Waterbed Accessory FAQs

How waterbed sheets are sized and other universal mysteries.

Reading our brilliant answers will help you avoid getting into hot water. Or cold water, for that matter.

Waterbed questions

Q: Can I drink the water from my waterbed mattress?
A: No.

Q: Can my pets drink from my waterbed mattress?
A: No.

Q: How do waterbed sheet sizes work?
A: Good question. Waterbeds are typically longer than regular beds. That means the waterbed sheets you buy might list the same size as a standard bed, but they'll actually be longer. To be safe, measure your waterbed before you buy waterbed sheets.

Waterbed mattresses are divided into hard frames and soft frames. Wooden frame waterbeds are generally 84 inches long. Soft sided waterbeds can be anywhere from 75 to 84 inches long and can also have 2 sizes of King: Eastern King and California King. At 72 inches wide and 84 inches long, the California King is thinner and longer than the Eastern King (probably because it's on the South Beach diet and gets more sunshine).

Q: What sort of waterbed conditioner should I use?
A: We like a good volumizing conditioner, but if you have hard water, something for frizzy, dry hair is recommended. Oh, you mean for the water...

Waterbed conditioner actually goes inside your waterbed mattress. You should add it every time you refill your mattress and every six months or so otherwise. Waterbed conditioners are a mix of algaecide and vinyl conditioners, and will prevent bacteria and algae from building up inside your mattress. They'll also condition the inside of your waterbed mattress vinyl.

Most waterbed conditioners should work the same. Just avoid using bleach or really inexpensive waterbed conditioners.

Q: Do I need an electric waterbed pump?
A: Yes and no. You can drain your waterbed without an electric waterbed pump'it will just take longer. The rate of each is sort of comparable to pumping gas into your car at the gas pump or dripping it into your car from a funnel.

Q: What exactly is a solid state waterbed heater?
A: You had to ask that one, didn't you? And we were just about finished!

Physics 101: Solid state technology uses the properties of solids, e.g. semiconductors, to replace those of valves.

Q: Right. But what does that really mean?

A: Simply put, solid state waterbed heaters use computer chips to monitor temperature and they have no moving parts. Thus "solid state."

Because solid state waterbed heaters measure temperature more accurately than cap and bulb waterbed heaters, they're more energy efficient. Most solid state waterbed heaters also offer a digital readout for easy reference.
 

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