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How to Drain a Waterbed

Step 1 ALWAYS unplug your waterbed heater before draining or filling your waterbed.

First, unplug your temperature control unit. The best and easiest way to drain the bed is to obtain an electric draining pump from your local retailer, or insert your garden hose with waterbed hose connector into the "popped-up" valve.
Step 2 Weight down the area around the valve with a few heavy objects, such as telephone books. This step will help prevent air bubbles inside the mattress from getting into your garden hose and stopping the siphoning action you will create.
Step 3 Mount your drain pump to your closest faucet and attach your garden hose. Make sure your fittings are tight. With the "bell valve" in the "up" position, turn on the water to put more water in to mattress. This step pushes the air in your hose into your bed so you can create the continuous water siphon you need. (If you do not have a drain pump, see below for further instructions.)
Step 4 Once water is flowing into the bed for a few seconds, turn the "bell valve" to the "down" position, leaving the water flowing full blast. The water from your faucet flowing through your drain pump will suck the water out of your bed. This will take one or two hours depending on water pressure. Do not allow air to get in the hose.
Step 5 If you have a motion reduced mattress you must show special care while draining and moving your bed to prevent the interior baffles from shifting. HOLD THE BAFFLES IN PLACE IN THE MATTRESS AND LIFT UP ONE END. This will allow the remaining water to flow toward the valve.
Step 6 FOLD YOUR MATTRESS CAREFULLY. DO NOT LET THE BAFFLES SHIFT OUT OF PLACE. If any shifting does occur, you should reposition them before refilling your mattress.

How do I Drain My Waterbed Without a Drain Pump?

  1. ALWAYS unplug your waterbed heater before draining or filling your waterbed.
  2. Attach your garden hose onto an outside faucet (the hose can go up through an open window).
  3. Turn on the water for fifteen seconds. This pushes the air in the garden hose into your bed so you can create a continuous water siphon.
  4. Turn off the water. Disconnect the hose from the faucet and let it drop to the ground. As long as the end of the hose is lower than your waterbed, gravity will siphon the water out.

What do I do about a Defective Cap and/or Insert?

  • If a cap becomes loose or stripped, replace with a new cap, or add a piece of electrical tape around the valve which could provide a tighter fit.
  • If the valve stem threading is stripped, a new cap will not help. This would not be considered a manufacturers defect. This is a result of excessive force when removing or tightening the cap.