If you are going to purchase a big item such as a mattress, it is normal that you would want a good warranty coverage for it. But how does a mattress warranty actually work? Will you be able to take advantage of it if you ever need to use it? First, let’s look at what issues your warranty will cover and those that it will not.

Covered by Warranty

• Manufacturing Defects

Manufacturing defects can range from defective parts to layers not glued properly to a mattress not expanding to its advertised height and more. It really depends on the mattress warranty that is set by the manufacturer.

• Sagging

Sagging is very common in mattresses, especially if you are using your mattress for quite a while. If your mattress is sagging and causing you trouble with your sleep, it can be covered by your warranty but it will have to be measured first and if the measured depth reaches the amount set by the manufacturer, you will be covered, if not, then you are stuck with that mattress.

The allowable sagging depth will differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Different mattress types will also have different sagging depth coverage. It’s best to read the warranty thoroughly so that you will not be left with an uncomfortable mattress if it ever has sagging issues.

Not Covered

• Loss of comfort and/or support from everyday use.

It’s very common for mattresses to lose some of its ability to offer comfort and/or support when you use it everyday. Unfortunately, this issue is not covered by warranty because there is no way to measure it.

• Damage due to usage of improper frame and/or foundation.

If you are going to be placing your mattress on a foundation, make sure that the foundation is up to the standards set by the manufacturer. If your mattress is damaged and it is found out that the cause of this damage is the use of a frame, foundation or platform that is not up to the standards set by the manufacturer, the warranty can be voided.

To prevent this problem, use a foundation that comes paired with the mattress that you are buying or if you are going to be using an existing one, just make sure that it complies with the foundation guidelines set by the manufacturer.

• Damage caused by user.

If your mattress is soiled, stained or damaged due to your own doing, the warranty can be voided. For example, if your mattress sagged and it reached the depth that makes it eligible for warranty but the mattress is soiled or stained, the warranty will not be honored even if the stained or soiled area is nowhere near the sagging area. To make sure that this will not be a problem, a mattress protector is recommended.

Warranty Period

The length of the warranty period varies from brand to brand. Some offer 1 year, some offer 5 years, etc. One thing that you should remember is that the length of the warranty period does not equal the useful life of your mattress. Some mattresses that offer short warranty periods can still be useful past the warranty period while some mattresses that have a warranty of say, 15+ years, can be useless in a period that is significantly shorter than their warranty.

In short, long warranty does not automatically result in a quality product.

Prorated and Non-Prorated Warranty

The warranty that comes with your mattress can either be prorated, non-prorated or a combination of both. Prorated means that when you claim warranty, you and the manufacturer will split the cost of the repair. Non-prorated is the opposite, the manufacturer shoulders everything. Of course, the best one is non-prorated but it’s rare that you will find a mattress that offers a non-prorated warranty for the whole period.

The most common type of warranty these days is the combination of both. What usually happens is that for the first few years, the warranty is non-prorated but after a certain period, it shifts to prorated. The length of the non-prorated warranty differs from brand to brand.

What Happens When You Claim Warranty?

When you claim warranty on your mattress, you should expect that it can take a long time. The process is slow because depending on the issue with the mattress, there can be third party inspectors to make sure that your mattress is indeed eligible. You should also expect to pay for some fees such as inspection fees, shipping fees and more. These fees can add up.

Some brands are known to be difficult to work with when it comes to warranties while some brands are very good with customers. It is important that you only buy from mattress companies that offer good customer service. We make sure to mention the customer support in our mattress reviews.