Frequently asked questions
If your question is not listed, you can of course also contact us directly by e-mail, telephone or contact form
General questions
Hardside waterbeds feature a wooden frame instead of the more common foam frame, in which the water chambers are held. When getting out of bed, you often feel the hard edge pressing into the backs of your knees, which can be uncomfortable. As a result, hardside waterbeds are now rarely offered.
In a softside waterbed, the water chamber is surrounded by a soft yet stable foam frame that keeps the bed in shape. This frame is typically wedge-shaped — narrower at the top than at the bottom — so that as much usable water surface as possible is preserved. On our bellvita waterbeds, the top edge is only about 5–6 cm wide, making it especially slim while still extremely shape-retaining. Narrower foam frames often lose their stability quickly and bulge out after a short time if they are not specially reinforced.
If you suspect a defect in your waterbed, first try to locate the source of the issue. If only a small amount of water is present in the safety liner, you can dry it with towels and then check to see if and where water is leaking again. A bit of moisture doesn’t necessarily indicate a leak — it could simply be condensation, which may occur due to different temperature settings. Also check whether the cap at the foot of the bed has been properly closed or if any water may have spilled during the last venting process. Thanks to the integrated safety liner, even in the event of a defect, water won’t spill onto the floor. The liner is designed to hold the full volume of both mattresses. In any case, our hotline is available to assist you at any time, especially in emergencies: +41 (0) 61 6 83 09 77.
Important note: Sharp objects should be kept away from the waterbed. Before cleaning, make sure to remove rings with pointed stones and only use clean cloths.
Even after the initial filling, you will most likely need to adjust the water level in your waterbed according to your personal preferences. The fleece layers inside the water chamber only become fully saturated after a few weeks. This initial “water loss” should be compensated for after about 2 weeks by adding approximately 2–5 liters of water (don’t forget to vent the bed afterwards!). If your comfort level changes over time, this is usually also due to the water level. Gaining or losing weight can affect how you sleep, since the original water level may no longer match your body weight. However, this is not a disadvantage — rather, it’s a unique advantage that conventional mattresses can’t offer: perfect, individualized adjustment to your needs.
Water will also evaporate from a waterbed over time. The amount depends on the set temperature. Usually, only a small amount evaporates each year, and this is compensated by regularly adding conditioner. In some cases, evaporation can reach up to 10 liters per year. Please note: only add water in increments of no more than 5 liters, and be sure to vent the bed afterward. If that’s not enough, simply repeat the process as needed.
Our tip: If the water level is too low, you’ll feel like you’re “sagging” into the bed. If it’s too high, you’ll feel like you’re lying on a mound — both conditions reduce sleep comfort. Your body should sink evenly into the waterbed. Important: never pull the entire fill nozzle straight up by the screw cap! First, twist the cap open, remove the safety insert, then insert your finger into the nozzle and pull it up slowly and evenly. Also, make sure to remove jewelry and do not place objects on the vinyl surface that could cause damage.
Size, reassurance, system
When purchasing a softside waterbed, keep in mind that the selected bed size usually does not correspond 1:1 to the actual water surface — it’s slightly smaller. For our bellvita waterbeds, the foam frame measures approximately 5–6 cm all around, reducing the usable lying surface by about 10–12 cm in both length and width. For example, a waterbed measuring 200×200 cm has an actual water surface of approximately 190×190 cm. If your height is 180 cm or taller, you should consider whether a total bed length of 200 cm is sufficient or whether a 220 cm model would be more appropriate. Of course, this also depends on how much space is available in your bedroom.
The following sizes are available as part of bellvita’s standard range:
- 140×200 cm
- 160×200 cm
- 180×200 cm
- 180×220 cm
- 200×200 cm
- 200×220 cm
Custom sizes available upon request.