Everything You Need to Know About Waterbed Heaters
Waterbeds are becoming increasingly popular throughout the country, and one of the reasons for this is the novelty newer generations find in the idea of sleeping over a surface of moving water. Modern waterbeds have undergone a wide range of developments throughout the years, such as reduction in wave motion, the addition of plush upholstery, and the addition of heating systems to regulate water temperature. If you have a waterbed or are planning on buying one, then chances are you will want to know about waterbed heaters and whether or not you should buy one. This guide will provide you with all of the information you'll need to make a well-informed decision.
What are waterbed heaters?
Waterbed heaters are heating systems designed to raise the temperature of the water contained within the waterbed's inner chambers or bladder. There are three basic types of waterbed heaters currently available on the market, and each one varies in terms of its energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. Whether or not you need a waterbed heater should be determined by your current climate, but if you have cold weather on a regular basis you will probably need a heating system to help you sleep comfortably at night. The three different types of waterbed heaters are:
- Softside waterbed heaters - Softside waterbeds differ from hardside waterbeds in that they have a lot more upholstery and generally look like a regular innerspring mattress. More upholstery and vinyl lining means that the inner water chamber or bladder of the softside waterbed is more shallow and filled with less water than other models. This means that only a very low-output heater is required to effectively heat the softside waterbed. Softside waterbed heaters are generally among the most energy efficient waterbed heaters on the market, and will usually come with a simple thermostat allowing you to adjust the temperature to the level you desire.
- Bulb and Cap waterbed heaters - These are the standard waterbed heaters used with most hardside waterbeds. They are built with copper coils that are filled with ethylene gas and surrounded with a sturdy encasing that protects them. Although these waterbed heaters are somewhat less expensive than the others, they are not as energy efficient.
- Solid state waterbed heaters - These are probably among the most popular waterbed heaters out there. They are easy to use, energy efficient, and can be installed quite easily. These waterbed heaters basically look like heating pads and they are typically attached to the bottom of the waterbed platform while the thermostat is attached to the side of the waterbed for easy access.
Where can I find a good waterbed heater?
Many waterbed manufacturers now include integrated heating systems with their waterbeds. However, these waterbeds are characteristically more expensive and belong to the higher end of the waterbed market. As such they are not available to everyone and those on a lower budget will probably need to purchase one of the above-mentioned separate waterbed heaters if heating is required.
To find a good waterbed heater, try browsing through online retailers. With a bit of research you should find a few different options from all three types of waterbed heaters. You can then choose the one that is offered at the best price and is more energy efficient than others. Keep in mind that a low-voltage waterbed heater might not be enough to effectively heat a large hardsided waterbed to the desired temperature.