The following are some general guidelines you can use to prepare your waterbed for shipping.
Draining and Disassembling Your Waterbed
Disassembly time will vary with each waterbed because of the difference in mattress sizes and drainage methods used. For information on how to drain a particular type of mattress, consult the owner’s manual, contact a local waterbed store or visit the manufacturer’s website. Allow adequate time to completely drain and disassemble your waterbed. Most moving companies require customers to drain mattresses prior to moving day.
Preparation:
- Unplug the mattress heater and allow it to cool before starting the drainage process to avoid the possibility of the heater scorching or even melting your mattress.
- If your mattress is to be in storage for more than five weeks:
- Add mattress conditioner to the water a day or more before draining to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
- Use a vinyl cleaner on the outside of the mattress as a protectent.
There are three ways to drain waterbed mattresses:
Straight Siphon Method - takes about an hour and can be used for “Free Flow” mattresses which have no interior baffles.
Faucet Adapter & Drain Pump - typically supplied by manufacturer and comes with mattresses. This method can take up to three hours depending on your water pressure and the type of mattress you have
Electric Pump - available for rent or purchase at waterbed stores, draining typically takes about 30 minutes.
- Get as much water out of your mattress as possible! If you press down on the mattress and see a handprint afterward, continue draining.
- Have your cap and plug handy to place on the mattress fill/drain hole immediatley after draining to ensure a vacuum-packed seal.
- Place all screws, nuts, and bolts in a plastic bag and tape it to the back of the frame or place it in a safe place for transit.
After the mattress is completely drained and sealed you may fold the mattress. If you have a motion-reducing mattress, you must use special care while draining and moving it in order to prevent the interior baffles from shifting.
- Fold it into thirds, starting from the head of the bed and folding towards the foot.
- Make sure the baffles do not shift out of place, but if they do, try to reposition then. (They should be in place before you refill your mattress.)
- Finish by folding the mattress in half widthwise.
- You may pack the folded mattress with blankets in a box. Make sure it will not be at risk of being punctured or otherwise damaged by other items.
The heating pad and tube thermometer must be treated with care. Roll the pad and thermometer – each separately – from either end. Rolling items ensures the elements in each will not be broken or twisted.
Upon Delivery
Because a waterbed holds 80 to 200 gallons of water, you should determine where you want the bed placed before you fill it.
If you have a motion reducing mattress make sure the baffles are in place before filling the mattress.
While filling make sure to inspect the mattress frequently to make sure there are no leaks.
Consult the owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s web site for additional set up information.
Insurance in Transit
If you do not have an exact record of the cost of your waterbed, you might want to obtain a current retail cost prior to selecting a protection plan for your move. If you desire replacement cost rather than depreciated protection you may want to consider contacting your home owners insurance to see if there is a benefit or you may contact a third party moving insurance company like Baker International (www.bakerintl.com) or MI.com (www.movinginsurance.com).