While the waterbed is associated with the Californian lifestyle in most people’s minds it actually goes a lot further back in time than this.
The first water-filled beds were goatskins filled with water, used in Persia more then 3,600 years ago. In 1873, Sir James Paget at St Bartholomew's Hospital presented a modern waterbed designed by Neil Arnott as a treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers (bed sores).
Waterbeds allowed mattress pressure to be evenly distributed over the body. By 1895 a few waterbeds were sold via mail order by the British store, Harrod’s. They looked like, and probably were, very large hot water bottles. Due to lack of suitable materials, the waterbed did not gain widespread use until the 1960s, after the invention of vinyl.
The number of stories and jokes regarding ‘the waterbed puncture’ are numerous and are also indicative of the perceived weakness in waterbeds.
Initially beds were of a single compartment. This caused a certain degree of instability as water sloshed around and if you did ever happen to get a puncture you also lost all the water in the mattress and probably had a serious water spillage problem to deal with on top of this.
Modern waterbeds are made of robust synthetic material that is naturally resistant to punctures. On top of this most, these days are of the compartmentalized construction type which divides the mattress into several self-contained chambers.
The division into self-contained chambers aids stability and weight division (of huge importance when transporting the mattress), helps distribute internal pressure more evenly and decreases the likelihood that the mattress will puncture.
Excellent for anyone suffering from long term backpain waterbeds, these days, are recommended for a variety of health reasons.
Whichever way you look at it however waterbeds are still a static body of water you’re sleeping on and all that it entails, so you do need to be aware of the need to either replace the water on a regular basis or add special conditioners which inhibit the growth of algae.
If you’re buying one of the over 40 types of waterbed available you really need to go through a checklist:
• The quality of the seals where you put water in.
• The properties of the lining material inside the mattress.
• The cost of the water conditioner (different waterbed types may require different ones).
• Whether you can completely drain your waterbed and refill it with a waterbed drainage kit.
• The cost of any air extractors required.
• The cost of any consumables required for the external cleaning of your waterbed mattress.
© Buy Beds.org.uk 2006
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Heater & Thermostat From Righteous & Co Limited , beds, co, righteous, waterbed... £99.00 | Bambino Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , &, £19500, £2700, £9500, 10, 115cm, 55cm, 60, bed, beds, black, blu, blue, can't, child, children, co, cover, dark, degrees, drop, element, fitted, foam, frame, green, grey, insulating, ivory, layer, maintenance, mattress, natural,... £211.00 | Julia - DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 6Ɔ', bed, beds, co, double, drawer, dual, flot20, frame, king, mattress, pedestal, queen, righteous, sec, semi, single, stop, supwaveless, system, uk, waveless... £545.00 |
Ryan DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', bed, beds, co, double, drawer, dual, flot, frame, king, mattress, pedestal, queen, righteous, sec, semi, single, stop, supwaveless, system, uk, waveless... £595.00 | Ganges - DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pedestal, righteous, sec, semi, stop, sup, system, waveless... £595.00 | Jemima - DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', bed, beds, co, double, drawer, dual, flot, frame, king, mattress, pedestal, queen, righteous, sec, semi, single, stop, supwaveless, system, uk, waveless... £599.00 |
Jill - DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', bed, beds, co, double, drawer, dual, flot, frame, king, mattress, pedestal, queen, righteous, sec, semi, single, stop, supwaveless, system, uk, waveless... £645.00 | Venice DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, sup, system, waveless... £685.00 | Chicco Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £19500, £2700, £9500, 10, 200cm, 55kg, 90cm, baby, bambino, bed, beds, black, blu, blue, body, border, chicco, child, co, correct, dark, edges, fitted, flexible, frame, fulfils, green, grey, growing, headboard, himself, hurt, image, ivory... £719.00 |
