Is a Waterbed the Right Choice?
My first encounter with a waterbed occurred around 1976 or so when I was invited to spend the night on one. The mattress, which was essentially just a big vinyl bladder filled with water, was not something that I considered conducive to rest. It pitched and rolled, and despite assurances that the heater was functioning, it sucked body heat out of me and left me near hypothermic. Sleeping on vinyl covered by only a sheet had the reverse effect of making my skin clammy. It was a nightmare.
I’m well aware that waterbeds have undergone great advances in technology since those days. A variety of bladder styles employ certain means to eliminate the pitching and rolling that I found so uncomfortable. Hybrid designs now allow for the complementary use of water and foam in order to allow for considerable stability, to the point where it’s no longer necessary to mount a waterbed in a wooden frame.
Still, when I look at the pros and cons of waterbeds, and consider the available alternatives, it’s hard for me to imagine that one is in my future, at least as an owner. Waterbeds require some extra care. Conditioner must be added to the water, and some say should be replaced periodically. This requires draining the bed, and whether you simply siphon out the water or use a pump, it takes time and effort.
While modern hybrid waterbeds don’t require a heater, many people opt for them, and hard frame types still require them. This runs up the electric bill, naturally. If the heater fails, waterbed heater replacement for this style requires draining the bed to get access to the heater, which is under the mattress. Another time consuming and expensive necessity.
I’d suggest that anyone caught up with the idea of the glamour of a waterbed look into the matter very thoroughly before making the commitment.