Bedding Basics - FAQs

Q: What are the standard sizes of beds?
A: Beds come in four sizes: twin, double (or full), queen, and king. Be sure you get a bed that is large enough to accommodate the space you need, especially if you share your bed. A king really does the trick if you like a bed with lots of room to spread out.

Q: How do I know if I need a new mattress?
A: You should carefully evaluate the comfort and support of your sleep set each year. Mattress quality, usage frequency, your weight, and the care in which you treat your mattress are all factors that contribute toward gauging mattress longevity. Plus, if your mattress sags in the middle or near the edge, or just isn't providing the comfort you need, then you should definitely shop for a new mattress.

Q: What should I look for in a bed?
A: First of all, you should only buy a bed that you have personally tried out in the showroom. Don't buy a bed if you haven't tested it first. Feel for comfort. A mattress doesn't have to feel hard to be good for you. You'll sleep best in a bed that offers you superior comfort and good support. Buy big. Look for a sleep set that gives you enough room for easy, free movement. Get a set. Matching mattresses and box springs or foundations are designed to work together to enhance comfort and support. Get the most for your money. Shop for the best value, not the lowest price. "Bargain bedding" is anything but if it doesn't last long. A third of your life is spent sleeping, so it goes without saying that a bed is one of your most important furniture investments.

Q: What are the differences between a foundation and a box spring?
A: A foundation is basically a hard platform that rests beneath the mattress. A box spring is a coil unit that is more resilient and works with the mattress. Either way, when you buy a new mattress you should also buy a new foundation or box spring.

Q: What are comfort layers?
A: It is the padding materials used on top of the mattress that provides extra cushioning. Conforma Foam or other cushioning materials are used to provide lasting comfort. Comfort layers are designed with special zones to better conform to each individual's shape. For people who like a lot of extra cushioning, ask to see a pillow top mattress.

Q: Why should I buy a new box spring or foundation at the same time I buy a mattress?
A: If you think your mattress needs replacing, chances are the box spring or foundation is worn in much the same way as your mattress. A foundation or box spring absorbs as much as half of the total weight of the sleep set; they act as giant shock absorbers and take a lot of the wear and tear of nightly use. Remember, the components of a sleep set are designed to work together as a team.

Q: What are the significance of coils?
A: Coils provide the essence of the support you feel in a mattress. Coils can also be found in box springs as well. Remember that coil count isn't necessarily the most important aspect in a coil unit. Coil concentration and construction play even bigger roles. The coil unit inside the Back Supporter is designed and arranged with the human anatomy in mind, with a greater concentration of coils in key areas where your body needs it most. The coils are also high-profile and double-tempered to provide more support than ordinary coils.

Q: How long has Spring Air made sleep sets?
A: For some 75 years, Spring Air has been recognised industry wide for its innovative mattresses and sleep sets. Francis Karr, who founded the company in 1926, was himself a visionary. His free-end offset coil design, which adjusts to each sleeper's weight, is today the most copied design in the bedding industry.

Q: What can I do to sleep better?
A: Getting comfortable is one way to help you sleep better. Here are some tips you can try tonight to help you sleep better:

• Make sure that your room isn't too hot or cold; keep your room between 55 and 75
degrees Fahrenheit.
• If your feet are cold, wear socks.
• If you have an allergy, close your window.
• Make sure your pillows are comfortable.
• Clean under the bed and wash the drapes, blankets, and bedspread to eliminate irritants.
• Use air conditioning when it's warm and humid, and a humidifier during the winter
months.
• For some, soothing music at a low volume can help.

Q: Why does alcohol deter from getting a good night's sleep?
A: For many people, drinking alcohol late in the evening produces fragmented sleep and can cause disturbances several times during the night. Because alcohol in modest amounts is a stimulant in many people, even two or three drinks can distort the body's metabolism. Try to keep nightcaps to one drink, or replace alcohol altogether with a glass of warm milk.

Q: The middle of my mattress sags. What can be done?
A: Buy a Back Supporter. Back Supporters include an innerspring unit with 5 support zones. These zones feature an extra concentration of coils in the middle third of the sleep set where the mattress takes on the most wear and tear.

Q: My mattress edges sag. What can be done?
A: Look for a Back Supporter which includes a Performance Edge, a unique design that adds support, firmness, and durability to mattress edges. The Performance Edge also increases the total effective sleeping area by as much as 20% in a queen size, allowing you to sleep all the way to the edge of your mattress without compromising its form.

Q: What can be done about body impressions on my mattress?
A: It's probably time to buy a new bed, as your padding and/or coils are probably losing their resiliency and support. The Back Supporter conforms perfectly to your body and resumes its original shape without creating body impressions.

Q: Where can I find more information?
A: Continue to browse through this Web site if you're looking for the latest information regarding Spring Air products. And be sure to visit your nearest Spring Air dealer to sample our various sleep sets. If you would like more information on sleep disorders, please see our links page.