Factors Impairing Sleep Quality

It's estimated that millions of people suffer from occasional sleep problems. And about a third of these people have some form of chronic insomnia. Although a comfortable bed can't cure all sleep problems, there are certain situations where the right bed can help you sleep better.

• Maintaining A Mattress
• How Diet & Exercise Play A Role
• Mattress Care
• Sleeping More Comfortably
• Easing Back Pain
• Sleeping With The Space You Need

Maintaining A Mattress' Firm Middle And Edges

After several years of wear and tear, a mattress can lose its resiliency and support in both the middle portion and the edges. Beds with a sagging middle can cause you to roll toward the center of your bed. And if you have a soft middle and you share your bed with another person, you'll tend to roll into each other. Some reasons for a sagging midsection lie within the coil unit inside your mattress.

The Coil-Hard Facts

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 also play a major role. Your body weight is greatest in the midsection, shoulders, and lower back,which is why beds tend to sag in these areas. The Back Supporter by Spring Air has the answer for this dilemma with zones of support and durability, providing a greater concentration of support in the mattress and the box spring.
You should also know that a foundation absorbs up to half of the sleep set's total wear, and they wear out at the same rate as the mattress. So if your mattress shows signs of sag, chances are that your box spring needs replacing too.

Weak Edges

Older beds also typically suffer from sagging edges. This occurs after years of sitting on and sleeping near the edge of the bed. Edges that lose their firmness take away from quality sleeping space and can make it more difficult to get comfortable. If you find yourself rolling off your mattress, your bed likely suffers from weakened edges.But not all beds are prone to edge sag. Our Spring Air mattresses offer a Dual Performance Edge Design or a Foam Encased Wireless Edge, which provides an expanded usable sleeping surface and provides more comfort and support from edge to edge.

Lumbar Support

All of our Sprin Air mattresses are zoned in the center third to enhance the lumbar support while also providing pressure relieving sleep.

Factors Impairing Sleep Quality

How Diet and Exercise Play a Role

Much of the following information is adapted from No More Sleepless Nights, a Proven Program to Conquer Insomnia by Dr. Peter Hauri and Dr. Shirley Linde. It's a valuable resource for anyone looking for more information on treating insomnia. It's no secret that a healthy diet and exercise are two keys to good health. Then it should be no surprise that they also play important roles in helping you sleep better.If you're not doing so already, simply following the recommendations and guidelines set by the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the Surgeon General can help you sleep better. Regardless of other factors, you'll sleep better if you're healthy. Exercise and a good diet also have obvious health benefits including reducing your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, obesity, and a host of other problems.

A Good Sleeper's Diet

Following the rules below should help improve your sleep:

• Eat lots of salads and vegetables. And be sure the veggies you eat are fresh. The fresher they are, the more nutrients they have and the more benefit you'll get.
• Eat lots of whole grains and fiber-rich foods. Potatoes, fruits, salads and veggies, whole-grain breads, and unsweetened cereals should become part or your everyday diet. Remember to eat at least five helpings of fruit and vegetables each day.
• Eat a variety of foods. Your body needs more than 50 nutrients for optimal health, and not all of them can be found in a single food. So the wider the variety you eat, the greater the chances that you'll get those vitamins and minerals.
• Limit fat. An important health tip for general health, fat content should not exceed 30 percent of the total calories in your diet. Avoid rich sauces, breading, deep fried foods, and a lot of red meat.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine. Cutting down on alcohol and caffeine is one of the most important things you can do to improve your sleep, especially if you suffer from insomnia. And drink six to eight glasses of water every day.
• Eat your dinner about four hours or more before bedtime. Dinners should be on the light side. If you're going to have a large meal, make it breakfast.
• Lunches should be moderate. Research suggests that calories consumed early in the day are burned more efficiently than calories taken in at dinnertime.
• Look for foods rich in B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, and iron. These nutrients have been shown to help some people sleep better.

Does Melatonin Work?

You may have read about melatonin, the hormone related to the body's 24-hour circadian rhythm. Although not all the facts are in about melatonin, we do know that melatonin signals to the brain that it's time to go to sleep. For some people, low doses of melatonin (around 0.3 mg) can influence their brain's "perception" of sleep and gradually help them sleep at night and wake in the morning. Larger doses (3 to 5 mg) may have a sedative effect and induce sleep in some people.It should be noted, however, that melatonin is a powerful hormone and has other regulating effects. Animal studies have shown that melatonin decreases sex-hormone production. It is also involved in the regulation of blood flow and has other possible coronary effects. Melatonin may even increase depression in some people. The best bet is to consult your doctor before taking melatonin. If you do decide to take it, use it infrequently at low doses.

