Waterbed: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:37, 17 December 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". A waterbed, water mattress, or flotation mattress is a bed or mattress filled with water. Waterbeds intended for medical therapies appear in various reports through the 19th century. The modern version, invented in San Francisco and patented in 1971, became a popular consumer item in the United States through the 1980s with up to 20% of the market in 1986^[1] and 22% in 1987.^[2]^[3] By 2013, they accounted for less than 5% of new bed sales.^[4]

File:Waterbed Lectus.jpg

A softside waterbed mattress

Design and usage

Design

Frames

Waterbeds are typically supported by a specialized frame designed to hold the weight and shape of the water mattress. Hardside waterbeds use a rigid wooden frame that defines the mattress’s boundaries and prevents the bladder from expanding outward under pressure.^[5] Softside waterbeds use a foam-and-fabric perimeter that forms an internal cavity for the bladder while allowing the bed to resemble a conventional mattress.^[6] Both frame types are engineered to distribute the weight of a filled water mattress evenly.

Mattresses

Waterbed mattresses also differ in how much wave motion they allow on the surface:

• Free-flow (full-wave) mattresses contain only water without internal baffles or fiber layers, resulting in noticeable wave motion when moving.

• Semi-waveless mattresses include some fiber inserts or baffles that reduce wave motion, offering a balance between traditional waterbed feel and motion control.

• Waveless mattresses use multiple layers of fiber and baffles to minimize water movement, providing a stable sleeping surface with little to no wave effect.^[7]

Safety liners

A safety liner is placed beneath the water mattress to contain leaks and prevent damage to the frame or surrounding furniture.^[5]^[6] Liners are made from a thick vinyl and are designed to wrap upward around the interior sides of the frame or cavity. In the event of a puncture or seam failure, the liner holds the released water for the mattress to be drained, patched or replaced, reducing the risk of floor damage. Safety liners are required for all hardside and softside waterbeds.

Heaters

Waterbeds incorporate an electric heater to regulate the temperature of the water mattress. Heating units are placed beneath the bladder and controlled by an adjustable thermostat that allows precise temperature control, typically between 26–32 °C (78–90 °F).^[5]^[6] A stable temperature is essential for comfort and helps prevent condensation within the mattress. Some waterbeds may use two heaters in dual-chamber systems, allowing each side to maintain a separate temperature.^[8] In the event of a power outage, the bed loses its heat source, causing the temperature to drop gradually over time. The rate of cooling depends on factors such as room temperature, insulation, and bedding.

Heating a waterbed contributes to household energy consumption, typically using between 300 and 1,500 kWh per year (approximately $36–180 USD at 12¢ per kWh), with actual costs varying depending on factors such as climate and bed size.^[9]

File:Waterbed heater thermostat.jpg

Waterbed heater thermostat control

Water conditioners

Water conditioners are added to the mattress to prevent the growth of bacteria and algae and to keep the vinyl material supple.^[10] These conditioners also help control odor and reduce gas buildup inside the bladder. Most manufacturers recommend adding a conditioner every 6 to 12 months to maintain water quality and extend the life of the mattress. Some conditioner formulas include agents that reduce air bubbles, easing the air removal process after filling.^[11]

File:Waterbed conditioner.jpg

A bottle of waterbed conditioner

Filling and draining

Waterbeds can be filled or drained using a hose connected to a household tap via a faucet adapter, relying on water pressure to gradually fill the mattress. For draining, a siphoning attachment connected to the faucet allows water to be removed naturally. Alternatively, an electric pump can be used to actively push water in or out of the mattress, speeding up the process and improving efficiency, especially with larger beds. These tools make it possible to adjust the water level, relocate the bed, or perform maintenance.

File:Waterbed fill and drain attachments.jpg

Waterbed fill and drain attachments

File:Waterbed fill and drain pump.jpg

Waterbed fill and drain pump

Mattress pads and covers

Both hardside and softside mattresses are typically topped with a quilted pad or fitted cover to provide insulation and a traditional sleeping surface.

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File:Hardside waterbed mattress fill valve.jpg

Hardside waterbed mattress fill valve and padded rails

Usage

Features and safety considerations

The waterbed can be comfortable and supportive for many. Its most attractive feature is the form-fitting, pressure-relieving design. This not only adds to overall comfort, but reducing pressure on the spine can provide relief for those with back pain.^[12] Additionally, the even weight distribution can help prevent bedsores in individuals who are paralyzed or immobile.^[13] Other features include temperature control, letting users keep the bed warm during cold nights or cool in warmer seasons. In addition, they are easy to clean: the surface can be wiped down with a cloth and vinyl cleaner. The mattress cover can be removed and washed regularly. However, The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development warns that the form-fitting nature of a waterbed poses a danger to infants, providing a possibility of asphyxiation

History

The Neil Arnott hydrostatic bed

A form of waterbed was invented in 1833 by the Scottish physician Neil Arnott. Dr. Arnott's Hydrostatic Bed was devised to prevent bedsores in patients, and comprised a bath of water with a covering of rubber-impregnated canvas, on which lighter bedding was placed. Arnott did not patent it, permitting anyone to construct a bed to this design.^[14]^[15]

The use of a waterbed (for the ailing Mrs. Hale) is mentioned in Elizabeth Gaskell's 1855 novel North and South.^[16]

On May 18, 1863, a proposal for waterbed supplies was posted to newspapers by the USA Medical and Hospital Department, Medical Purveyor's Office, Washington D.C. The proposal requested a supplier for "water-beds, India Rubber Rubber Cushions, for air or water".^[17]

In 1871, a waterbed was in use in Elmira, New York, for "invalids". It was briefly mentioned by Mark Twain in his article "A New Beecher Church", which was published in The New York Times on 23 July 1871. Twain wrote: "In the infirmary will be kept one or two water-beds (for invalids whose pains will not allow them to be on a less yielding substance) and half a dozen reclining invalid-chairs on wheels. The water-beds and invalid-chairs at present belonging to the church are always in demand, and never out of service".

