Helpful tips for assembling and disassembling your waterbed
Set it up, fill it, sleep better. Assemble your bellvita waterbed and enjoy a more restful sleep than ever before. How does it work? We'll show you in this article in just a few easy steps.
If you don’t want to read the entire text — which we recommend — you can jump directly to your desired topic by clicking below:
- Setting up a high-volume waterbed – it’s that easy
- Setting up and filling your waterbed – illustrated step-by-step guide
- Filling and adjusting the waterbed – how to achieve the correct water level
- Setting up a waterbed – bellvita Lightline version
- Draining and disassembling the waterbed with a pump
- More tips – venting and properly filling the waterbed
Setting up a high-volume waterbed – it’s that easy
When setting up a high-volume bellvita waterbed, lay the softside cover onto the base board so that the zipper is facing upward. The zipper openings must be at the foot of the bed. To begin filling the waterbed, you’ll only need the upper part of the cover.
Next, place the four foam wedges inside the cover to form a frame and pull the cover up. Make sure the beveled edges are facing inward. Place the heater at the end of the bed, approximately 20 cm from the foam frame. There is a designated opening in the cover through which the cables and connector plug should be routed to the controller. But do not connect it to power yet!
In the next step, align the cover and screw the foam wedges to the base panels. To continue setting up the waterbed, stretch the safety liner around the foam frame. You can attach it by tucking it under the frame. To avoid wrinkles, smooth the liner with your hands as needed.
Now it’s time to insert the thermal divider. When filling the waterbed, the divider will conform to the inside of the foam frame. Lay the side flaps of the divider to the right and left so that you can adjust its position properly later on.
Installing the water chambers
Now insert the water chambers. Place them inside the safety liner, ensuring that the thermal divider stands upright between the two mattresses. The fill nozzle should be positioned at the foot of the bed. To fill the waterbed, gently pull out the fill nozzles and open the water chamber caps. Align the water mattresses using the corners of the safety liner as a guide.
Important: Is the bed in its final position? If not, reposition it now — once filled, the bed can no longer be moved.
Note: We recommend filling the water chambers with lukewarm water. When filling, first fill one chamber halfway, then fully fill the second chamber, and finally go back to fill the first one completely.
Setting up and filling your waterbed – illustrated step-by-step guide
Complete instructions as a PDF download: Download
Filling and adjusting the waterbed – how to achieve the correct water level
In the final step, you’ll need to determine whether the bed is properly adjusted or if more water should be added or removed. If there’s too much or too little water in the bed, it’s not only uncomfortable — it can also be harmful to your back. The correct water level is achieved by checking carefully whether you feel like you're lying on a hill (too much water) or sagging (too little water).
Once the waterbed is properly filled and adjusted, add one bottle of conditioner per side. Then vent both water chambers by attaching the vent valve to the fill nozzle and pressing the air from the head toward the foot of the bed. Repeat the process after a few days. Now you can seal the chambers and insert the stopper into the mattress.
Finally, place the top of the softside cover on the bed and zip it to the bottom part. Then connect the heater to the power supply.
Setting up the waterbed – bellvita Lightline version
The setup process for the bellvita Lightline version is a bit different. Because of its lower height and reduced volume, the Lightline can be placed directly on slatted frames. No base pedestal is required as with high-volume mattresses.
First, remove your old mattress and position the bed where it will remain. After filling, the waterbed must not be moved again.
Now place the new waterbed mattress on the bed and begin filling. Connect the heater to the thermostat — IMPORTANT: plug in the power only after filling is complete.
Next, pull the fill opening out of the mattress and allow air to flow in. You can choose your preferred method of filling — we recommend using a garden hose or watering can. The water should be approximately hand-warm.
To ensure sleeping comfort, smooth out the corners of the mattress and make sure no wrinkles remain. During setup, the mattress must lie evenly in the foam tray. The optimal water level is about 1 cm below the top edge. Then remove any remaining air from the mattress.
Once filled and vented, add the conditioner. If air reenters during this step, vent again. Seal the opening with the plastic insert and cap, then press them back into the mattress. Now you can zip the cover closed.
When the correct water level is reached, connect the heater to the power supply.
Draining and disassembling the waterbed with a pump
We strongly recommend that waterbed disassembly be done by a qualified technician. bellvita’s experienced installers will dismantle your waterbed professionally — preserving your warranty, which could otherwise be voided by improper draining. To drain the waterbed, our technicians use a water pump. If you're in a hurry, you may drain the waterbed yourself — but always use a pump and draw a vacuum. You’ll need a high-performance vacuum pump with suction hose. Important: turn off the waterbed heater first — otherwise the vinyl may melt. Discoloration on the underside of the mattress during disassembly is normal and not a cause for concern.
Hose, valve, and pump for disassembly
Have a towel ready and place the hose on it. Ideally, use a valve that can be screwed onto the fill nozzle to drain the waterbed. If you don’t have a valve, insert the hose about 40 cm into the water chamber. Turn on the pump and drain the water into a toilet or shower. Most waterbed pumps are garden pond pumps. These must be filled with water before suctioning so they can build enough pressure to pull the water out. Without such a pump, the waterbed cannot be fully emptied, and we only recommend using a hose without a pump — by siphoning — if you no longer intend to use the bed.
Proper drainage and transporting the waterbed
The bed is far too heavy when still filled with water. If moved in this state, the fleece layers inside the mattress — which provide stabilization — can shift. When you reassemble the bed, you may find clumps of fleece or unbalanced stabilization. This is very uncomfortable. Therefore, the waterbed must be fully vacuum-drained. You’ll know it's ready when the mattress core visibly collapses until it appears almost “flat.” Let the pump run until no more water is coming out. It’s critical that the pump is connected airtight. If you don’t have a dedicated fill valve to screw onto the nozzle, seal it with duct tape (commonly known as “gaffer tape” or “duck tape”). Once fully drained, the mattress can be folded — not rolled — for transport.
Tip for waterbed disassembly
We recommend using a water meter. This lets you know exactly how much water was drained so you can refill the same amount later. “Approximately,” because some residual water will always remain inside the mattress, particularly in the fleece layers. For a so-called free-flow waterbed — one without stabilization — let the pump run until the top of the vinyl touches the bottom. Depending on its power, a vacuum or pond pump can drain the bed in 10 to 30 minutes. A drill pump is a cheaper alternative but takes significantly longer to fully empty the mattress.
Important to note
Never leave the hose unattended — if it slips out, it could cause water damage to your bedroom. At bellvita, we always secure the hose to the waterbed during draining.
Additional tips – Venting and properly filling your waterbed
- Avoid bubbling sounds by regularly venting your waterbed. This also helps maintain consistent sleep quality and comfort.
- As a rule of thumb, the water level should be even with the top of the softside frame. However, your personal comfort is the most important factor.
Now nothing stands in the way of a restful and deep sleep.