FAQ

There are four choices you need to make to select the right Afloat for you:

1. Is this bed for one or two people? If two, we recommend a King size because the added volume of water more completely displaces the combined weight of two adults. This means you both get the maximum body-contouring flotation comfort.
2. Do my partner and I like sleeping at different temperatures? If one of you likes to be buried under a pile of blankets and the other likes only a bed sheet with a wide-open window, then you want a Dual King. You’ll both sleep at the temperature you like, and you can change the temperature on your side when you want to.
3. Do I want to sleep as close to the water as possible or would I like a little added firmness? If you want the former, select our Pure Flotation. If you want the latter, select our Firm Flotation. The only difference is a 1” layer of memory foam in the Firm.
4. Which is more important: the traditional look of a mattress box spring or having easy access to storage space under my Afloat mattress? If the former, you want our traditional foundation and 9 leg metal bed frame. If the latter, you want our Space Saver platform. In either case, the Afloat mattress is the same and the mattress surface = about 24” above the floor.

• Standard (Eastern) King = approx. 76” W x 80’ L
• California (Western) King = approx. 72” W x 84” L
• Queen = approx. 60” W x 80” L

Additional sizes will be available before 2020.

A king size Afloat with the traditional foundation or the Space Saver platform and two averaged sized adults together weighs about 1800 pounds. This weight is spread over a large area. The “floor loading” or “weight per square foot” is well within building code requirements. The weight is a lot like having 8 people sitting at a dining room table. A queen weighs 15% to 20% less than a king.

The answer depends on the type of waterbed you owned. In broad terms, there were two types of waterbeds.

Type A: “Hard sided” waterbed.

This type had a temperature control system and a wood perimeter, usually made from 2 x 10 lumber.

Afloat similarities and differences:

• Same body-contouring flotation comfort and therapeutic temperature control.
• Like a hard-side, Afloat’s temperature control system can be used to lower total home heating and cooling costs.
• Afloat looks like a standard mattress instead of a wood box.
• Afloat can be used with any type of bedroom furniture.
• Afloat offers more precise temperature control than most of the old hard sided waterbeds.
• Afloat is much better insulated, reducing energy costs by as much as 50% compared to an old hard side.
• Afloat’s wave-reducing inner support system is more effective and trouble-free than the average old design.
• Afloat parts are better labeled, the assembly instructions more sophisticated and everything you need is included.
• Afloat weighs about 30% less, but the flotation comfort is the same.

Type B: “Soft sided” waterbed.

This type eliminated the wood box and had the look of a traditional mattress. Soft sides reduce the amount of water and increased the amount of foam or fiber padding. Many soft sides had no temperature control. Depending on the soft sided model, the unique body-contouring comfort and therapeutic temperature control were either somewhat reduced or totally eliminated.

Afloat similarities and differences:

• Afloat offers much better body-contouring flotation comfort and therapeutic temperature control.
• Unlike most soft sides, Afloat’s temperature control system can be used to lower total home heating and cooling costs.
• Unlike all soft-sides, Afloat has a thin stretch-knit cover that works with the water mattress to conform to the shape of your body.
• Unlike all soft-sides, the Afloat cover is removable and machine-washable, allowing you to keep your bed hypo-allergenically clean.
• Both look like a standard mattress instead of a wood box and both can be used with any type of bedroom furniture.
• Afloat offers more precise temperature control…far superior to the old soft sided waterbeds.
• Afloat is much better insulated, reducing energy costs by as much as 30% compared to an old soft side.
• Afloat’s wave-reducing inner support system is more effective and trouble-free than the average old soft sided design.
• Afloat parts are better labeled, the assembly instructions more sophisticated and everything you need is included.
• Afloat weighs about the same as some soft sides, but the flotation comfort is much better.

The biggest problem will be trying to get your dog or cat to stay off Afloat, because cats and dogs love the soft, warm surface. Assuming your cat is not a mountain lion or Bengal tiger, claws are not a problem. Just keep Afloat covered with a mattress pad, sheets, and a comforter or bedspread. Even without bed linens a properly-filled Afloat is puncture-resistant because the vinyl surface is loose…not under surface tension. Another plus: if your pet has an “accident” the Afloat stretch-knit fabric surface is removable and machine-washable, and the vinyl water mattress surface is easy to clean. With any other type of bed, a pet “accident” can be a permanent problem.

Currently Afloat can only be seen is 18 City Furniture showrooms in central and south Florida. However, this will begin to change in late 2019 as we start to add dealers in other parts of the US. This will be a gradual process that will continue throughout 2020. Send us an email using “Contact Us” whenever you wish and we’ll give you an update. In 2020 we’ll add a showroom locator by zip code feature to this site.

Normally it takes anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks depending on where you live in the US, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Starting in 2020 the average shipping time will gradually become shorter as we add more shipping points.

Not yet. We have already received enquiries from prospective importers/distributors in a number of European countries, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada but as of now we have not entered into any distribution or licensing agreements.

Normally it takes anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks depending on where you live in the US, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Starting in 2020 the average shipping time will gradually become shorter as we add more shipping points.

We do.

Yes, the applicable sales tax is added to the price of Afloat. The amount varies based on where you live.

Aside from the initial “100 Night Promise of Satisfaction” described above, Afloat comes with a 20 year warranty. The first three years are full replacement of any defective parts. After that the costs are prorated. The Afloat warranty details are included in the pdf of our printed installation instructions.

In the first 100 days from the date of delivery of your Afloat you may receive a full refund of your purchase amount for any reason. We call this our “100 Night Promise of Satisfaction.” Send us an email by clicking on “Contact Us” and let us know that you’d like a refund. Include your full name, phone number address and date of purchase delivery and we will promptly contact you.

Easy. If you want to buy an accessory item like another bottle of water conditioner, go to "Afloat Extras" and then "Accessories". If you are missing a part or you have a damaged part that you think will be covered under our warranty, click on “Contact Us” and let us know what you need.

Anything that holds air or water can leak. The greater the pressure and the smaller the molecule the greater the chance this could occur. For example, a tire or an air bed set on a high firmness level both have relatively high surface pressure and smaller air molecules, so they are at the high end of the scale. The Afloat water mattress is at the low end due to the larger water molecules and the loose, no-pressure design of the water mattress surface. In addition, the Afloat water mattress is separated from sharp objects by the Afloat stretch-knit mattress fabric cover, your mattress pad and bed sheets. Still, if a leak occurs your Afloat Care Kit contains a small patch kit and instructions for use. A pinhole leak on the surface usually can be patched in a minute or two, and assuming you followed the Afloat assembly instructions, any water will be captured by the Afloat liner.

See “How do I get accessory products…?”