Exercise Helps Sleep, Too

Exercise helps to tire the body and increases your fitness, helping to facilitate good sleep. Exercise even helps you sleep more deeply. Working out during the late afternoon and early evening hours has a greater effect on sleep than exercise in the morning or late evening. Exercise also produces mood elevators called endorphins. Endorphins are naturally occurring brain chemicals that relieve depression and produce a sense of well being. Most mild forms of depression and anxiety that involve insomnia are directly influenced by exercise. Even walking briskly for 20 minutes three to four times per week can increase endorphin levels and help some people sleep better.

Factors Impairing Sleep Quality

Mattress Care

In the ordinary course of sleep set use, slight body impressions are normal and do not indicate structural failure. They are only an indication that the upholstery layers are settling and conforming to your individual body.

One-Sided Mattresses

This new technology takes the worry out of turning your mattress. This type of mattress does not need to be turned.

Two-Sided Mattresses

One of the best ways to minimize body impressions is by turning over your mattress regularly. This is important because it keeps the cushioning soft and resilient. Turn the mattress over, end-to-end and side-to-side EVERY TWO WEEKS for the first six months. After this period, turn it every two or three months. Here's how:
1. Begin with your mattress laying flat. Rotate your mattress so it hangs over the foundation. Raise and turn your mattress over side-to-side. Rotate your mattress back into position. 2. Your Spring Air mattress is now ready to help you get another good night's rest.

Sleeping More Comfortably

There are times when we just can't seem to get comfortable; we toss and turn for hours. With millions of people suffering from occasional sleep problems, just getting relaxed has become a difficult task. But it's only when we feel comfortable that we can relax. And it's only when we are truly relaxed that we can sleep soundly.

Comfortable Advice

Getting comfortable is vital for getting quality sleep. The sleeping environment must be just right. Here are some tips that can increase your bedtime comfort level:

• Make sure that your room isn't too hot or cold. Research has shown that temperatures below 55 or above 75 degrees Fahrenheit can disturb sleep.
• If your feet are cold, wear socks.
• If you have an allergy to pollen, close your window. An open window can allow pollen to enter your room. Make sure your pillows are comfortable. Musty pillows could also interfere with sleep as they could trigger allergies. Clean under the bed and wash the drapes, blankets, and bedspread to eliminate irritants.
• The humidity must also be right. Air too dry could make your skin feel dry and contribute to a scratchy throat and stuffy nose. If it's too humid, you'll feel sweaty and hot.

Spring Air Solutions For Comfort

While all Back Supporter sleep sets are designed for comfort, here are some unique features that will increase overall comfort and enhance relaxation.

Comfort Layers

Many Back Supporter mattresses include a layer of Conforma Touch Foam or other cushioning. Your body's individual shape is cradled in comfort while each part of the body gets the support it needs.
For more information on these and other features, please visit your local Spring Air retailer.

Factors Impairing Sleep Quality

Easing Back Pain

There are times when we just can't seem to get comfortable, tossing and turning for hours. With millions of people suffering from occasional sleep problems, just getting relaxed has become a difficult task. But it's only when we feel comfortable that we can relax. And it's only when we are truly relaxed that we can sleep soundly.
Getting comfortable is vital for getting quality sleep. The sleeping environment must be just right. Here are some tips that can increase your bedtime comfort level:

Solutions Easing Back Pain

Spring Air's Back Supporter mattress is designed with a healthy back in mind.

Specially Concentrated Coil Unit

The coil unit within every Back Supporter innerspring unit contains support zones. These zones feature a greater number of coils (i.e. more support) in the middle third of the sleep set. Coils are closer together in the center third of the sleep set to support the body's weight where it is the heaviest.
Plus, Spring Air features a high-profile, tempered, free-end coil which is stronger than most ordinary coils. Vertical head-to-toe steel lacing creates rows of coils that are held together. This feature allows each sleeper to move independently with no "roll-together." Also, Spring Air's Foam Encased Wireless Edge™ features a special edge support system that provides a firm sitting edge to prevent sagging while expanding the usable sleeping surface by up to 20%.
For more information on these and other features, please visit your local Spring Air retailer.

