Bed
I never posted a follow-up.
The bed has been repaired.
Originally, the bed had two heaters, and two water bags separated by an insulating layer. The idea was that this way the two people in the bed could each set the temps to their own liking. That never worked right. The insulating layer only worked if the difference was less than about 3°F, which is hardly noticeable. And that's when the divider (which was just a layer of batting, basically) didn't bunch up and sink to the bottom. What that gap did do was make a spot where there was no waterbed, just a lumpy line. Right in the middle.
So anyway, one of those two bags sprung a leak. Not because of any trauma. Just because it was very old as these things go.
I called around and found a guy who could sell me a new bag. Either two small bags like I had had or one full-width bag. He had none in stock, but could get one from the warehouse by the next afternoon. For a price very comparable to what I was finding online. So I did that. I now have a fully free-flow (the old bags were free-flow, but the divider did contribute about a 15% wave reduction) functional waterbed. I replaced the safety liner at the same time, and took the ticking to the laundromat. I thought about replacing the heaters with one new one, but the bed guy suggested I just unplug one of them and use the other until it dies, then switch. So that's the plan.
So nice to be able to sleep again.
I have noticed that now I tend to wake up in the morning in the middle of the bed instead of staying on the one side. It'll be interesting to see what happens when I have a sleeping partner.
The bed has been repaired.
Originally, the bed had two heaters, and two water bags separated by an insulating layer. The idea was that this way the two people in the bed could each set the temps to their own liking. That never worked right. The insulating layer only worked if the difference was less than about 3°F, which is hardly noticeable. And that's when the divider (which was just a layer of batting, basically) didn't bunch up and sink to the bottom. What that gap did do was make a spot where there was no waterbed, just a lumpy line. Right in the middle.
So anyway, one of those two bags sprung a leak. Not because of any trauma. Just because it was very old as these things go.
I called around and found a guy who could sell me a new bag. Either two small bags like I had had or one full-width bag. He had none in stock, but could get one from the warehouse by the next afternoon. For a price very comparable to what I was finding online. So I did that. I now have a fully free-flow (the old bags were free-flow, but the divider did contribute about a 15% wave reduction) functional waterbed. I replaced the safety liner at the same time, and took the ticking to the laundromat. I thought about replacing the heaters with one new one, but the bed guy suggested I just unplug one of them and use the other until it dies, then switch. So that's the plan.
So nice to be able to sleep again.
I have noticed that now I tend to wake up in the morning in the middle of the bed instead of staying on the one side. It'll be interesting to see what happens when I have a sleeping partner.