such a flat firm surface, didn't work for me... as a matter of fact i'm losing hope, and thinking the waveless waterbed will be the only thing that works for me, i PRAY it does, because i'm out of options, and there's noooo comfort exchange on waterbeds, so once it's bought it's bought.... but i think i have to try, how was your experience with a bad back and a waveless waterbed? i've got the kind of bad back that spasms by morning so that i can barely move, LOTS of pain... i'm hoping a bit of motion thru out the night will help... and yeah, an air bed = bad... it's not that it's uncomfortable with the foam on top, as a matter of fact if i was trying my current set up in a show room i might be sold, but it would be returned the next day haha....
Re: waterbed questions
Reply #9 Oct 26, 2010 10:29 AM
Location: NE Ohio / NW Pennsylvania
Joined: Aug 26, 2010
Points: 62
How did this get bumped up (prior to me) and there's no post showing??     I agree with the positive comments about the waveless waterbeds.  I like them, and they really do feel like gel, which is far preferable to foam, to me.  And they are right:   If the heater is not on, that waterbed will be like sleeping on ice.

But I have 3 cats with claws and I don't want the risk of leaks.   There's also a weight issue with some of the flooring in the newer construction and possibly with old rickety construction, particularly with king size.

This message was modified Oct 26, 2010 by TC2334
Re: waterbed questions
Reply #10 Jun 25, 2011 1:51 PM
Joined: Jun 25, 2011
Points: 2
Waterbeds are have many advantages over normal mattresses - The dust mites thing was what sold me!! With a waterbed you have removeable covers that you can wash in your machine. Check out http://www.georgestreetwaterbeds.com/
Re: waterbed questions
Reply #11 Jun 25, 2011 2:06 PM
Joined: Apr 15, 2011
Points: 163
ahhmunky wrote:

Waterbeds are have many advantages over normal mattresses - The dust mites thing was what sold me!! With a waterbed you have removeable covers that you can wash in your machine. Check out http://www.georgestreetwaterbeds.com/


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!

Re: waterbed questions
Reply #12 Jun 25, 2011 3:06 PM
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: May 13, 2011
Points: 170
I have a softsider water bed.... until my new latex mattress is delivered.  I've moved it a couple of times; it's a pain and you cannot get all of the water out of the tubes.  The tubes were still on the heavy side when moving because there was still water left in them.  The outer covers of the egg crate foam top got all torn (with use) and I replaced it with an inexpensive memory foam topper, which was not a great choice.  The outer soft side seems to still be in good condition as does the outer cover, which has NO padding in it.

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.

 

Re: waterbed questions
Reply #13 Jun 25, 2011 3:46 PM
Joined: Apr 15, 2011
Points: 163
sleepswithcats wrote:

I have a softsider water bed.... until my new latex mattress is delivered.  I've moved it a couple of times; it's a pain and you cannot get all of the water out of the tubes.  The tubes were still on the heavy side when moving because there was still water left in them.  The outer covers of the egg crate foam top got all torn (with use) and I replaced it with an inexpensive memory foam topper, which was not a great choice.  The outer soft side seems to still be in good condition as does the outer cover, which has NO padding in it.

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.

 

Thanks, Sleepswithcats! I appreciate the benefit of your expereince. As to goin' the way of disco, well, it sounds better to me now than it did thirty years ago! I don't think they had softsides back then, did they, though? So progress marches on, such as it is!


 

Re: waterbed questions
Reply #14 Jun 25, 2011 7:20 PM
Joined: Jun 25, 2011
Points: 2
weewillywinky wrote:

 


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!

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.
 

Re: waterbed questions
Reply #15 Jun 25, 2011 7:56 PM
Joined: Jun 10, 2010
Points: 30
We loved our softside water bed for many years (15?). No problem slipping between the tubes, as the zip cover was heavily padded. Advantages were: Looked like a regular mattress when zipped,  the comfort,  and that we could use regular size sheets. Disadvantages - hard to move the bed and the padding in the cover was cheap foam that over the years deteriorated until the mattress was sagging. We had only one leaky tube in 15 years. The cover is far too thick for the cat's claws to go through.

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

Re: waterbed questions
Reply #16 Jun 25, 2011 8:35 PM
Joined: Dec 13, 2009
Points: 26
weewillywinky wrote:

 


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!



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.

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