Sleeping With the Space You Need

If you share a bed with your partner and you can't seem to get a good night's sleep, it's probably because of the other person's movements in the night or the noises he or she makes. Studies show that, particularly in women, people who share their bed spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep than when they sleep alone. And when one partner moves, the other person typically moves within 20 seconds. Women with partners heavier than them are more likely to awaken during the night. Men also tend to move more than women and are more likely to snore and suffer from apnea.

Get a Big Bed

Mattresses come in different sizes because people come in different sizes and have different sleeping requirements.

California King 72" x 84"
King 76" x 80"
Queen 60" x 80"
Full ("double") 53" x 75"
Twin 38" x 75"

Full Beds

Sometimes still called "double," full beds are 53 inches wide, which is just 15 inches wider than a twin size (single). A Full size bed is only enough space for a single sleeper and only if the person is under 5 feet 5 inches tall. Parents are increasingly choosing full size over twin for teenage bedrooms. Parents are even making this choice for younger children in to give themselves a more comfortable place to rest when reading together at tuck-in time.

Queen Beds

A queen bed is 60 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – 6 inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full size mattress. These added inches can make all the difference in comfort, especially for couples, and have made the queen today's most popular mattress size. However, with 30 inches of personal space, each adult still has 9 inches less width than if they slept alone in a twin bed. Queen size is a good choice for guest rooms, smaller master bedrooms and for couples who prefer close quarters. It's also a great choice for single sleepers who are also "sprawlers."

King Beds

These are 76 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – about 18 inches wider than a queen. This is the closest a couple can come to having as much personal space (38 inches) as each would have on a twin bed. In fact, two twin extra-long beds pushed together are about the same size, an option that can offer a flexible arrangement for a guest room. For consumers on the west coast, there is also the "California King," which is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long – 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer than a regular king.

Edgy?

Beds too narrow can make some people feel anxious about going too far to the edge and falling out. This is especially true for people who sleep on mattresses with sagging edges, a common problem with many older beds. Sagging edges develop over years of sitting on the edge of the bed. What's worse is that sagging edges can diminish some of your bed's quality sleeping space, which can make it more difficult to get comfortable. If you share your bed with a partner, a firm bed edge can make a big difference in the amount of sleeping space available.

Foam Encased Wireless Edge®

This edge support system provides a firm sitting edge to prevent sagging while expanding the usable sleeping surface by up to 20%.

Head-to-Toe Helical Steel Wire Lacing

Isolates movement of coils, and prevents it from impacting the rest of the bed. No roll-together means you won't be disturbed by your partner's movements.

For more information on these and other features, please visit your local Spring Air retailer.

Buying A Mattress

Are you tossing and turning night after night? Are you not getting the deep, restful sleep you need because you can't seem to get comfortable? If so, then it may be time to buy a new sleep set. Remember, the average person spends roughly 1/3 of their life sleeping. So getting a quality sleep set is one of the most important investments you can make. Consider your bed set usage. Then, learn how to shop for the bed set that's best for you.

The following information is adapted from The Better Sleep Guide, a free brochure from the Better Sleep Council's "Consumer Information Series," to help you determine whether you need a new mattress. The Better Sleep Council recommends carefully evaluating the comfort and support of your sleep set each year.

Mattress Life Span

The following information is adapted from The Better Sleep Guide, a free brochure from the Better Sleep Council's "Consumer Information Series. "How long will a new mattress last? That depends on a combination of variables that affects the length of time that a sleep set will provide optimum support and comfort. Some of these variables include:

• Quality. A poor-quality mattress can deteriorate quickly, while high-quality sets can be expected to provide comfort and support for a number of years. As with other products, you usually get what you pay for.
• Frequency of Use. All things being equal, a sleep set in the master bedroom that is used on a nightly, continuous basis will lose comfort more quickly than one in a guest room.
• Weight. An adult who is heavy will wear out a mattress more quickly than someone who is lightweight. And because two people weigh more than one, an adult who sleeps alone will put less wear and tear on their mattress than a couple who sleep together.
• Care. Proper care can extend the life of a mattress. For Two-Sided Mattresses: Be sure to turn your mattress over, end-to-end and side-to-side every two weeks for the first six months. After this period, turn it every two or three months.

Match Your Mattress with Your Life Stage

As we age, our comfort and support preferences change as well. Changes in lifestyle, such as getting married, or physical conditions, such as an injury, also require changes in your mattress. If you have children, make sure their mattresses continue to provide comfort and support as they grow.

