Waterbed Information - Wood Frame Installation

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Installing a Waterbed Mattress and Cover

Installing Heater The First step is installing the heater, it goes before the liner. Do not place the pad or sensor be over a crack between the boards. Do not plug heater in at this time. You should tape over the hardware with a good quality cloth tape and ensure there are no tools or debris left in the frame.
Safety Liner Spread your safety liner out in the frame. Smooth out all wrinkles particularly over the heating pad. Align all corners of the liner with the frame's corners. The safety liner adds another level of safety and helps protect the mattress cover from stains.
Tape Do not tape the liner. The waterbed mattress weight could pull and rip the liner if taped too strongly.
Waterbed Mattress Cover Unfold the waterbed mattress cover and lay it out similar to the way the safety liner was laid out. Be sure that the manufacturers label is at the foot of the bed.
Waterbed Mattress Cover Top Partially unzip the waterbed mattress cover top and lay it over the head of the bed. This allows easy access for installing the waterbed mattress(s). Smooth out the inside of the waterbed mattress cover to recieve the mattress.
Waterbed Mattress Lay out your waterbed mattress. Be sure the fill valve is at the foot of the mattress. Be careful not to shift the fiber layers inside the mattress as you maneuver it around. If your fiber layers are bunched up, you need to work them so they are flat and in the middle of the mattress. Gently align the corners of the mattress with the corners of the frame. Check the safety liner and mattress for proper position before moving on to the next step. It is difficult to shift things once they are full of water.
Hose Remove aereator from sink and screw in faucet adapter, then attach the hose.
Mattress Attachment Attach the Perfect Union (the hose to mattress adaptor) onto the hose. Remove the fill cap and seal from the mattress and screw the Perfect Union into the fill hole. Be sure it is tight enough yet do not overtighten and strip the threads. A small towel might be handy to soak up any leakage from the filling process. Fill the mattress with about 2" of luke-warm water. Pour in waterbed conditioner at this time. Adjust everything one final time. Once the mattress is full of water it will be impossible to move so check everything carefully. Waterbed Heaters are low power to protect the vinyl so do not fill a mattress with cold water. You will stress your heater. In Winter this is worse. You must fill with warm water in winter. Fill the mattress until it is 1/4" to 1/2" below the side of the frame boards. Use a yardstick, broom stick or simular item on top of the mattress as an indicator for how full the mattress actually is.
Dual Mattress? Alternate filling each mattress bladder a little at a time. Fill the first mattress bladder with about 2 inches of water before switching to the second mattress bladder. Add 2 inches of water to it. Continue alternately filling each mattress about 2 inches at a time until both bladders are filled.
How Much is enough? Adding or subtracting water can change the feel of the bed a great deal. * With fiberfilled mattresses rated over 95% waveless, more water makes it appear softer and less water makes it appear firmer, the opposite of what you would think. Replace Seal and Cap on mattress fill. Zip up top. Turn heater on.

* With a mattress of 90% or less waveless rating, the mattress should be filled to accomodate the largest sleeper for the bed. This is done by measuring with the body. Sit in the middle of the bed. Rock gently to the left and right. If your bottom only touches when you rock from side to side, it is filled the correct amount.

If your bottom is always touching, add water. If your bottom never touches, drain some water.

Don't forget the mattress pad. This keeps dirt off your Waterbed Mattress Cover and is part of the warranty.