tarsa@decvax.UUCP (Greg Tarsa) (01/16/84)
I'm forwarding this for David Chesler since he does not have access to
inews.
From genrad!wjh12!unixvax:chesler_2 Sun Jan 15 06:08:31 1984
Status: R
I used a mattress-pad on my waterbed. (A letter I wrote to someone else
explained why I don't use mine now.) Without some sort of padding it
feels awefully clammy (but I have slept on the bare vinyl, in just my
briefs, on at least one ocassion, and survived.) In the summer I turn
off the heater, and I find an 80 degree bed sucks just the right amount
of heat away that I can sleep comfortably. In the winter I keep the
bed warm. If it is too hot I can't get up, but if it is warm it is like
an electric blanket, but better, especially in a cold room.
I don't pay for electricity, but I think a waterbed heater is on the
range of 200w, a larger lightbulb, or a miniscule space heater. Even
if on continuously I think this is less than $100/yr absolute maximum
[redundant stress because of all the liberal figures I've used in
the estimate]. The heater won't be on, a comforter over the bed will
hold much of the heat in. It must be more economical to heat the
bed than the whole room or house. Water holds a lot of heat, but once
it is warmed up it doesn't need much input.
In case this is posted:
Advise: It is easier to heat a bed than cool it. Fill with water, let
it warm to room temperature, then raise the heater and increase setting
slowly (one bit a night) until the temperature is right.
Query: Someone warned against gel filled beds. I assume gel equals
very flexible solid. Has anyone done anything with very viscous fluids?
(EG SAE 90 grease, vaseline, etc [Would it have to not lose its viscousity
at high temperatures? :-)]. I got used to the waves, but when I had guests
they did not like them, and neither of us liked the non-resistance water
offers. I would like to hear more about soft-sides and the beds which
are a standard mattress with a water-filled cavity, as the wooden sides
were my worst drawback.
David Chesler
{allegra,decvax}\!wjh12\!u:cheslerspaf@gatech.UUCP (01/17/84)
Having just purchased a waterbed a few weeks ago, I thought I'd throw out
another comment or two.
It is possible to buy waveless or semi-waveless matresses. These use
some form of baffle chamber or fiber fill to disrupt and stop waves.
I have a 75% waveless mattress, and it damps even the most violent
waves to nothing in less than 10 seconds. That way, you get some of
the movement, but not enough to disturb someone who doesn't appreciate
the waves.
Some of the baffle chamber matresses are actually two matresses in one,
and this allows you to set the heat and firmness on each side to
individual preference.
My super fancy deluxe heater is 400 watts for a king size bed, and I'd say
it is on less than half the time with the room temperature at about 70
and the bed at about 86.
The king size mattress on my bed states that the most it can ever be filled
would cause 42 lbs per square foot. Thus, a king size matress fully filled
is under 1600 lbs. Imagine 10 people standing in your bedroom at that
point -- would the floor hold it? It better, or it doesn't meet
with most recent building codes.
I don't allow wombats to use my waterbed, although Waldo the Wonder Duck
(our cat) is allowed to nap on the bed if the comforter is in place.
--
Off the Wall of Gene Spafford
The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332
CSNet: Spaf @ GATech ARPA: Spaf.GATech @ CSNet-Relay
uucp: ...!{akgua,allegra,rlgvax,sb1,unmvax,ulysses,ut-sally}!gatech!spaf