Conduct a "Rest Test"

Mattress comfort is a matter of personal preference. To find the one that best suits you, go to a local mattress retailer and compare the comfort and support of new sleep sets in the store with your old sleep set at home. Try several different ones. Take off you shoes and lie down on the mattress. If you sleep with a partner, be sure both of you try out the new mattresses. It's important to decide on a sleep set that meets both of your needs.

How To Shop For A New Mattress

The following information is adapted from The Better Sleep Guide, a free brochure from the Better Sleep Council's "Consumer Information Series." No other piece of furniture in your home gets as much use as your sleep set or is as crucial for good sleep. That's why it's so important to find the right mattress for you. Before you start shopping, prepare by learning the basics.

Mattress Construction

The following information is adapted from The Better Sleep Guide, a free brochure from the Better Sleep Council's "Consumer Information Series." A mattress is made of three basic elements:

• The foundation acts as a giant shock absorber, taking the normal wear and tear of nightly use. Foundations also lend added support, durability and, in the case of adjustable beds, flexibility.The mattress core construction varies with the type of mattress. Whether the mattress is made of springs, air, foam, or water, this middle "core" provides support for the sleeper. • The upholstery layers wrapped around the core provide surface comfort. A variety of foams and fibers are used to improve cushioning properties and enhance the support of the mattress core.

Sleep Set Advances

Because of technological advances and medical developments, today's mattress sets are not the same as those made 10 years ago. Industry research and development has improved mattress and foundation engineering to provide optimum comfort and support. A new sleep set that incorporates these advances can lead to a better night's sleep. Now that you are aware of the ins and outs of the sleep set of your dreams, it's time now to know the six shopping musts for a mattress. The following information is adapted from The Better Sleep Guide, a free brochure from the Better Sleep Council's "Consumer Information Series."

1. Support. A quality mattress and foundation will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same body position as good standing posture. When selecting a mattress, keep in mind that your body should be able to relax, with your spine supported in its natural curve. Otherwise, your muscles work all night and you'll wake up stiff and sore.
2. Comfort. Mattresses don't have to be as hard as a board to be good for you, though some people may prefer a firmer feel. Today's mattresses are built with luxurious new cushioning materials and surface treatments, creating a feel that is more plush.
3. Durability and Warranty. Durability refers to how long support and comfort will last. Like all products, mattresses and foundations gradually wear out. That's why you should reevaluate your sleep set annually. The warranty protects you against product defects and workmanship mistakes, not gradual loss of comfort and support.
4. Space. Select a new mattress that gives you enough room for easy, free movement, especially if you're sleeping with a partner. Couples should select a queen- or king-size mattress to ensure that both people have enough space.
5. Matching Sleep Sets. Matching mattresses and foundations are designed to work together. Mismatching sets, putting a new mattress on an old foundation or adding a board between the mattress and foundation can impede comfort and reduce the life of the mattress.
6. Value. Buy quality products made with all new materials. Shopping for the best value, not the lowest price, is often a smart way to shop.

The Spring Air Difference

The Spring Air Company has been providing consumer’s a great night’s sleep since 1926. Spring Air has had tremendous innovation over the last 80 years. Today, we provide a Total Balance Sleep System: Support for your lumbar region and comfortable pressure relief for the rest of your body. We manufacture four distinct and unique types of mattress collections for our highly discerning consumers: Back Supporter, Back Supporter Four Seasons, Natures Rest and Chattam and Wells. As one company, led by an experienced management team with a common vision, we are better able to deliver superior quality, outstanding service and exceptional value to our customers in all four of these brand categories.

Spring Air Back Supporter is clinically proven to relieve back pain!. With our Lumbar Zoned and Tempered Activ-Coil Innerspring combined with our Dual Performance Edge Design working together with layers of comfortable foams, makes our Back Supporter mattress the choice for the consumer who is focused on back relief for back pain or could assist in preventing back pain. Back Supporter…Better for your back!

Our Back Supporter Four Seasons mattress is designed to relax, rejuvenate and renew for a better life at the feel of staying at one of the finest luxury hotels in the world. The Back Supporter Four Seasons mattress features the revolutionary 9” Lumbar Zoned and Tempered Power Coil. The first ever one-sided coil designed for a one-sided mattress! The revolutionary zoned coil shape provides comfort on top, support in the center of the coil and motion stability on the bottom of the coil. Plus, the entire Power Coil is tempered and zoned to provide lumbar support for years to come. We add our Luxurious Cashmere fibers for additional breathable comfort, Tri-Zone Visco Memory Foam for pressure relief and our Foam Encased Wireless Edge for a greater sleeping surface makes our Four Seasons mattress the choice to feel pampered in your own bedroom as you would have at a luxurious hotel. Four Seasons…Luxury of the Finest Hotels.

