-
Step 1
Decide the type of waterbed best meets your sleeping needs. Waterbed mattresses are described as soft-side or hard-side. The hard-side waterbeds are full motion waterbeds that have a mattress of water or bladder contained by a wooden raised wooden frame. The soft-side mattresses resemble traditional beds. The soft-side mattresses separate the water using padding or thick pads and depending upon the thickness of the padding are classified as wave less or semi-wave less.
-
Step 2
Examine any used waterbed before purchasing it especially the full motion waterbed. Ask the current owner if there is any damage before examining the waterbed, and then ask to see the damage. Start the examination when the bladder is full, and look for leaks. Also check around any patches by applying pressure to the mattress to be sure the patches are not worn and are holding the water.
-
Step 3
Remove the water from the bladder during your pre-purchase examination and check the waterbed pieces. First, examine the inside of the mattress and look for algae, mold or any foul smells. These are symptoms that the water was not properly conditioned or that the bladder was not flushed regularly.
-
Step 4
Check the framework for proper alignment and that all screws are present and tight. The screws in the framework should not be stripped and all brackets should line up to properly support your weight and the full mattress weight. Then look for heater issue by examining the heater that usually sits under the mattress. Check for lumps on the heater or scorch marks. These issues indicate you will need a replacement heater.
-
Step 5
Compare prices for used waterbeds at classified websites such as Craigslist and Greensheet (see Resources). Purchasing a used waterbed costs you about half of the retail price of a brand new waterbed. Once you have examined the used waterbed, make a fair counter offer to try to get a good deal since used waterbeds is a small market.
