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Adjustable Bed Troubleshooting Guide: 9 Common Problems & How to Fix Them

By jwilder

troubleshooting guide

Adjustable beds are a fantastic way to improve your sleep and wake up feeling more energized. Studies show that getting better sleep is key to overall health for seniors. Even though adjustable beds are luxurious and easy to use, they, just like any other technology, are prone to some common issues.

Read our adjustable bed troubleshooting guide to identify and fix some of the most common problems with adjustable beds!

Common Problems (And Solutions) for Adjustable Beds

1. Adjustable Bed Remote Not Working

Of course, you’ve already checked the batteries to make sure they’re working! We’re not here to tell you to do that; you’ve already tried. But, have you checked to make sure that your bed doesn’t have a child safety lock? Similar to the child locks in a car, this function prevents the bed from moving and accidentally injuring a child who may not know what they are doing. Check your bed’s owner’s manual to see if it has this feature and learn how to disengage it!

2. One or More Functions Not Working

This means that part of the bed works, but other parts do not. For example, the head raise/lower buttons might work, but the feet do not. Or, the massage on one side of the bed works, but not the other.


In this situation, you should take a peek under the bed and make sure each component is fully plugged into the control box. Much like the individual cords that plug into a computer, the bed’s control box is where all the different motors are plugged into. If one of these connections has come loose, plugging it back in can fix the non-working components in a snap!

3. How to Reset Adjustable Bed

If you’ve checked the batteries and the child safety lock, it may be the case that your bed’s remote is just not connecting with the receiver. This requires a simple reset of the bed. Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual to reset the remote and control box; many times, this is as simple as unplugging everything and plugging it back in.


Many beds will have a similar reset process as this video that teaches you how to reset a Sealy Tempurpedic base. Watch the video, and you may be able to reset a bed of a different brand with a similar process!

4. Adjustable Bed is Stuck

This happens most often when, for some reason, the motors get stuck or the bed comes unplugged while in an upright position. In that case, your adjustable bed won't move. If none of the earlier fixes are helping, there is a simple way to get the bed back down to a flat position. It won’t fix the problem permanently, but it will give you a flat bed that you can sleep on until you can have it serviced to fix the deeper issue.


This video will show you how, in under 3 minutes:

5. In-Depth Motor Troubleshooting

Sometimes, the simple fixes above just won’t solve your bed’s problems. If the buttons for one or more parts of your bed still aren’t working, there may be a problem with one of the motors. Most motors in adjustable beds are AC motors, which all work in roughly the same way. This video will show you how to troubleshoot some of the more intricate problems and identify which replacement parts you may need to order:

6. Noisy When Raising and Lowering

There are two reasons this could be happening, and one is more of a headache than the other. First, the easy one: The bed frame, headboard, or some other piece of the bed is rubbing against the mattress when raising or lowering. If that’s the case, try to create more separation between the mattress and the bed frame/headboard.


If that isn’t the case, you might be overloading the weight capacity of the bed base. Each adjustable bed has a certain weight limit, and the weight of the mattress plus you and your spouse’s weight might be overloading it. When this happens, you have two choices: get a lighter mattress, or get a bed base with a higher weight capacity.

7. My Mattress Keeps Slipping

While buying a new mattress might be the eventual best solution for this problem, there are a couple of cheaper things you can do. First, check to make sure the mattress retention bar is properly installed and is gripping the front of the mattress well.


Next, you may want to find some thin cloth straps that you can lightly tie around the whole mattress that will hold it closer to the frame without being too noticeable. If neither of those solutions work, however, it is time for a new mattress!

8. Massage Functions Not Working

Troubleshooting tips 1-3 above might be enough to treat this problem, but sometimes the massage motors need a bit more attention. This video shows you the basics of replacing a massage motor that’s gone bad. Your specific model of bed might look a slight bit different, so it’s best to combine the instructions in this video with information from your bed’s owner’s manual and parts diagram.

9. Contacting Customer Support

When all else fails, you may have to throw in the towel and get in touch with someone in customer support. Depending on the terms of your warranty, they may send you a new part, a new bed, or a technician to fix your bed. Here are a few of the most popular companies’ phone numbers and support e-mail addresses:

Sealy

  • Support Phone: 1-800-697-3259

Classic Brands

  • Support Phone: 877-707-7533

Blissful Nights

  • Support Phone: 1-877-622-6550

How to Get Zero-Gravity Position on Adjustable Bed

The Zero-Gravity Position isn’t just relaxing - it’s a great way to reduce pressure on your spine and hips. So, how do you get into this position on your adjustable bed?

The Zero-Gravity Position isn’t clearly defined by specific angles, because everyone’s center of gravity is different. If your adjustable bed doesn’t have a special “Zero-Gravity Recline” button on its remote, you can still adjust to that position.

Here’s how:

  • Recline the torso/head portion of your adjustable bed to at least 45 degrees, up to 70 degrees.
  • Raise the leg portion of the bed so that your knees are bent roughly at a 60-degree angle.
  • Adjust the recline degree of your back/head until your knees are situated slightly above your heart but you are not lying flat on your back.

How to Attach Headboard to Adjustable Bed Frame

Most of the time, you will not have to do anything too fancy to get your headboard attached to your bed frame. In most cases, the bed frame will easily accommodate your headboard, because the base’s foundation won’t move with the rest of the bed.