Our Nature’s Rest mattress is an Eco-Friendly Latex mattress for a NATURAL pressure relieving cool sleep. By incorporating the finest natural latex materials and eco friendly foams we have created a green story. The Natures Rest mattresses not only provide the sleep Natures intended but help leave a smaller “footprint” on mother earth. Our green mattresses have a soy-based eco-friendly core, cashmere blended fibers, and natural latex upholstery layers. Our greener mattresses have a pure latex core, cashmere blended fibers, natural joma wool, organic cotton covers and natural latex upholstery layers. Our greenest mattress has a 100% natural eco-green core, cashmere blended fibers, natural joma wool, organic cotton covers and natural latex upholstery layers. All of our Nature’s Rest mattress are supported by a furniture grade renewable wood foundation for long-lasting support. Our natural wood foundation carries the Forest Stewardship Seal of Approval! We know you will agree, Nature’s Rest is the World’s Best Latex.

Our Chattam & Wells mattress, simply the best luxury mattress. Spring Air has searched the world to find the finest, highest quality materials to craft the finest collection of mattresses. Using our innovative P.I.P. (pocket-in-pocket) Lumbar Zoned Coil technology, provides the support for your lumbar region and pressure relief for the rest of your body. Adding our Silk Damask Fabrics, Luxurious Cashmere fibers for additional comfort, pure latex foams for pressure relief and our Foam Encased Wireless Edge for a greater sleeping surface makes our Chattam & Wells the choice for a luxurious sleep suited for a customer searching for Sophisticated Elegance. Plus, We have added many fine attributes such as quilted latex, micro-coil pillow top designs, antique nickel corner guards, woven damask labels, furniture grade foundation, quilted interior upholstery for tremendous support. Chattam & Wells … the epitome of Sophisticated Elegance.

Better Sleep Hints

For more information regarding sleep, sleep disorders, and sleep associations, follow these links. Spring Air claims no responsibility as to the accuracy of the content disseminated through the following links.

The National Institute of Neurolgocial Disorders
Sleep Home Pages: Brain Information Service
National Sleep Foundation
European Sleep Research Society
Journal of Sleep Research
Sleep Sources
Sleep Medicine Home Page
The Association for the Study of Dreams

Good Housekeeping

Spring Air® Continues to Garner Accolades with the Honor of Receiving the Good Housekeeping Seal.

The results are in and Spring Air's® product lines have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, one of the most prestigious and trusted consumer icons in the world of consumer goods. Every prduct that has earned the seal is reviewed and evaluated by the Good Housekeeping Institute to ensure that all of the product's claims are valid and true.

The Good Housekeeping Insitute is a gaurdian of truth, accuracy, and assurance of quality based on their high standards for product reliability, and as a result is America's most trusted consumer icon. Back Supporter®, ComfortFlex®, Four Seasons®, Posture Comfort® and Sleep Fitness® have all recieved the Good Housekeeping Seal.

Why is the Good Housekeeping Seal So Important?

• 95% of consumers are aware of the Good Housekeeping Seal and respect it as an icon.
• Every product claim is reviewed and evaluated by the Good Housekeeping Institute.
• Each product is backed by a two-year Limited Warranty.

Spring Air's Back Supporter® mattress is a Consumers Digest "Best Buy!"

Did you know that the Spring Air® Back Supporter® mattress is recognized as a ‘Best Buy’ by Consumers Digest Magazine for providing exceptional value to the consumer? This is Spring Air’s third ‘Best Buy’ recognition in nine years. The Back Supporter’s exceptional tailoring, comfortable layers of foams, lumbar zone support to relieve back pain, and long-lasting durability, makes our Back Supporter mattress a Best Buy!

Spring Air has been at the forefront of mattress innovation since the very beginning.

In 1926, we began with our revolutionary free-end coil design. In the 1940's, we led the charge in button-free mattress technology. And in the 1950's, our zoned innerspring earned international acclaim.

Here are our most recent innovations:

P.I.P. (pocket-in-pocket)

Using our innovative P.I.P. (pocket-in-pocket) Lumbar Zoned Coil technology, provides the support for your lumbar region and pressure relief for the rest of your body.