A newspaper classified want ad in 1877 requested "AN INDIA RUBBER Water-bed. 3 feet by 2 feet, new or second hand. Call immediately at 1,222 Broadway."^[18]

The protagonist Graham is placed on a waterbed in a glass case during his coma of 203 years in the 1898 H. G. Wells novel "The Sleeper Awakes".

Heinlein descriptions

Science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein described therapeutic waterbeds in his novels Beyond This Horizon (1942), Double Star (1956), and Stranger in a Strange Land (1961). In 1980 Heinlein recalled in Expanded Universe<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

I designed the waterbed during years as a bed patient in the middle thirties; a pump to control water level, side supports to permit one to float rather than simply lying on a not very soft water filled mattress. Thermostatic control of temperature, safety interfaces to avoid all possibility of electric shock, waterproof box to make a leak no more important than a leaky hot water bottle rather than a domestic disaster, calculation of floor loads (important!), internal rubber mattress and lighting, reading, and eating arrangements—an attempt to design the perfect hospital bed by one who had spent too damn much time in hospital beds.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Heinlein made no attempt to build his invention, but its first builder, Charles Hall, was denied a patent claim based on Heinlein's "prior works".^[19]

Apparently, the initial patent application by Charles Hall for the waterbed was denied as being too broad, as the device itself had been described by Heinlein in several of his novels that had been published more than 25 years prior to Hall trying to make one. Hall was later granted a patent when he modified and specified his design.^[20]

The Charles Hall waterbed

The modern waterbed was created by Charles Prior Hall in 1968, while he was a design student at San Francisco State University in California. Hall originally wanted to make an innovative chair. His first prototype was a vinyl bag chair with 300 pounds (136 kg) of cornstarch.^[21] Ultimately, he abandoned working on a chair, and settled on perfecting a bed.^[22]

Hall was granted a patent (#3,585,356) on his waterbed in 1971, which he originally called "liquid support for human bodies." The same year, he founded Innerspace Environments, a manufacturing and sales company which became the leading retailer of waterbeds in the United States, with 30 owned-and-operated stores.^[23] The patent came to trial in 1991 in Intex v. Hall /wbx. The patent was upheld in court, and Hall received a $4.8 million judgment for infringement. Hall /wbx received additional royalties from licensing. Some later lawsuits were dismissed because of laches.

In 1987, sales peaked at 22% of the domestic mattress industry.^[24] Although the waterbed was initially advertised as offering "undisturbed sleep", Hall admitted that customers "bought it for the sensual or the sexual part of it", and the sexually associated advertising was highly effective in the 1970s and early 1980s. Henry Petroski of Duke University said of the waterbed: "Not only was it the cool new gadget, but it emerged during a time when the culture embraced anything different, especially a product that embodied sexual liberation".^[25]

References

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↑ An Encyclopaedia of Domestic Economy, Webster & Parkes, Harper & Brothers, NY, 1855 Google Books
↑ Dr. Arnott's Hydrostatic Bed, London Medical and Surgical Journal, Volume II, 1833
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External links

Template:Sister project

‘It was sexy, it was fun’: Why these waterbed devotees never gave up on the jiggle Los Angeles Times, July 2024
U.S. patent 3585356—"Liquid support for human bodies"
Sex, drugs and rolling into the corner: the waterbed turns 50 CTV News, December 2017
"Make your bed and float on it: $100 waterbed you build from a kit", Popular Science, July 1971, pages 75, 116
"Someone's Been Lying in Hall's Water Bed: Invention", Los Angeles Times
"Making Waves", SF State Magazine, Fall/Winter 2013
"THE RIP VAN WINKLE OF THE WATER BED", The Washington Post

Template:Bedding Template:Authority control

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[14] An Encyclopaedia of Domestic Economy, Webster & Parkes, Harper & Brothers, NY, 1855 Google Books

[15] Dr. Arnott's Hydrostatic Bed, London Medical and Surgical Journal, Volume II, 1833

