tips for your short-distance move

How To Prepare Your Waterbed For A Move

14 October 2015 by Otto Moilanen

Many people move several times throughout their lives, and the need for a smaller or bigger home is one of the many reasons why a move may be planned. Moving can be difficult, especially if you have a wide variety of bulky and large items. Fortunately, professional movers are usually experienced in picking up and transporting some of the largest items you own. Sometimes, you will need to prepare your things in advance so the movers can handle them safely and properly. A waterbed is one of these things. If you have one of these beds, then consider the following tips to prepare your bed for your move.

Understanding the Heavy Weight of Your Bed

Your water bed is extremely heavy, and in some cases it may weigh almost  2,000 pounds. This weight is comparable to the weight of a Volkswagon beetle, and this is not surprising since a single gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds. Not only is the water heavy, but also the waterbed mattress needs to be surrounded by a hardwood base to keep the mattress in place. However, the base and frame can be handled by the movers, and so can the mattress itself, as long as the waterbed is drained before the moving day. It is best to start the draining process at least a day or two before the move, because draining can take some time.

Draining Your Bed 

You will first need to unplug the bed and turn off the heater. The heater should be allowed to cool fully. Usually, the wires in the pad that create heat are absorbed and transferred to the water in the bed. Without the water in place though, the elements can quickly burn through the mattress itself or the vinyl cover that holds in the water. If possible, allow the heater to cool for one full day.

Simple Hose Draining

Once the heater has cooled, you can start draining your bed. The draining method will depend on the type of bed you own. If you have a full wave waterbed with a tube style mattress, or if the waterbed consists of a tube with a thin mattress on top, then you can simply use the drain opening to allow the water to drain out. You will need to attach a garden hose to the drain, and you can do this with a device called a garden hose adapter. This device likely came with your waterbed so you could fill it. If you do not still have the attachment, then purchase a waterbed drain kit from your local home store. Do not try to use the hose alone to drain your bed. You will be unable to make a tight connection, and water will leak all over your bedroom.

Once you secure the rounded hose adapter to the waterbed drain, fit your hose over the top. Secure the other end of your house in your bathtub and turn the knob on the bottom of the adapter all the way to the left so the water starts to pour out through the hose. You will likely need to tip your mattress toward the plug as the water releases from the mattress so all of the water is forced out. 

Electric Pump Draining

If your mattress is one that is baffled with water and mattress fibers that sit together in the same mattress, then hose draining is not enough to release all of the water from the mattress materials. A pump is required instead because the mattress will be too waterlogged to move. You can purchase an electric waterbed pump or you can rent one from your local home store or waterbed supplier. Plug in the device and secure the inlet part of the pump to your waterbed drain. A garden hose will need to be attached to the outlet and placed in your bathtub. Turn on the pump and allow all of the water to drain out. Once you see the mattress flattening out, keep an eye on the garden hose and turn off the pump immediately once water no longer drains. If you do not do this, then the pump motor may burn out.

If you do not want to use an electric pump, you can use a wet and dry vacuum to suction the water out. However, you will need an adapter to fit the hose to the drain, and you will need to empty out the vacuum repeatedly as you drain as well.

Once the draining is complete, roll the mattress from the top to the bottom, and secure it with two or three pieces of twine so the mattress is easy to move. For more information or advice, contact a company such as Modern Movers, Inc.

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