Peel DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot20, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless... £875.00 | Arctic DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £28200, £31400, £32900, £7200, £9400, **, bed, beds, clip, co, double, drawer, dual, frame, king, mattress, queen, righteous, shelf, shelves, single, system, uk... £905.00 | Colombia DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, dual, flotation, frame, mattress, righteous, sec, semi, size**, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless... £930.00 |
Bow DIY Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £28200, £32900, **, bed, beds, c**, co, drawer, frame, mattress, righteous... £935.00 | Don Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, corner, drawer, dual, flot, frame, grooves, mattress, panels, posts, righteous, routed, sec, semi, stop, style, sup, system, wave, waveless... £965.00 | Red River Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless... £965.00 |
Robertson Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless... £965.00 | Skeena Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, finishes, flot, footboard, frame, mattress, mdf, painted, pine, righteous, sec, secstop, semi, stain, stop, style, styling, supwaveless, system, various, waveless, wood... £975.00 | Sacramento Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, sup, system, waveless... £990.00 |
Cottonwood - Framed Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, wave, waveless, woodstains... £990.00 | Tyne Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £23500, 1/2, a**, bed, beds, c**, co, drawer, dual, headboard, lumbar, mattress, righteous, sec, stop, super, support, system, waveless... £995.00 | Skippers Dream Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , &, £19500, £2700, £9500, **, 10, 1070mm, 190cm, 2500mm, 3Ɔ", 6Ɖ", 90cm, 990mm, ahoy, barnacles, bed, beds, black, blu, blue, boat, bow, box, characters, checkout, child, child's, co, contrasting, course, cutouts, dar... £995.00 |
Coniston Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 6Ɔ', bed, beds, co, double, drawers, headboard, king, mattress, queen, removable, righteous, single, zip... £998.00 | Nicaragua Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 140cm/200cm, 140cmx200cm, 150cm/200cm, 150cmx200cm, 160cm/200cm, 160cmx200cm, 180cm/200cm, 180cmx200cm, 200cm/240cm, 200cmx240cm, 90cm/200cm, 90cmx200cm, bed, beds, beech, black, cherry, co, drawer, drawers, dual, leather, mattress, mirror, pedestal... £1016.00 | Panama Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , 140, 140x200cm, 150, 150x200cm, 160, 160cm, 160x200cm, 180, 180cm, 180x200cm, 200, 200cm, 200x240cm, 240cm, 25cm, 90, 90x200cm, beds, central, co, drawers, f5, headboard, imitation, leather, mattress, mfc, pedestal, plateau, righteous, surround, waveles... £1016.00 |
Hydrobed Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, bed, beds, choice, choice**, co, double, drawers, dual, king, mattress, pedestal, queen, removable, righteous, single, system, zip... £1034.00 | Mekong Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, stripe, sup, system, waveless... £1145.00 | Morecambe Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, a**, bed, beds, co, dual, headboard, mattress, pedestal, righteous, system... £1175.00 |
Gordon Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, waveless... £1175.00 | Yangtze Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 140cm, 140cm/200cm, 150cm, 150cm/200cm, 160cm, 160cm/200cm, 180cm, 180cm/200cm, 200cm, 200cm/240cm, 90cm, 90cm/200cm, bed, beds, beech, black, cherry, co, drawer, drawers, dual, fabric, headboard, mattress, mirror, nantes, pedestal, righteous, syste... £1200.00 | Stewart Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, sup, system, waveless... £1225.00 |
Nelson Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, bed, beds, c**, co, drawer, headboard, mattress, nelson, pedestal, pine, righteous... £1525.00 | Delaware Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless... £1675.00 | Trinity 4-Poster Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless... £1695.00 |
Stewart 4-Poster Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, drawer, dual, flot, frame, mattress, righteous, sec, semi, stop, supwaveless, system, waveless... £1790.00 | Tanganyika Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, bed, beds, co, country, dual, mattress, pine, righteous, system... £1799.00 | Baltic Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £21000, **, 140cm/200cm, 150cm/200cm, 160cm/200cm, 180cm/200cm, 200cm/240cm, 2drawers, 4drawers, 90cm, 90cm/200cm, bed, beds, beech, black, cherry, co, drawer, drawers, dual, grey, headboard, maple, mattress, mirror, pedestal, righteous, system, wh... £1805.00 |