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|Mattress filled with water}}
 {{About|the bed or mattress|the album by Herbie Mann|Waterbed (album)}}
-{{more citations needed|date=February 2012}}
+A '''waterbed''', '''water mattress''', or '''flotation mattress''' is a [[bed (furniture)|bed]] or [[mattress]] filled with [[water]]. Waterbeds intended for medical therapies appear in various reports through the [[19th century|19th century.]] The modern version, invented in [[San Francisco]] and patented in 1971, became a popular consumer item in the [[United States]] through the [[1980s]] with up to 20% of the market in 1986<ref>{{cite web|title=The Rise and Fall of the (Sexy, Icky, Practical) Waterbed|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/|first=Rebecca|last=Greenfield|date=13 August 2010|website=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=12 March 2017|archive-date=8 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208042926/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/|url-status=live}}</ref> and 22% in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-ever-happened-to-waterbeds|title=What Ever Happened To Waterbeds?|website=Pocket|access-date=2020-04-02|archive-date=2019-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229205255/https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-ever-happened-to-waterbeds|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ocj">{{Cite web |title=The Waterbed Doctor: Westminster Retailer Lays Claim to Retro Bed with Nearly 40&nbsp;Years of Service, Sales |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2015/09/05/the-waterbed-doctor-westminster-retailer-lays-claim-to-retro-bed-with-nearly-40-years-of-service-sales/ |work=[[Orange County Register]] |date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |last=Williams |first=Lauren |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924021559/https://www.ocregister.com/2015/09/05/the-waterbed-doctor-westminster-retailer-lays-claim-to-retro-bed-with-nearly-40-years-of-service-sales/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2013, they accounted for less than 5% of new bed sales.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fox|first1=Joanne|title=Waterbeds no longer a mainstay purchase|url=http://siouxcityjournal.com/special-section/siouxland_life/waterbeds-no-longer-a-mainstay-purchase/article_3c088637-28e1-5716-beaf-c20cc4e6a576.html|access-date=18 November 2015|work=[[Sioux City Journal]]|date=31 March 2013|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203134300/http://siouxcityjournal.com/special-section/siouxland_life/waterbeds-no-longer-a-mainstay-purchase/article_3c088637-28e1-5716-beaf-c20cc4e6a576.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
-A '''waterbed''', '''water mattress''', or '''flotation mattress''' is a [[bed (furniture)|bed]] or [[mattress]] filled with [[water]]. Waterbeds intended for medical therapies appear in various reports through the 19th century. The modern version, invented in [[San Francisco]] and patented in 1971, became a popular consumer item in the United States through the 1980s with up to 20% of the market in 1986<ref>{{cite web|title=The Rise and Fall of the (Sexy, Icky, Practical) Waterbed|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/|first=Rebecca|last=Greenfield|date=13 August 2010|website=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=12 March 2017|archive-date=8 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208042926/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/|url-status=live}}</ref> and 22% in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-ever-happened-to-waterbeds|title=What Ever Happened To Waterbeds?|website=Pocket|access-date=2020-04-02|archive-date=2019-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229205255/https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-ever-happened-to-waterbeds|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ocj">{{Cite web |title=The Waterbed Doctor: Westminster Retailer Lays Claim to Retro Bed with Nearly 40&nbsp;Years of Service, Sales |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2015/09/05/the-waterbed-doctor-westminster-retailer-lays-claim-to-retro-bed-with-nearly-40-years-of-service-sales/ |work=[[Orange County Register]] |date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |last=Williams |first=Lauren |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924021559/https://www.ocregister.com/2015/09/05/the-waterbed-doctor-westminster-retailer-lays-claim-to-retro-bed-with-nearly-40-years-of-service-sales/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2013, they accounted for less than 5% of new bed sales.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fox|first1=Joanne|title=Waterbeds no longer a mainstay purchase|url=http://siouxcityjournal.com/special-section/siouxland_life/waterbeds-no-longer-a-mainstay-purchase/article_3c088637-28e1-5716-beaf-c20cc4e6a576.html|access-date=18 November 2015|work=[[Sioux City Journal]]|date=31 March 2013|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203134300/http://siouxcityjournal.com/special-section/siouxland_life/waterbeds-no-longer-a-mainstay-purchase/article_3c088637-28e1-5716-beaf-c20cc4e6a576.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
+[[File:Waterbed_Lectus.jpg|thumb|A softside waterbed mattress]]
-==Construction==
+==Design and usage==
-{{unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
+'''<big>Design</big>'''
-{{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 250
-|image1=Softside Waterbed Outside.JPG
+'''Frames'''
-|alt1=A bed with comforter
-|image2=Softside Waterbed Inside.JPG
+Waterbeds are typically supported by a [[Frame|specialized frame]] designed to hold the weight and shape of the water mattress. ''Hardside'' waterbeds use a rigid wooden frame that defines the mattress’s boundaries and prevents the bladder from expanding outward under pressure.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Innomax |title=Hardside Waterbed Frame Assembly Instructions |url=https://innomax.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Hardside-Fluid-Support-Assembly-Instructions.pdf |website=Innomax}}</ref> ''Softside'' waterbeds use a foam-and-fabric perimeter that forms an internal cavity for the bladder while allowing the bed to resemble a conventional mattress.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Innomax |title=Softside Waterbed Assembly Instructions |url=https://innomax.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Softside-Fluid-Bed-Instructions1.pdf |website=Innomax}}</ref> Both frame types are engineered to distribute the weight of a filled water mattress evenly.
-|alt2=A bed with comforter pulled forward to show the water mattress
-|caption2=Softside waterbed {{convert|160|by|200|cm|in}} with dual heating (top) and two water chambers and flexible chamber isolation inside (bottom).
+'''Mattresses'''
-}}
-Waterbeds primarily consist of two types, hard-sided beds and soft-sided beds.
+Waterbed mattresses also differ in how much [[Wave|wave motion]] they allow on the surface:
