I'm helping a friend move and they have an old waterbed that needs to be drained. Is there a special pump required for this, or can I just use a regular submersible pump from the hardware store? I've never dealt with a waterbed before and don't want to cause a flood or damage anything.
waterbeds
Is there a special pump for draining a waterbed?
Most waterbed stores stores sell a dedicated draining kit that includes a pump and hose. A regular submersible pump can work, but you need to make sure it fits the valve connection. I've used a drill-powered pump bfeore with mixed results. The key is getting all the water out so you don't leave a swamp in the bladder.
I used a shop shop vac once. Took forever but it got the job done. Not ideal though.
You can also siphon it if you have gravity on your side, like draining it to a lower floor or outside. But that only works if the bladder is higher than the drain point. A waterbed pump is basically a small submersible pump with a garden hose adapter. Check the valve size first—some are 3/4 inch, some are 1 inch.
MuddyBoots, a shop vac will burn out if you're sucking that much water. I wouldn't recommend it for a full bed. GardenGnome77 is right about the valve size—that's the most common mistake. Also, make sure the pump can handle the head height if you're pumping upstairs.
I've movedd two waterbeds. The first time I borrowed a pump from a friend who worked at a waterbed store. The second time I bought a cheap submersible pump online for like $30. It came with a hose adapter that fit perfectly. Just make sure you have a long enough hose to reach a drain or outside.
What about the conditioner and the water? You can't just dump it on the lawn if it's got chemicals in it. Or can you? I've heard mixed things.
LazyRiver, good point. Most waterbed conditioners are pretty dilute, but some contain algicides. Better to drain to a sewer or a gravel area, not directly onto plants. If it's been a while since the last treatment, it's probably fine, but why risk it.
I didn't think about the chemicals. I just drained mine into the street gutter. Oops.
So it sounds like a dedicated pump is the way to go. I'll check the valve size and look for a kit. Thanks for the heads up on the chemicals—I'll make sure we drain it to a proper drain, not the yard.
QuietStorm42, make sure you also get a hose that's long enough and doesn't kink. The biggest hassle is the last bit of water—you might need to lift the bladder or use a wet/dry vac for the residual. Also, if the bed has a heater, unplug it well before draining.
And don't forget to open the valve slowly. I've seen people yank it open and get a face flul of stale water. Not fun.
Is there a way to reuse the water for flushing toilets or something? Seems like a waste to just drain it.
You could, but you'd need to store it in buckets. Not practical for 200 gallons. And if it's been sitting with conditioner, I'd skip it. Just drain it.
I've heard of people using the water for their garden if they let it sit for a few days and the conditioner breaks down. But I'm not sure that's a good idea. Better safe than sorry.