Feel The Difference With Foam Encasement

Reduces Mattress Motion - Our foam encased perimeter design provides more support, more comfort, and more edge-to-edge sleeping surface.

Superior Sitting Edge - Our Foam Encased Wireless Edge™ support system features high-density foam that helps reduce side-to-side motion caused by your partner's movements. This exclusive feature helps enhance consistent comfort and stability which promotes independent sleep. Foam Encased Wireless Edge™ expands the usable sleeping surface by 20% and provides a firm sitting edge.

Enhances Comfort Edge-to-Edge - Our foam encased perimeter design provides more support, more comfort, and more edge-to-edge sleeping surface.

Long-Lasting Durable Support - Our foam encasement is flexible enough to be comfortable and durable enough to offer a long life for the mattress.

Nearly Indestructible - Bends around corners without damage for ease in moving.

Four Seasons PowerCoil®

The Back Supporter Four Seasons mattress features the revolutionary 9” Lumbar Zoned and Tempered Power Coil. The first ever one-sided coil designed for a one-sided mattress! The revolutionary zoned coil shape provides comfort on top, support in the center of the coil and motion stability on the bottom of the coil. Plus, the entire Power Coil is tempered and zoned to provide lumbar support for years to come.

The NeverTurn™ Mattress

A mattress that is so well engineered, and so well constructed that it gives you the best of all possible worlds: one sleeping surface in a mattress composed of such high-quality materials that it resists body impressions for years and never has to be turned. When you want convenience with comfort and value, this mattress is Just Right for you.

Frequent Asked Questions

Bedding Basics

What are the standard dimensions of beds?

Beds come in four sizes: twin, double (or full), queen, and king.
• California King 72" x 84"
• King 76" x 80"
• Queen 60" x 80"
• Full ("double") 53" x 75"
• Twin 38" x 75"

Full beds. Sometimes still called "double," full beds are 53 inches wide, which is just 15 inches wider than a twin size (single). A Full size bed is only enough space for a single sleeper and only if the person is under 5 feet 5 inches tall. Parents are increasingly choosing full size over twin for teenage bedrooms. Parents are even making this choice for younger children in to give themselves a more comfortable place to rest when reading together at tuck-in time.

Queen beds. A queen bed is 60 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – 6 inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full size mattress. These added inches can make all the difference in comfort, especially for couples, and have made the queen today's most popular mattress size. However, with 30 inches of personal space, each adult still has 9 inches less width than if they slept alone in a twin bed. Queen size is a good choice for guest rooms, smaller master bedrooms and for couples who prefer close quarters. It's also a great choice for single sleepers who are also "sprawlers."

King beds. These are 76 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long – about 18 inches wider than a queen. This is the closest a couple can come to having as much personal space (38 inches) as each would have on a twin bed. In fact, two twin extra-long beds pushed together are about the same size, an option that can offer a flexible arrangement for a guest room. For consumers on the west coast, there is also the "California King," which is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long – 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer than a regular king.

What are the differences between a foundation and a box spring?

A foundation is basically a hard platform that rests beneath the mattress. A box spring is a coil unit that provides more resiliency and works with the mattress. Either way, when you buy a new mattress you should also buy a new foundation or box spring.

Why should I buy a new box spring or foundation at the same time I buy a mattress?

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.

What is the significance of coils?

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, which means more turns in the spring and that they are tempered to provide more support than ordinary coils.

How do I know if I need a new mattress?

You should carefully evaluate the comfort and support of your sleep set each year. Mattress quality, usage frequency, your weight, and the care with 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.

What are comfort layers?

They are the padding materials used on top of the mattress that provide extra cushioning. Tri-Zone 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.

What should I look for in a bed?

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. A third of your life is spent sleeping, so it goes without saying that a bed is one of your most important furniture investments.

How do I shop for a new mattress?

The best way to shop is to actually lay on the sleep sets in a retailer showroom. Like test-driving a car, experiencing a product demonstration is the only way to know for sure if it's right for you. Look for a sleep set that supports your body without sagging, feels comfortable, has a warranty (just in case), and has enough space for you and your sleeping partner (if you have one). You should also buy a matching sleep set (mattress and foundation) and consider value over price alone.

Mattress Life Span

When Do I Know if I Need a New Mattress?

The following information is adapted from The Better Sleep Guide, a free brochure from the Better Sleep Council's "Consumer Information Series." The Better Sleep Council recommends carefully evaluating the comfort and support of your sleep set each year.