+• '''Free-flow''' (full-wave) mattresses contain only water without internal baffles or fiber layers, resulting in noticeable wave motion when moving.
+• '''Semi-waveless''' mattresses include some fiber inserts or baffles that reduce wave motion, offering a balance between traditional waterbed feel and motion control.
+• '''Waveless''' mattresses use multiple layers of fiber and baffles to minimize water movement, providing a stable sleeping surface with little to no wave effect.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tuck Staff |date=2021 |title=Best Waterbed Mattresses - 2022 Reviews & Buyers Guide |url=https://www.tuck.com/best-mattress/best-waterbed/ |website=[[Tuck]]}}</ref>
+'''Safety liners'''
+A safety liner is placed beneath the water mattress to contain leaks and prevent damage to the frame or surrounding furniture.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Liners are made from a [[Polyvinyl chloride|thick vinyl]] and are designed to wrap upward around the interior sides of the frame or cavity. In the event of a puncture or seam failure, the liner holds the released water for the mattress to be drained, patched or replaced, reducing the risk of floor damage. Safety liners are required for all hardside and softside waterbeds.
+'''Heaters'''
+Waterbeds incorporate an [[electric heater]] to regulate the [[temperature]] of the water mattress. Heating units are placed beneath the bladder and controlled by an adjustable [[thermostat]] that allows precise temperature control, typically between 26–32 °C (78–90 °F).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> A stable temperature is essential for comfort and helps prevent [[condensation]] within the mattress. Some waterbeds may use two heaters in dual-chamber systems, allowing each side to maintain a separate temperature.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Innomax |title=Waterbed Heater Instructions |url=https://innomax.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Heater-Instructions-Warranty-Low-Watt.pdf |website=Innomax}}</ref> In the event of a [[power outage]], the bed loses its heat source, causing the temperature to drop gradually over time. The rate of cooling depends on factors such as room temperature, insulation, and bedding.
+Heating a waterbed contributes to household energy consumption, typically using between 300 and 1,500 [[Kilowatt-hour|kWh]] per year (approximately $36–180 USD at 12¢ per kWh), with actual costs varying depending on factors such as climate and bed size.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=Are waterbeds good for your back? |url=https://www.flourishchiropracticspa.com/are-water-beds-good-for-back/ |website=Flourish Chiropractic Spa}}</ref>
+[[File:Waterbed_heater_thermostat.jpg|thumb|<small>Waterbed heater thermostat control</small>]]
+'''Water conditioners'''
-A hard-sided waterbed consists of a water-containing mattress inside a rectangular frame of wood resting on a [[plywood]] deck that sits on a platform.
+[[Water conditioner|Water conditioners]] are added to the mattress to prevent the growth of [[bacteria]] and [[algae]] and to keep the [[Polyvinyl chloride|vinyl material]] supple.<ref>{{Citation |last=Lodder |first=L. C. H. Prud’homme de |title=Waterbed conditioners, disinfectants for chemical toilets and rubbish bins |date=2006 |work=Disinfectant Products Fact Sheet: To assess the risks for the consumer [Internet] |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562985/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |publisher=National Institute for Public Health and the Environment |language=en |last2=Bremmer |first2=H. J. |last3=Pelgrom |first3=S. M. G. J. |last4=Park |first4=M. V. D. Z. |last5=Engelen |first5=J. G. M. van}}</ref> These conditioners also help control odor and reduce gas buildup inside the bladder. Most manufacturers recommend adding a conditioner every 6 to 12 months to maintain water quality and extend the life of the mattress. Some conditioner formulas include agents that reduce air bubbles, easing the air removal process after filling.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bioclear |title=Bioclear Waterbed Conditioner User Instructions |url=https://cdn.manomano.com/pim-dam-img/34/4637454/4b0c77823441420e82bb894c7ca461e37a5f1c94.pdf |website=Bioclear}}</ref>
+[[File:Waterbed_conditioner.jpg|thumb|<small>A bottle of waterbed conditioner</small>]]
+'''Filling and draining'''
-A soft-sided waterbed consists of a water-containing mattress inside of a rectangular frame of sturdy foam, zippered inside a fabric casing, which sits on a platform. It looks like a conventional bed and is designed to fit existing bedroom furniture. The platform usually looks like a conventional foundation or [[box spring]], and sits atop a reinforced metal frame.
+Waterbeds can be filled or drained using a hose connected to a household tap via a faucet adapter, relying on water pressure to gradually fill the mattress. For draining, a siphoning attachment connected to the faucet allows water to be removed naturally. Alternatively, an [[Pump|electric pump]] can be used to actively push water in or out of the mattress, speeding up the process and improving efficiency, especially with larger beds. These tools make it possible to adjust the water level, relocate the bed, or perform maintenance.
+[[File:Waterbed_fill_and_drain_attachments.jpg|thumb|<small>Waterbed fill and drain attachments</small>[[File:Waterbed_fill_and_drain_pump.jpg|thumb|<small>Waterbed fill and drain pump</small>]]]]
+'''Mattress pads and covers'''
-Early waterbed mattresses, and many inexpensive modern mattresses, have a single water chamber. When the water mass in these "free flow" mattresses is disturbed, significant wave motion can be felt, and they need time to stabilize after a disturbance. Later models introduced wave-reducing methods, including fiber batting. Some models only partially reduce wave motion, while more expensive models almost eliminate wave motion.
+Both hardside and softside mattresses are typically topped with a [[Mattress pad|quilted pad]] or [[Mattress protector|fitted cover]] to provide insulation and a traditional sleeping surface.
-Waterbeds are normally heated by a thin [[heating pad|pad]] atop the water mattress. Unheated beds take on room temperature, which is perceived as cold because of water's high [[specific heat capacity]] relative to conventional mattress materials. In such cases, a thick layer of insulation is used to mitigate this, but the insulation also impedes the bed's contouring to the sleeper's body, reducing its value over a traditional mattress. Heated beds are temperature-controlled via a [[thermostat]] and usually set to approximate the sleeper's body temperature, which on average is {{convert|30|C|F}}. A typical heating pad consumes 150–400 [[watt]]s of power. Depending on insulation, [[bedding]], ambient temperature, frequency of use, and other factors, electricity consumption can vary significantly.
+{{multiple image
+| direction         = vertical
+| width             = 250
+| image1            = Softside Waterbed Outside.JPG
