FAQ
If you have a question about buying, owning or maintaining a water bed then please feel free to check our waterbed FAQ's below or just give us a call, we're be happy to help.
What are the differences between the various waterbeds?
There are 3 main types of waterbed – Softside, Hardside and Tube.
Hardside waterbeds have rigid side supports that hold the water mattress in place.
Softside water beds have rigid foam sides inside the mattress that act as a support. This allows the mattress to keep it’s shape without the need for rigid sides like the hardside beds.
Tube mattresses are a type of foam mattress with a thin layer of water on top. However it should be noted that many of the traditional waterbed benefits are lost wit this type of bed.
What types of waterbed mattress are available?
The 2 main variants you find with waterbed mattresses are –
1) The number of internal foam layers.
The more layers a mattress has the greater the dampening effect on the water movement. The first waterbeds were made using free-flow mattresses that meant every movement would create a wave effect on the bed. Luckily things have moved on since then and the stability grade you choose will depend on your personal preferences.
2) Uno or Dual mattress
Uno or one piece mattresses have no divide between the two sides – they generally use one heater and move in unison. Dual mattresses are split down the middle into 2 separate sides – they allow for each person to choose their own level of firmness, temperature and you will not feel your partner’s wave motion.
Do I need to have my floor strengthened?
Our waterbeds are designed to distribute the weight of the bed evenly over the bedroom floor area. In fact there is no more weight on the floor then when you are having a bath.
Building regulations dictate that all floors need to hold a minimum weight. The weight of our waterbeds are a small fraction of this so present no problem at all.
Will the mattress puncture?
It is extremely unlikely that a waterbed will puncture unless somebody intentional attacks it with a sharp object. If this did happen, the safety liner that we provide with every mattress will hold any water that did leak. Any small tear in the mattress can then be repaired using one of our repair kits or alternatively, you could also purchase a replacement mattress.
Will it make me motion sick?
Part of the appeal of a waterbed for some people is the thought of the relaxing wave motion sending them to sleep. Other people don’t buy a waterbed for this reason alone. Luckily advances in waterbed design have led to a wide range of options available to satisfy both types of consumer as well as people in the middle. Free-flowing mattresses will have you bobbing up and down all night long while 6 layer mattresses will provide a 90% plus waveless motion.
Is it expensive to heat?
Our energy efficient heaters can heat your waterbed 24hours a day for the modest cost of only £2.50 per month. All Aquastatus heaters have built in thermostats that allow you to set your preferred temperature so the heater will only start when the temperature falls below this level.
What size beds do you sell?
We sell a wide range of styles in all standard bed sizes – single, double, queen and king size water beds are all available both online and from our retail outlet in Newport, South Wales.
Do waterbeds offer any health benefits?
Yes a waterbed will help with a variety of common health related conditions that stop you getting a good night sleep. For more information please refer to our section on health benefits of a waterbed.
Will I wake my partner when I move in bed?
You are very unlikely to disturb your partner because of the soothing movement of the waterbed. However if your partner is a light sleeper and you are still concerned then we would advise to purchase a waterbed with at least a 4 layer mattress or a dual mattress that will have it's own seperate water compartment.
How will my waterbed be installed?
Aquastatus will deliver and install your waterbed totally free of charge. Installation typical take about 90mins - all you need to supply is a water source and then we will do the rest.
How often do I need to change the water?
You will never need to change the water in the waterbed mattress unless you want to move the bed due to the overall water weight. However a conditioner will need to be added every 6 months in order to keep the mattress supple and prevent the growth of algae. As long as you carry out this process there is no reason why your mattress shouldn't last a very long time.
Are the heaters safe?
Yes all the water heaters we sell comply to both UK and European safety standards and are situated underneath both the mattress and safety liner of the bed. They have a built in thermostat which regulates the temperature to your specified level, giving you the benefit of creating cool conditions in the summer and a warm bed in the winter.
Can I switch the heater off in the summer?
We recommend that you leave your waterbed heater on in the summer months but turn it down a few degrees. This will help keep you pleasantly cool on those (increasingly rare) warm summer evenings.