Mattress Life Span

A mattress’ life span depends on a combination of variables that affects the length of time that a sleep set will provide optimum support and comfort. Some of these variables include:

• Quality. A poor-quality mattress can deteriorate quickly, while high-quality sets can be expected to provide comfort and support for a number of years. As with other products, you usually get what you pay for.
• Frequency of Use. All things being equal, a sleep set in the master bedroom that is used on a nightly, continuous basis will lose comfort more quickly than one in a guest room.
• Weight. An adult who is heavy will wear out a mattress more quickly than someone who is lightweight. And because two people weigh more than one, an adult who sleeps alone will put less wear and tear on his or her mattress than a couple who sleeps together.
• Care. Proper care can extend the life of a mattress. For two-sided mattresses, be sure to turn your mattress over, end to end and side to side EVERY TWO WEEKS for the first six months. After this period, turn it every two or three months.

Match Your Mattress with Your Life Stage

As we age, our comfort and support preferences change as well. Changes in lifestyle, such as getting married, or physical conditions, such as an injury, also require changes in your mattress. If you have children, make sure their mattresses continue to provide comfort and support as they grow.

Conduct a "Rest Test"

Mattress comfort is a matter of personal preference. To find the one that best suits you, go to a local mattress retailer and compare the comfort and support of new sleep sets in the store with your old sleep set at home. Try several different ones. Take off your shoes and lay down on the mattress. If you sleep with a partner, be sure both of you try out the new mattress. It's important to decide on a sleep set that meets both of your needs.

Shopping For a Mattress

How do I shop for a new mattress?

No other piece of furniture in your home gets as much use as your sleep set or is as crucial for good sleep. That's why it's so important to find the right mattress for you. Before you start shopping, prepare by learning the basics.

Mattress Construction

A mattress is made of three basic elements:

• The foundation acts as a giant shock absorber, taking the normal wear and tear of nightly use. Foundations also lend added support, durability, and, in the case of adjustable beds, flexibility.
• The mattress core construction varies with the type of mattress. Whether the mattress is made of springs, air, foam, or water, this middle "core" provides support for the sleeper.
• The upholstery layers wrapped around the core provide surface comfort. A variety of foams and fibers are used to improve cushioning properties and enhance the support of the mattress core.

Sleep Set Advances

Due to technological advances and medical developments, today's mattress sets are not the same as those made 10 years ago. Industry research and development have improved mattress and foundation engineering to provide optimum comfort and support. A new sleep set that incorporates these advances can lead to a better night's sleep.

Six Mattress Shopping Musts

1. Support

A quality mattress and foundation will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same body position as good standing posture. When selecting a mattress, keep in mind that your body should be able to relax, with your spine supported in its natural curve. Otherwise, your muscles work all night and you'll wake up stiff and sore.

2. Comfort

Mattresses don't have to be as hard as a board to be good for you, though some people may prefer a firmer feel. Today's mattresses are built with luxurious, new cushioning materials and surface treatments, creating a feel that is more plush.

3. Durability and Warranty

Durability refers to how long support and comfort will last. Like all products, mattresses and foundations gradually wear out. That's why you should reevaluate your sleep set annually. The warranty protects you against product defects and workmanship mistakes, not gradual loss of comfort and support.

4. Space

Select a new mattress that gives you enough room for easy, free movement, especially if you're sleeping with a partner. Couples should select a Queen- or King-size mattress to ensure that both people have enough space.

5. Matching Sleep Sets

Matching mattresses and foundations are designed to work together. Mismatching sets, putting a new mattress on an old foundation or adding a board between the mattress and foundation can impede comfort and reduce the life of the mattress.

6. Value

Buy quality products made with all new materials. Shopping for the best value, not the lowest price, is often a smart way to shop.

Warranty

What is Covered?

Mattress. . .
• Body impressions greater than 1-1/4”
• Coils or wires that are loose, broken, or protruding through the mattress fabric

Foundation. . .
• Splitting of the wood frame, wood or defective, loose, or bent beams

Support. . .
• Your mattress must be continuously supported by a matching Spring Air box spring with an appropriate frame. The frame should include a rigid center support with at least 5 legs or a rigid center support with at least 5 hardwood cross slats for queen and king sets. (See illustration for clarification.) A rigid center support is equal to a support that extends from the frame to the ground.

Length of Warranty:

Back Supporter, Back Supporter Four Seasons - 10 Years
Nature's Rest, Chattam & Wells - 20 Years

What is not Covered?