+| alt1              = A bed with comforter
+| image2            = Softside Waterbed Inside.JPG
+| alt2              = A bed with comforter pulled forward to show the water mattress
+| caption2          = Softside waterbed {{convert|160|by|200|cm|in}} with dual heating (top) and two water chambers and flexible chamber isolation inside (bottom).
+}}
+[[File:Hardside_waterbed_mattress_fill_valve.jpg|thumb|<small>Hardside waterbed mattress fill valve and padded rails</small>]]
+'''<big>Usage</big>'''
-Waterbeds are usually constructed from soft [[polyvinyl chloride|PVC]] or similar material. In most cases, leaks can be repaired with a conventional vinyl patch kit.
+'''Features and safety considerations'''
-== Types of waterbed mattresses ==
+The waterbed can be comfortable and supportive for many. Its most attractive feature is the form-fitting, pressure-relieving design. This not only adds to overall comfort, but reducing pressure on the spine can provide relief for those with back pain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=Are Waterbeds Good For Your Back? |url=https://www.flourishchiropracticspa.com/are-water-beds-good-for-back/ |access-date=2025-08-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> Additionally, the even weight distribution can help prevent [[Pressure ulcer|bedsores]] in individuals who are [[Paralysis|paralyzed]] or [[Primary ciliary dyskinesia|immobile]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Emejulu |first1=Jude-Kennedy C. |last2=Nwadi |first2=Uchenna V. |last3=Obiegbu |first3=Henry O. |date=2015 |title=Does Improvised Waterbed Reduce the Incidence of Pressure Ulcers in Patients with Spinal Injury? |journal=Nigerian Journal of Surgery |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=119–123 |doi=10.4103/1117-6806.162571 |issn=1117-6806 |pmc=4566317 |pmid=26425065 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Other features include [[temperature control]], letting users [https://sleepinformation.org/waterbeds/whats-so-hot-about-waterbeds/ keep the bed warm during cold nights or cool in warmer seasons]. In addition, they are easy to clean: the surface can be wiped down with a cloth and vinyl cleaner. The [[Mattress protector|mattress cover]] can be removed and washed regularly. However, The [[National Institute of Child Health and Human Development]] warns that the form-fitting nature of a waterbed poses a danger to infants, providing a possibility of [https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2019-04/Safe_to_Sleep_brochure.pdf asphyxiation]
-*'''Free flow mattress''': Also known as a full wave mattress. It contains only water but no baffles or inserts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.awesomewaterbeds.com/waterbed-faqs.cfm|title=Waterbed FAQs at AwesomeWaterbeds {{!}} AwesomeWaterbeds.com|website=www.awesomewaterbeds.com|access-date=2017-08-12|archive-date=2017-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813012757/http://www.awesomewaterbeds.com/waterbed-faqs.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=December 2020}}
-* '''Semi-waveless mattress''': Contains a few fiber inserts and/or baffles to control the water motion and increase support.<ref name=":0" />
+==History==
-* '''Waveless mattress''': Contains many layers of fiber inserts and/or baffles to control the water motion and increase support. Frequently, the better mattresses contain additional layers in the center third of the mattress called special lumbar support.<ref name=":0" />
+'''<big>The Neil Arnott hydrostatic bed</big>'''
-==History in 1800s==
 A form of waterbed was invented in 1833 by the Scottish physician [[Neil Arnott]]. ''Dr. Arnott's Hydrostatic Bed'' was devised to prevent bedsores in [[patient]]s, and comprised a bath of water with a covering of rubber-impregnated canvas, on which lighter bedding was placed. Arnott did not patent it, permitting anyone to construct a bed to this design.<ref>''[[An Encyclopaedia of Domestic Economy]]'', Webster & Parkes, Harper & Brothers, NY, 1855 [https://books.google.com/books?id=f5oDAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22water+bed%22+mattress&pg=PA309 Google Books]</ref><ref>Dr. Arnott's Hydrostatic Bed, ''[[London Medical and Surgical Journal]]'', Volume II, 1833 </ref>
 The use of a waterbed (for the ailing Mrs. Hale) is mentioned in [[Elizabeth Gaskell]]'s 1855 novel ''[[North and South (1855 novel)|North and South]]''.<ref name="Bodenheimer">{{cite journal|last1=Bodenheimer|first1=Rosemarie|date=1979|title=North and South: A Permanent State of Change|url=https://online.ucpress.edu/ncl/article/34/3/281/65258/North-and-South-A-Permanent-State-of-Change|journal=Nineteenth-Century Fiction|volume=34|issue=3|pages=293|doi=10.2307/2933329|jstor=2933329|access-date=2021-12-18|archive-date=2021-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218182608/https://online.ucpress.edu/ncl/article-abstract/34/3/281/65258/North-and-South-A-Permanent-State-of-Change?redirectedFrom=fulltext|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
-On May 18, 1863, a proposal for waterbed supplies was posted to newspapers by the USA Medical and Hospital Department, Medical Purveyor's Office, Washington D.C. The proposal requested a supplier for "water-beds, India Rubber Rubber Cushions, for air or water".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86053570/1863-05-30/ed-1/seq-1/|title=Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, May 30, 1863, SECOND EDITION, Image 1|first=National Endowment for the|last=Humanities|date=May 30, 1863|via=chroniclingamerica.loc.gov|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601074541/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86053570/1863-05-30/ed-1/seq-1/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+On May 18, 1863, a proposal for waterbed supplies was posted to newspapers by the USA Medical and Hospital Department, Medical Purveyor's Office, Washington D.C. The proposal requested a supplier for "water-beds, India Rubber Rubber Cushions, for air or water".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86053570/1863-05-30/ed-1/seq-1/|title=Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, May 30, 1863, SECOND EDITION, Image 1|first=National Endowment for the|last=Humanities|work=Daily national Republican |date=May 30, 1863|page=1 |oclc=13879073 |via=chroniclingamerica.loc.gov|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601074541/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86053570/1863-05-30/ed-1/seq-1/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 In 1871, a waterbed was in use in [[Elmira, New York]], for "invalids". It was briefly mentioned by [[Mark Twain]] in his article "[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1871/07/23/78769193.pdf A New Beecher Church]", which was published in ''[[The New York Times]]'' on 23 July 1871. Twain wrote: "In the infirmary will be kept one or two water-beds (for invalids whose pains will not allow them to be on a less yielding substance) and half a dozen reclining invalid-chairs on wheels. The water-beds and invalid-chairs at present belonging to the church are always in demand, and never out of service".