Ronin Factory Hook On Bed Frame Brackets Adapter for Headboard Extra Heavy Duty, Set of 2 Brackets with Hardware, 711 Bracket, Bolt-On to Hook-On Conversion

Sometimes, you may need a headboard bracket adapter if your headboard has old-school hooks instead of the bolts that are more common with modern bed frames. These adapters are easy to find and use, and make the task of attaching a headboard to your adjustable bed frame very simple.

Alternatively, you can attach your headboard directly to the wall. This is known as a floating or freestanding headboard, and is a nice solution for people who don’t mind putting a couple of holes in their bedroom wall!

How to Put Sheets on Adjustable Bed

Adjustable beds are great for relaxing, but only if the sheets actually stay on your mattress. Otherwise, you’re going to be spending a lot of time readjusting your bed sheets instead of lounging and sleeping.

The best thing you can do with an adjustable bed is to find fitted sheets that have deep pockets - where the corners of the sheets are easy to pull over the corner of the mattress. That way, the chances of the sheet slipping off as the bed moves are much slimmer.

If your sheets still won’t stay on, we’d recommend grabbing a rubber/elastic sheet strap like this one. The strap will hold the sheet in place and is hardly noticeable underneath your flat sheet and comforter!

The Rubber Hugger - The Bed Sheet Holder Band – NEW Approach For Keeping Your Sheets On Your Mattress – No Sheet Straps, Sheet Clips, Grippers, or Fasteners. (Small Size For Twin/Full Mattress)

How to Move an Adjustable Bed Base

Moving an adjustable bed is easy, although it does require a bit more patience than moving a standard bed base.

Here’s how it’s done:

  1. 1
    Make sure the bed base is completely flat- not raised in any position.
  2. 2
    Unplug the bed base from the wall.
  3. 3
    (if necessary) detach the headboard from your bed base.
  4. 4
    Lift one side of the bed (making sure to grab the foundation, not the moving part of the frame) and stand the frame up on its side.
  5. 5
    Slowly move the bed base wherever you need it to go.

How to Disassemble an Adjustable Bed

Sometimes, lifting an adjustable bed up on its side and navigating through a home isn’t an option. Tight hallways, furniture, and other space constraints make it necessary to take the adjustable bed base apart to move it.

If you need to take your bed base apart, start with the electronic components. Unplug the motor, then unscrew it from the bottom of the base. Do the same for the mechanical arms, and then unscrew the metal pieces of the base until you have a more manageable array of individual pieces to move.

There is one catch: disassembling your bed base can sometimes void your warranty. If there is an issue or mechanical issue that occurs after the bed is put back together, you might have a tough time getting it covered by the warranty!

How to Fit a Bedskirt on an Adjustable Bed

You cannot fit a bedskirt on an adjustable bed the same way you would a traditional bed. Aside from looking a bit strange, the bedskirt would get caught on the frame as the bed was raised or lowered. If you want to fit a bedskirt on an adjustable bed, you have two options:

MEILA Wrap Around Bed Skirt Three Fabric Sides Elastic Dust Ruffled 16 Inch Tailored Drop,Easy to Install Fade Resistant-Grey, Queen/King
  1. 1
    Instead of tucking the bedskirt under the mattress, attach it to the legs/support poles on the bed base’s foundation. That way, it will always stay in place and won’t cause problems when raising or lowering the bed.
  2. 2
    Find a bedskirt, such as this one, designed to attach to adjustable bed bases instead of being placed under the mattress.

How to Assemble Adjustable Bed Frame

While the best way to learn how to assemble your adjustable bed is by reading your owner’s manual, most adjustable beds are assembled in roughly the same way. The motor should already be attached, as should the mechanical arms. This means that all you have to do is the following:

  1. 1
    Bolt the head and foot sections of the base together.
  2. 2
    Make sure all electrical components are plugged in.
  3. 3
    Attach the legs or feet to the bed base.
  4. 4
    Plug the bed base into the wall and test the remote.

This video from Casper Sleep shows you how to assemble a split king adjustable bed base. The video demonstrates Casper’s bed base, but the majority of bed bases will be assembled in roughly the same manner. Watch the video, and consult your owner’s manual for any slight differences in assembly for your bed base.

Reverie Adjustable Bed Troubleshooting

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Sealy Adjustable Bed Troubleshooting

Motosleep Adjustable Bed Troubleshooting

Helpful Videos for Troubleshooting a Motosleep Adjustable Bed

Craftmatic Adjustable Bed Troubleshooting

Unfortunately, there aren’t as many resources for Craftmatic beds readily available. However, these links may prove fruitful in helping you diagnose and repair your Craftmatic Adjustable Bed:

Ghostbed Adjustable Bed Troubleshooting

Helpful Videos for Troubleshooting a Ghostbed Adjustable Bed

Lucid Adjustable Bed Troubleshooting

Conclusion: Adjustable Bed Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting adjustable bed problems can sometimes lead you to incredibly simple solutions that only take a few minutes’ time. Other issues require a bit more technical knowledge and perhaps even some replacement parts. Some, though, are too big to be solved and require replacements or services to fix. In any case, you have many options available to you, and you should never leave problems with your adjustable bed untreated!


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