If you are finding it difficult to get a comfortable sleep, maybe due to the heat or just that you can’t find a mattress that is good for you it might be worth considering buying a waterbed. Waterbeds have been around for some time having been initially used by bedridden hospital patients to avoid development of bed sores over 60 years ago. Today they are used by many people around the world in domestic situations just for the pure comfort factor they offer rather than for any particular medical purpose.
You may have decided to try a waterbed but rather than having a large up front cost would rather purchase one from a selection of used waterbeds you can often find in local listings and on the internet these days. Perhaps a friend or colleague has offered to donate a waterbed to you. Acquiring a used waterbed can often make sense if you just want to road test the waterbed concept and see how a waterbed will suit your lifestyle and domestic situation. However used waterbeds can come with their own pitfalls. You need to be sure the model you acquire is going to give you some good trouble free service.
Firstly you need to check the inner bladder of the waterbed, you should open the faucet and check for algal growth. Algal growth within the mattress will confirm the waterbed hasn’t been treated with waterbed conditioner for some time and may have had a tough life. The algae can cause the mattress to smell and will over time gradually breakdown the inner vinyl and damage the bed. So if in doubt look for a different waterbed if you see algae, if the water is mildly mildewy then it probably just needs a quick conditioner tablet to sort it out.
Check the vinyl outer on the waterbed bladder, vinyl degrades over time from contact with skin oils. This degradation is identified by a stiffness in the vinyl and with further time cracking and splitting of the bladder. A waterbed bladder that has been washed down occasionally with warm soapy water or where a waterbed mattress pad has been used extensively probably won’t show any signs of degradation and will be good to go.
Check for damage to bladder seams and corners. The odd patch on the body of the mattress shouldn’t give cause for concern but damage to seams and corners is often unrepairable and it won’t be long till the bladder needs replacing. Any patching over ½ inch is likely to get worse over time, pin hole punctures or small splits can be patched with confidence and without reduction in the mattresses usual 15 year lifespan.
If non of these basic issues arise you can buy a used waterbed in confidence knowing you’ve got a good deal and a hygienic bed that will give you a comfortable sleep.