-A newspaper classified want ad in 1877 requested "AN INDIA RUBBER Water-bed. 3 feet by 2 feet, new or second hand. Call immediately at 1,222 Broadway."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030313/1877-09-14/ed-1/seq-18/|title=The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, September 14, 1877, Image 18|first=National Endowment for the|last=Humanities|date=Sep 14, 1877|pages=16|via=chroniclingamerica.loc.gov|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601074545/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030313/1877-09-14/ed-1/seq-18/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+A newspaper classified want ad in 1877 requested "AN INDIA RUBBER Water-bed. 3 feet by 2 feet, new or second hand. Call immediately at 1,222 Broadway."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030313/1877-09-14/ed-1/seq-18/|title=The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, September 14, 1877, Image 18|first=National Endowment for the|last=Humanities|work=The New York herald |date=Sep 14, 1877|pages=16|oclc=9467138 |via=chroniclingamerica.loc.gov|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601074545/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030313/1877-09-14/ed-1/seq-18/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 The protagonist Graham is placed on a waterbed in a glass case during his coma of 203 years in the 1898 H. G. Wells novel "[[The Sleeper Awakes]]".
-==Heinlein descriptions==
+'''<big>Heinlein descriptions</big>'''
-Science fiction writer [[Robert A. Heinlein]] described therapeutic waterbeds in his novels ''[[Beyond This Horizon]]'' (1942), ''[[Double Star]]'' (1956), and ''[[Stranger in a Strange Land]]'' (1961). In 1980 Heinlein recalled in ''[[Expanded Universe (Heinlein)|Expanded Universe]]'':
-{{blockquote|I designed the waterbed during years as a bed patient in the middle thirties; a pump to control water level, side supports to permit one to float rather than simply lying on a not very soft water filled mattress. Thermostatic control of temperature, safety interfaces to avoid all possibility of electric shock, waterproof box to make a leak no more important than a leaky hot water bottle rather than a domestic disaster, calculation of floor loads (important!), internal rubber mattress and lighting, reading, and eating arrangements—an attempt to design the perfect hospital bed by one who had spent too damn much time in hospital beds.}}
-Heinlein made no attempt to build his invention, but its first builder, Charles Hall, was denied a patent claim based on Heinlein's "prior works".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garmon |first1=Jay |title=Geek Trivia: Strange (water)bedfellows |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/geek-trivia-strange-waterbedfellows/ |website=TechRepublic |access-date=23 January 2020 |language=en |date=1 August 2006 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803182109/https://www.techrepublic.com/article/geek-trivia-strange-waterbedfellows/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-Apparently, the initial patent application by Charles Hall for the waterbed was denied as being too broad, as the device itself had been described by Heinlein in several of his novels that had been published more than 25 years prior to Hall trying to make one. Hall was later granted a patent when he modified and specified his design.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@carlabrams/apparently-the-initial-patent-application-by-charles-hall-for-the-waterbed-was-denied-as-being-too-93ba62f2ef9f|title=Apparently the initial patent application by Charles Hall for the waterbed was denied as being too…|first=Carl|last=Abrams|date=Feb 25, 2018|access-date=March 9, 2021|archive-date=December 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218182607/https://medium.com/@carlabrams/apparently-the-initial-patent-application-by-charles-hall-for-the-waterbed-was-denied-as-being-too-93ba62f2ef9f|url-status=live}}</ref>
-==The Hall waterbed==
+Science fiction writer [[Robert A. Heinlein]] described therapeutic waterbeds in his novels ''[[Beyond This Horizon]]'' (1942), ''[[Double Star]]'' (1956), and ''[[Stranger in a Strange Land]]'' (1961). In 1980 Heinlein recalled in ''[[Expanded Universe (Heinlein)|Expanded Universe]]''{{blockquote|I designed the waterbed during years as a bed patient in the middle thirties; a pump to control water level, side supports to permit one to float rather than simply lying on a not very soft water filled mattress. Thermostatic control of temperature, safety interfaces to avoid all possibility of electric shock, waterproof box to make a leak no more important than a leaky hot water bottle rather than a domestic disaster, calculation of floor loads (important!), internal rubber mattress and lighting, reading, and eating arrangements—an attempt to design the perfect hospital bed by one who had spent too damn much time in hospital beds.}}Heinlein made no attempt to build his invention, but its first builder, Charles Hall, was denied a patent claim based on Heinlein's "prior works".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garmon |first1=Jay |date=1 August 2006 |title=Geek Trivia: Strange (water)bedfellows |url=https://www.techrepublic.com/article/geek-trivia-strange-waterbedfellows/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803182109/https://www.techrepublic.com/article/geek-trivia-strange-waterbedfellows/ |archive-date=3 August 2020 |access-date=23 January 2020 |website=TechRepublic |language=en}}</ref>
-The modern waterbed was created by Charles Prior Hall in 1968, while he was a design student at [[San Francisco State University]] in [[California]]. Hall originally wanted to make an innovative chair. His first prototype was a [[bean bag chair|vinyl bag chair]] with 300 pounds (136&nbsp;kg) of cornstarch.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Modern Living: The Waves of Morpheus |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,902716,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030162351/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,902716,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 30, 2010 |magazine=Time |access-date=3 June 2012 |date=7 September 1970}}</ref> Ultimately, he abandoned working on a chair, and settled on perfecting a bed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Made That Water Bed? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/magazine/who-made-that-water-bed.html |work=The New York Times Magazine |date=16 August 2013 |access-date=17 August 2013 |archive-date=16 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816180119/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/magazine/who-made-that-water-bed.html |url-status=live |last1=Kennedy |first1=Pagan }}</ref>