Mersey Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 100cm, 140cm, 150cm, 160/180/200, 160cm, 180cm, 200cm, bed, beds, black, co, drawer, drawers, dual, fabric, frame, leathercloth, length, mattress, righteous, system, white... £1837.00 | Toulouse Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, bed, beds, choice, co, dual, frame, mattress, righteous, surround, system... £1945.00 | Tweed Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, country, dual, flotation, king, mattress, pine, righteous, sec, semi, stop, super, system, waveless... £2040.00 |
Dee Single Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £23900, **, 120%, 27cm, bed, beds, black, bottomplate, co, combi, comfort, cover, fix, headboard, mattress, melamine, mirror, pedestal, prices, righteous, surface, white... £2057.00 | Rudyard Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , 100cm, 140cm, 150cm, 160cm, 180cm, 200cm, bed, beds, beech, black, centre, cherry, co, dark, drawer, drawers, dual, headboard, length, light, oak, pedestal, plain, righteous, surround, system, white, wood... £2057.00 | Riviera Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , 100cm, 140cm, 150cm, 160cm, 180cm, 200cm, bed, beds, bottomplate, co, drawer, drawers, fabric, finishes, headboard, j/r/v, leatherlook, length, mattress, righteous... £2057.00 |
Manitoba Waterbed - Short 4 Poster From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", bed, beds, co, double, dual, flotation, frame, king, mattress, queen, righteous, sec, semi, sking, stop, super, surround, system, uk, waveless... £2095.00 | Frazer Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, dual, flotation, frame, king, mattress, righteous, sec, semi, stop, super, surround, system, waveless... £2135.00 | Ladybower Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 100cm, 140cm, 150cm, 160/180/200, 160cm, 180cm, 200cm, bed, beds, beech, black, bottomplate, cherry, co, dark, drawer, drawers, dual, headboard, length, light, oak, pedestal, plain, righteous, system, white, wood... £2145.00 |
Yukon Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, a**, bed, beds, beech, black, co, dual, grey, headboard, light, maple, mattress, mirror, pedestal, righteous, semi, state, super, system, walnut, waveless, white... £2149.00 | Cherokee Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , +£300, +£400, bed, beds, co, double, frame, king, mattress, queen, righteous, single, super, surround, uk... £2150.00 | Caldon Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , &, +/5cm, 100cm, 120%, 140cm, 150cm, 160cm, 180cm, 200cm, 27cm, base, bed, beds, central, co, colour, combi, comfort, cover, drawer, drawers, dual, fix, length, mattress, melamine, pedestal, prices, profile, projects, quatro, righteous, surface, syst... £2165.00 |
Burns Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , bed, beds, choice, co, double, drawer, dual, frame, king, lower, mattress, pine, queen, rails, righteous, sheets, side, slimmer, system, tuck, uk... £2175.00 | Quebec - Tall 4 Poster Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", bed, beds, co, double, dual, finishes, flotation, frame, king, mattress, polish, queen, righteous, sec, semi, single, ssurround, stop, super, system, uk, waveless, wax... £2195.00 | Tweed Tall Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, bed, beds, co, dual, flotation, frame, king, mattress, righteous, sec, semi, stop, super, surround, system, waveless... £2320.00 |
Toulouse 4-Poster Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, bed, beds, co, dual, frame, mattress, righteous, surround, system... £2345.00 | Churchill Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, bed, beds, c**, choice, co, drawer, dual, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, system... £2380.00 | Weaver Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 100cm, 140cm, 150cm, 160cm, 180cm, 200cm, bed, beds, bottomplate, co, dual, fabric, finishes, headboard, j/r/v, j/r/v*, leatherlook, length, mattress, pedestal, righteous, system... £2386.00 |
Clearwater Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, bed, beds, c**, co, drawer, drawers, dual, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, system... £2400.00 | Bulkley Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £13800, **, bed, beds, co, dual, lights, mattress, righteous, sets, system, underbed... £2425.00 | Cowichan Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, bed, beds, c**, co, drawer, dual, frame, mattress, pine, righteous, system... £2465.00 |
