Westcountry Waterbeds - Exeter
Beautiful beds
that are a joy
to sleep on!
Guildhall Shopping Center, Exeter
Telephone: 01392 411212
Frequently Asked Questions
In many countries waterbeds and their benefits are well known. In the UK. few regular bed stores stock them, they are specialist beds and need to be sold by sales staff with a good knowledge of the product. Peoples perception of waterbeds are stuck in the 60's, and so it is natural to have concerns.
Don’t I need a firm bed for my back?
Do they need a lot of maintenance?
Why don’t I see them in regular bed shops?
Of course they are!
We are not in business to make people suffer, quite the reverse.
Waterbeds have become commonplace in many countries but not in the UK.
With the increase in popularity of waterbeds in Europe and Scandinavia, investment went in to develop new materials, better design and improvements in production.
Our main supplier, Akva, are Scandinavia’s largest manufacturer of high quality waterbeds. The entire bed is produced in their factory in Demark for best quality control. They have introduced low energy heating pads, better zip off covers for washing and top quality laminated vinyl mattresses using environmentally friendly vinyl. Their bed are designed with health, safety and reliability in mind.
These really are superbeds and bearing in mind how unhygienic regular mattresses become, we would say they are safer than sleeping on a conventional bed.
Waterbed mattresses have improved over the years. Akva mattresses are made to the highest standards using a laminated phthalate free vinyl, rather than standard one layer vinyl . This makes for a stronger more reliable mattress. They are made to withstand anything that people get up to on ordinary beds!, and short of wilful damage rarely leak. In the event of a pinhole leak any water is held within the safety liner. The mattress can be repaired with a vinyl patch, normally without the need to drain the mattress. It takes just a few minutes and a couple of damp towels and you are sorted. Vinyl slowly ages and so we recommend that you change your mattress after eight to ten years.
Water is heavy. Waterbeds have bases with internal supports that spread the weight evenly over a large area. A conventional bed concentrates the weight of the bed and occupants on four or six points. As does a bath which is loaded six times heavier than a divan waterbed. Think of it as a dining room table in your bedroom with four or five people sat around it.
We have been fitting beds since 1987, many in old cottages, pubs, farmhouses and static caravans. We have never had a problem. If your floor meets minimum building standards it will easily support a divan waterbed.
Early waterbeds were simply bags of water with full motion. Over the years baffles, then fibre systems were added to restrict movement. The most popular mattresses today have little or no motion. We have a range of mattresses on display so that you can choose the right one for you. From a relaxing few seconds of motion to the stability of a conventional mattress. All water mattresses mould to your shape and with low pressure points and perfect support, tossing and turning is much reduced.
A stabilised mattresses ensures virtually no motion between partners.
A dual mattress guarantees that no motion is transferred between partners.
Don’t I need a firm bed for my back?
We have had many years of firm orthopedic type beds and yet many people still suffer back pain. We cannot relax and be comfortable on a firm surface. Nor should we sleep on a soft bed that does not give adequate support.
Without good support to the lower back and with your spine out of alignment, you will suffer backache.
With a poorly sprung bed or soft bed, you eventually end up lying in a pit. So we were told to sleep on firmer beds. The problem is that springs and foam push back where you are heaviest, but often don’t give enough support to the lower back. To ease the pressure points you go into the recovery position with your spine twisted. Eventually that position becomes uncomfortable and you turn in bed. The perfect bed would support the natural curve of the spine without pressure to the spinal column and radiating nerves and allowing the muscles around the spine to relax.
Water gets out of the way and contours to your body, evening out pressure points. With the right amount of water the bed holds you in your most comfortable sleeping position with your spine relaxed. Instead of you holding a position until you become uncomfortable, the bed holds you, allowing you to relax. The flotation effect of lying on a water mattress means you are lighter, further reducing pressure points and increasing comfort.
You set your sleeping temperature, allowing good circulation of blood and easing tired muscles.
It is this combination of pressure off the joints, relaxed muscles, good circulation and excellent support that eases most hip, back and shoulder problems. If you go to testimonials - medical - backs you'll see what we mean.
At the time of writing this, I've just had a lady in the shop from Plymouth. She came in with sciatica and was in a lot of pain, having had the condition on and off for twenty years. Ten minutes on one of my beds and the pain has gone, and she was feeling relaxed and comfortable. She has gone off to measure up for a bed!
Do they need a lot of maintenance?
When we deliver and install your bed we will give you a booklet and show you how to adjust your bed for maximum comfort and support.
A waterbed needs little maintenance. To keep it clean simply un-zip the cover and launder according to the washing instructions. Wipe over the mattress using vinyl cleaner to remove any dust.
Akva produce a cover with a membrane underneath which makes keeping the bed clean, even simpler. They also do split covers for the larger beds so they easily fit in a standard washing machine
Once a year add a bottle of conditioner to keep the water fresh. You can order over the phone, or online.
That’s it other than possibly adjusting the temperature with the four seasons.
You don’t need to air the bed, vacuum it, and you definitely don’t need to turn the mattress!
Why don’t I see them in regular bed shops?
Waterbeds should be widely available. They are in many countries around the world. Here few people appreciate their unique benefits and so demand is low.
They take longer to sell, longer to fit and you need to stock a range, so that each customer gets the right bed for their needs. And then you have to train staff and offer good ongoing service.
Much simpler and more profitable to sell pocket sprung and tempur type beds where there is a demand.
We have never stocked sprung or foam beds, because they offer so few benefits.
Our beds have only increased in price by 15-20% over the past fifteen years. They are tremendously good value bearing in mind the increase in quality and their unique benefits.
Whether you choose a basic bed or the largest top of the range bed , you will have the same top quality mattresses and heaters, and the same service.
Once you’ve bought the bed, you can expect the same quality of comfort, support and hygiene, year after year. In eight to ten years time replace the mattress and safety liner. (At present the cost of a replacement mattress is around £250- £350)
The heating cost is around the same as a standard fridge (rated Class A). If you keep your bed well covered it will lose only enough heat to air the bedding.
Once a year add conditioner which is £12 for a yearly dose.
That’s it.
We can supply a kingsize top quality divan bed from around £1200. Add to this a replacement mattress and zip off top cover in around 10 years time and the cost of conditioner. Over 20 years it comes to about 12 pence per person each night! It will be the best twelve pence you ever spend.
Yes they can be more expensive than a standard bed, they should be, they are superbeds. But they last far longer than conventional beds and maintain their comfort, support and hygiene year by year.
Many of our customers say “ they are the best thing they have ever bought” or “ the best money they have ever spent “