• Normal body impressions up to 1-1/4” (Body impressions are caused by upholstery material compressions and are normal characteristics of premium bedding. Body impressions up to 1-1/4” are not considered to be a structural defect.)
• Clearance bedding, “as is” bedding, or floor models
• Damage or bending to perimeter border rods caused by bending or incorrectly moving the sleep set • Fabric covers
• Damage to mattress fabrics due to soiling, stains, or burns • Comfort level/preference
• Bed height
• Damage to the mattress due to an incorrect or old foundation • Structural damage caused by an incorrect bed frame
• Corner guards
• Sheet fit
• Transportation costs
• This limited warranty does not cover a normal increase in softness of the p re ssure-relieving foams or a decrease in the slow recovery feature which does not affect the pressure-relieving qualities of the mattress.

Note: Stains, or other unsanitary conditions of the mattress, may void the warranty. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL BE EXCLUSIVE AND SHALL SUPERSEDE ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, WRITTEN OR ORAL, THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PRODUCT. OTHER THAN THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH ABOVE, SPRING AIR EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS AND EXCLUDES ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, RELATING TO THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS PRODUCT. IN THE EVENT THAT APPLICABLE STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, THE DURATION OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND F I TNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, IS EXPRESSLY LIMITED TO THE APPLICABLE PERIOD OF DURATION OF THIS LIMITED WARRANTY, DESCRIBED ABOVE. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, or the exclusion of implied warranties, so this limitation may not apply to you. THE CUSTOMER'S EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR BREACH OF THIS LIMITED WARRANTY OR OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR OF ANY OTHER OBLIGATION ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW OR OTHERWISE SHALL BE LIMITED AS SPECIFIED HEREIN TO REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AT OUR SOLE OPTION. IN ANY EVENT, SPRING AIR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS PRODUCT, REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY ON WHICH THE CLAIM IS BASED. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you. This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.

Guidelineslaims resulting from (i) misuse or neglect; (ii) damage caused by the use of an incorrect bed frame (and, in the case of King- and Queen-size mattresses and/or foundations, damage caused by failure to use a bed frame or bed rails with rigid cross supports and at least one center leg that extends to the floor); (iii) damage to mattresses due to an incorrect or old foundation; (iv) damage to mattress fabrics due to soiling, stains or burns; (v) normal body impressions (1-1/2 inch or less); (vi) improper sheet fit; (vii) unauthorized service during the warranty period on conditions otherwise covered by warranty; or (viii) damages resulting from the failure to observe the instructions set forth in the enclosed Mattress Set Care Guide, under the heading "Do's & Don'ts."

• During the warranty period, your Spring Air mattress and/or foundation will be repaired or replaced at Spring Air's discretion.
• Replacement of one piece in your mattress set does not automatically mean that the other piece will be replaced.

How to Obtain Service for your Spring Air Product

If a defect appears during the limited warranty period, we will (at our sole discretion) repair or replace the defective Product with charges for service or parts calculated as provided in the Limited Warranty Schedule above, provided the Product is delivered, at the customer’s expense, to the nearest Spring Air Factory (see enclosed bro c h u re for the Spring Air Factory nearest you) with proof of purchase, a description of the defect and the Law Label intact. If identical materials or an identical mattress is not available, we re s e rve the right to substitute materials of equal or higher quality as necessary. We reserve the right to refuse this limited warranty service for mattresses and/or foundations found to be in an unsanitary condition. The Products are warranted for the original owner from the date of p u rc h a s e .Should the Products need to be repaired or replaced at some point during the warranty coverage, coverage is not renewed or extended, rather, the expiration date for this limited warranty coverage is measured from the original date of purchase.

Manufacturer's Limited Warranty

Spring Air warrants your new Spring Air mattress and foundation (the "Products"), except for bed handles, cover fabrics and corner guards, to be free from defects in material and workmanship ("defects") existing at the time of manufacture and appearing within the applicable warranty period set forth in the Limited Warranty Schedule below. The term of warranty coverage you will receive and the fee, if any, you may be charged for warranty service depends upon the specific Spring Air Product purchased. PLEASE REFER TO THE NON-REMOVABLE TAG LOCATED AT THE HEAD OF YOUR MATTRESS ("LAW LABEL") FOR THE WARRANTY CODE TO BE USED WITH THE LIMITED WARRANTY SCHEDULE BELOW. The Law Label is your Product identification record and should not be discarded.