Mekong Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 30mm, bed, beds, c**, co, drawer, dual, f3, f5, f6, frame, gold, mattress, mdf, painted, penthouse, pine, righteous, silver, stripe, super, system, waveless... £2560.00 | Manitoba Tall 4 Poster Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", bed, beds, brown, choice, co, double, dual, flotation, frame, king, mahogany, mattress, mellow, olde, queen, righteous, sec, semi, stop, super, surround, system, uk, waveless, wood... £2675.00 | Torridon Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £11700, £52600, **, bed, beds, black, bottomplate, co, finishes, headboard, leather, leatherlook, mattress, mfc, mirror, pedestal, real, righteous, white... £3070.00 |
Rochester 4-Poster Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 20, 6Ɔ', 6ƌ", barley, bed, beds, brown, co, columns, double, dual, elegant, flotation, frame, king, mahogany, mattress, mellow, olde, queen, righteous, sec, semi, stop, super, surround, system, tapering, twist, uk, waveless, wood... £3130.00 | Uraguay Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £11700, £39400, £52600, **, bed, beds, black, bottomplate, co, drawer, dual, finishes, headboard, leather, leatherlook, mattress, mfc, mirror, pedestal, real, righteous, system, white... £3335.00 | Spey Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 180/200, 180cm, 200cm, 210cm, bed, beds, bottomplate, co, dual, fabric, finishes, j/r/v**, leatherlook, mattress, penthouse, righteous, sec, stop, super, system, waveless... £3434.00 |
Volga Waterbed in White From Righteous & Co Limited , 160cm/200cm, 180cm/200cm, 180cm/210cm, 180cm/220cm, bed, beds, co, drawers, dual, mattress, night, righteous, size**, system, tables... £3520.00 | Caspian Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, +£242, /headboard, bed, beds, bodytone, co, cover, dual, duel, mattress, mirror/metal, pedestal, removable, righteous, sides, surround, system, zip... £3645.00 | Leven Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 10, 150cm/210cm, 20, beds, black, bottomplate, co, drawer, dual, flotation, headboard, leatherlook, leven, mattress, righteous, second, semi, stop, super, system, waveless, white... £3758.00 |
Trinidad Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , **, 180/200, 180cm, 200cm, 210cm, bed, beds, bottomplate, co, dual, fabric, finishes, j/r/v**, leatherlook, mattress, righteous, system... £3807.00 | Torrens Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £11700, £52600, **, 180x220cm, 200x220cm, 205x235cm, bed, beds, black, bottomplate, call, co, e**, finishes, headboard, leather, leatherlook, mattress, mfc, mirror, pedestal, real, righteous, white... £3852.00 | Octagonal Standard Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , &, £, £19500, £32, £420, £9500, **, 10, 95, 102, 0110, 202, 240cm, 295, 314, 315, 0800, 952, 2000, 2150, 3370, 5210, 5211, 5212, 5216, 5217, 5290, 6026, 6035, 6038, 6380, 7525, 8633, 8888, 10142, 11339, 13401, 13464, 17028, 1... £4125.00 |
Manifold Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , 120%, 240cm, 260cm, 27cm, 280cm, base, bed, beds, co, colour, combi, comfort, cover, dual, eden, fix, headboard, length, mattress, mattresses, melamine, pedestal, prices, righteous, surface... £4275.00 | Francisco Round Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £, 295, 7Ɔ', 8Ɔ', area, beautifully, bed, beds, call, charge, co, fabric, foam, headboard, king, mattress, memory, queen, righteous, samples, subject, upholstered... £4950.00 | Titanic Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , &, **, 180cm, 180cmx200cm, 200cm, 210cm, 220cm, beds, bottomplate, co, dual, finishes, leather, mattress, pedestal, righteous, system... £4973.00 |
The Rio Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £200, beds, black, co, dual, f4, f6, f8, frame, leather, mattress, red, righteous, semi, super, system, waveless... £5252.00 | Octagonal Elegance Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £, £159, £19500, £32, £399, £420, £9500, **, 10, 102, 0110, 202, 295, 314, 315, 0800, 952, 2000, 2150, 268cm, 3370, 5210, 5211, 5212, 5216, 5217, 5290, 6026, 6035, 6038, 6380, 7525, 8633, 8888, 10142, 11339, 13401, 134... £5460.00 | The New Horizon Round Waterbed From Righteous & Co Limited , £, £19500, £9500, 10, 95, 102, 0110, 202, 295, 314, 315, 0800, 952, 2000, 2150, 3370, 5210, 5211, 5212, 5216, 5217, 5290, 6026, 6035, 6038, 6380, 7525, 8633, 8888, 10142, 11339, 13401, 13464, 17028, 17733, 18079, 19324, 19571, 20102, 2152... £5930.00 |