How To Know When Its Time To Get A New Mattress

Back Pain – If you are waking up every morning with lower back pain, this may indicate that you have either a support issue or an alignment issue. Have your spouse examine your alignment in your sleeping position. If the buttocks (back sleeper) or hips (side sleeper) are sinking too much, this may be contributing factor. And depending on your sensitivity and health, it may only take a fraction of an inch to cause problems. Sudden weight gain, especially men in their bellies, and women during a pregnancy, may also be a factor. A pot belly on a side sleeper may force the body out of alignment. Nobody likes to discuss this, but excess weight is something we all contend with at times.

Pressure Points – Too much pain and/or discomfort in your hip or shoulder, an arm that falls asleep, and a whole lot of tossing and turning, may all indicate a mattress that is too hard. Also, on an older mattress, the comfort layers may no longer be adequate pressure relief, placing you too close to the innerspring. Adding a topper may provide a less expensive interim solution, but ultimately you need to buy a better mattress.

Allergies – Problems with breathing, asthma, and/or allergies at night, may be caused by your mattress – especially an older one. Dust mites by the millions inhabit an older mattress, along with bacteria and all sorts of allergens. If you have not protected your mattress with a waterproof mattress protector, and the mattress is more than 5 years old, it is most likely the source of your problem. An allergy cover may help, but buying a new mattress would be better solution.

Body Impressions & Sagging – Big “valleys” in your mattress are a sign of a worn out mattress. All innerspring mattresses will develop body impressions over time as the comfort layers conform under your body. The warranty will usually not apply until you get 1.5″ deep – which is huge. You can minimize this by rotating your mattress (turning it head-to-toe) every few of months. A slight impression may not be a problem. But as those impressions grow, they will eventually throw you out of alignment, and or place you to close to the innerspring. Rotate and monitor the quality of your sleep. If it begins to decline, its time to replace your mattress.

The bottom line is that if you are not sleeping well, it may be time to replace that mattress no matter how old or new it may be. Most consumers keep their mattress well past its comfort life. You can expect about 3-5 years of quality sleep on an average innerspring mattress, and 5-10 on an average foam mattress. Those numbers can vary wildly depending on quality and brand purchased. No matter what the salesperson promises, or how long the warranty, or how much you pay, please don’t expect to sleep comfortably on an innerspring mattress for 20 years. It simply is not possible.