-Hall was granted a patent (#3,585,356) on his waterbed in 1971, which he originally called "liquid support for human bodies." The same year, he founded Innerspace Environments, a manufacturing and sales company which became the leading retailer of waterbeds in the United States, with 30 owned-and-operated stores.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 11, 1996|title=Charles Prior Hall and WBX Partners, Plaintiffs-appellants, v. Aqua Queen Manufacturing, Inc., and Water & Wood Corp., and Vinyl Products Manufacturing, Inc., and Atlanta Vinyl, Inc., and Classic Corporation, d/b/a/ Classic Flotation Sleeping Systems, Inc., and Land & Sky, Ltd., and United States Watermattress Corporation, and Easy Rest, Inc., d/b/a/ Strobel Manufacturing, Defendants-Appellees.|url=http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/federal/judicial/fed/opinions/96opinions/96-1014.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609222350/http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/federal/judicial/fed/opinions/96opinions/96-1014.html|archive-date=2012-06-09|access-date=3 June 2012|publisher=United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit}}</ref> The patent came to trial in 1991 in ''Intex v. Hall /wbx''. The patent was upheld in court, and Hall received a $4.8 million judgment for infringement. Hall /wbx received additional royalties from licensing. Some later lawsuits were dismissed because of [[Laches (equity)|laches]].
+Apparently, the initial patent application by Charles Hall for the waterbed was denied as being too broad, as the device itself had been described by Heinlein in several of his novels that had been published more than 25 years prior to Hall trying to make one. Hall was later granted a patent when he modified and specified his design.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Carl |date=Feb 25, 2018 |title=Apparently the initial patent application by Charles Hall for the waterbed was denied as being too… |url=https://medium.com/@carlabrams/apparently-the-initial-patent-application-by-charles-hall-for-the-waterbed-was-denied-as-being-too-93ba62f2ef9f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218182607/https://medium.com/@carlabrams/apparently-the-initial-patent-application-by-charles-hall-for-the-waterbed-was-denied-as-being-too-93ba62f2ef9f |archive-date=December 18, 2021 |access-date=March 9, 2021}}</ref>
-In 1987, sales peaked at 22% of the domestic mattress industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=For Water Bed Holdout, California Dreaming |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/14/garden/for-water-bed-holdout-california-dreaming.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=3 June 2012 |author=Allen Salkin |date=14 August 2003 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218210211/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/14/garden/for-water-bed-holdout-california-dreaming.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the waterbed was initially advertised as offering "undisturbed sleep", Hall admitted that customers "bought it for the sensual or the sexual part of it", and the sexually associated advertising was highly effective in the 1970s and early 1980s. Henry Petroski of Duke University said of the waterbed: "Not only was it the cool new gadget, but it emerged during a time when the culture embraced anything different, especially a product that embodied sexual liberation".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/|title=The Rise and Fall of the (Sexy, Icky, Practical) Waterbed|first=Rebecca|last=Greenfield|date=13 August 2010|website=The Atlantic|access-date=12 March 2017|archive-date=8 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208042926/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/|url-status=live}}</ref>
+'''<big>The Charles Hall waterbed</big>'''
-==Advantages and disadvantages==
+The modern waterbed was created by Charles Prior Hall in 1968, while he was a design student at [[San Francisco State University]] in [[California]]. Hall originally wanted to make an innovative chair. His first prototype was a [[Bean bag chair|vinyl bag chair]] with 300 pounds (136&nbsp;kg) of cornstarch.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=7 September 1970 |title=Modern Living: The Waves of Morpheus |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,902716,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030162351/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,902716,00.html |archive-date=October 30, 2010 |access-date=3 June 2012 |magazine=Time}}</ref> Ultimately, he abandoned working on a chair, and settled on perfecting a bed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Pagan |date=16 August 2013 |title=Who Made That Water Bed? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/magazine/who-made-that-water-bed.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816180119/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/magazine/who-made-that-water-bed.html |archive-date=16 August 2013 |access-date=17 August 2013 |work=The New York Times Magazine}}</ref>
-===Regarding usage===
-The waterbed can be useful and comfortable for some and dangerous for others. The main feature of the waterbed found attractive is its form-fitting, pressure-minimizing nature. Not only is this beneficial to those seeking mere comfort, but the removal of pressure from the [[Vertebral column|spine]] can provide relief to those with back pain.<ref>[http://www.onlywaterbeds.com/Mattresses_and_chronic_lower_back_pain.pdf "Mattresses and chronic lower back pain - Undergraduate research project at the Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812224842/http://www.onlywaterbeds.com/Mattresses_and_chronic_lower_back_pain.pdf |date=2012-08-12 }}. University of Southern Denmark, 2003</ref> In addition, the distribution of weight can prevent [[bedsores]] among users who are [[paralysis|paralyzed]] or [[coma]]tose.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bedsores (pressure sores) |url=http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedsores/DS00570/DSECTION=prevention |work=Mayo Clinic |publisher=Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research |access-date=3 June 2012 |author=Mayo Clinic Staff |archive-date=18 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518100229/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedsores/DS00570/DSECTION=prevention |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Perali |title=Prevention of bedsores: water or air? |date=December 2005 |url=http://www.katedra.it/English/Publications/Bedsores.htm |access-date=2015-07-29 |archive-date=2015-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408143227/http://www.katedra.it/English/Publications/Bedsores.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the [[National Institute of Child Health and Human Development]] warns that the form-fitting nature of the water-bed poses a danger to infants, providing a possibility of asphyxiation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2019-04/Safe_to_Sleep_brochure.pdf|title=NICHD: Safe Sleep for Your Baby|access-date=2021-01-27|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112022955/https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2019-04/Safe_to_Sleep_brochure.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
-Another advantage of a waterbed is its easy cleaning. It is impossible for dirt and dead skin particles to penetrate the water mattress, which can then be wiped away periodically with a cloth and vinyl cleaner. The cover over the mattress can be regularly washed—thus virtually eliminating [[house dust mite]]s in the bed.{{citation needed |date=January 2019}} Dust mites can trigger [[asthma]], [[eczema]], and [[allergy|allergies]] in people sensitive to them.
+Hall was granted a patent (#3,585,356) on his waterbed in 1971, which he originally called "liquid support for human bodies." The same year, he founded Innerspace Environments, a manufacturing and sales company which became the leading retailer of waterbeds in the United States, with 30 owned-and-operated stores.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 11, 1996 |title=Charles Prior Hall and WBX Partners, Plaintiffs-appellants, v. Aqua Queen Manufacturing, Inc., and Water & Wood Corp., and Vinyl Products Manufacturing, Inc., and Atlanta Vinyl, Inc., and Classic Corporation, d/b/a/ Classic Flotation Sleeping Systems, Inc., and Land & Sky, Ltd., and United States Watermattress Corporation, and Easy Rest, Inc., d/b/a/ Strobel Manufacturing, Defendants-Appellees. |url=http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/federal/judicial/fed/opinions/96opinions/96-1014.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609222350/http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/federal/judicial/fed/opinions/96opinions/96-1014.html |archive-date=2012-06-09 |access-date=3 June 2012 |publisher=United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit}}</ref> The patent came to trial in 1991 in ''Intex v. Hall /wbx''. The patent was upheld in court, and Hall received a $4.8 million judgment for infringement. Hall /wbx received additional royalties from licensing. Some later lawsuits were dismissed because of [[Laches (equity)|laches]].
-===Cons===
+In 1987, sales peaked at 22% of the domestic mattress industry.<ref>{{cite web |author=Allen Salkin |date=14 August 2003 |title=For Water Bed Holdout, California Dreaming |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/14/garden/for-water-bed-holdout-california-dreaming.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218210211/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/14/garden/for-water-bed-holdout-california-dreaming.html |archive-date=18 February 2011 |access-date=3 June 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Although the waterbed was initially advertised as offering "undisturbed sleep", Hall admitted that customers "bought it for the sensual or the sexual part of it", and the sexually associated advertising was highly effective in the 1970s and early 1980s. Henry Petroski of Duke University said of the waterbed: "Not only was it the cool new gadget, but it emerged during a time when the culture embraced anything different, especially a product that embodied sexual liberation".<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenfield |first=Rebecca |date=13 August 2010 |title=The Rise and Fall of the (Sexy, Icky, Practical) Waterbed |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208042926/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/ |archive-date=8 December 2016 |access-date=12 March 2017 |website=The Atlantic}}</ref>
-First, since some hard-sided waterbeds are of different sizes from other mattresses, [[bed sheet]]s are harder to find and come in fewer varieties. Second, moving a waterbed is more difficult than moving a normal bed; the water must be drained and the frame disassembled, then the frame must be reassembled, the mattress refilled with water, and the water heated for a potentially long period to get the new water to the correct temperature. Heating the bed can be costly; a waterbed consumes between 300 and 1,500 [[Kilowatt hour|kWh]]/year ($36–180 USD at 12c/kWh, the US national average cost for residential energy), depending on the climate, bed size, and other factors. The energy usage can be decreased by about 60% with the use of a soft-sided waterbed.<ref>[http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/94/940911.html Waterbed Heating: Uncovering Energy Savings in the Bedroom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021034230/http://homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/94/940911.html |date=2007-10-21 }} ''Home Energy Magazine'' Online September/October 1994. Retrieved December 3, 2007.</ref> The ability to heat the bed is lost if there is a power outage, and this can make the bed too cold to sleep on, particularly if the power outage occurs during winter, and/or the room cannot be heated. The water itself can pose challenges when water mattresses occasionally leak. Plastic liners will reduce damage, but emptying, patching, refilling, and reheating the bed (and sleeping elsewhere until all this is completed) can be an inconvenience. Another factor is the weight of a waterbed. Waterbed mattresses, depending on the size, hold about {{Cvt|80|-|235|USgal|L}} of water, which could bring the weight of the entire bed to over {{Cvt|2000|lb}}. This weight could pose a risk to the floor the bed is on. Some landlords may not allow a tenant to have a waterbed due to this, especially if it is on a higher floor.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 76: / Line 96: @@
 ==External links==
 {{Commons category|Waterbeds}}
+*
+* [https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2024-07-23/waterbed-owners-enthusiasts-california-history ‘It was sexy, it was fun’: Why these waterbed devotees never gave up on the jiggle] [[Los Angeles Times]], July 2024
 * {{US patent|3585356}}—"Liquid support for human bodies"
+* [https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/sex-drugs-and-rolling-into-the-corner-the-waterbed-turns-50/ Sex, drugs and rolling into the corner: the waterbed turns 50] [[CTV News]], December 2017
 * [https://books.google.com/books?id=JgEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA75 "Make your bed and float on it: $100 waterbed you build from a kit"], ''[[Popular Science]]'', July 1971, pages 75, [https://books.google.com/books?id=JgEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA116 116]
-* [https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-sexy-icky-practical-waterbed/61426/ "The Rise and Fall of the (Sexy, Icky, Practical) Waterbed"], ''[[The Atlantic]]''
 * [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-15-vw-1760-story.html "Someone's Been Lying in Hall's Water Bed: Invention"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''
 * [http://www.sfsu.edu/~sfsumag/archive/fall_13/making_waves.html "Making Waves"], ''SF State Magazine'', Fall/Winter 2013

Waterbed: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:37, 17 December 2025

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Waterbed: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:37, 17 December 2025

Design and usage

History

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