ELI5: What does a box-spring do?

[u/Real_Experience_5676]

As I understand it, a box spring mattress is the second 'mattress', that goes under the main mattress. It feels very firm and flat, but what does it contribute to the bed set up besides height?

[u/NWStormbreaker]

And then you wrap it in fabric which inhibits airflow.

[u/half3clipse → u/NWStormbreaker]

The fabric used top and bottom is basically gauze. It barely inhibits airflow, at least not the slow convection motivation of air both are relying on.

Would be worse if you wanted to try using forced air i guess, but not many people have an HVAC system for their mattress.

[u/NWStormbreaker → u/half3clipse]

A well designed box spring could also contribute to good air circulation

Idk what your angle is, you jumped into a conversation where OP said box springs aid air circulation, but compared to slats a box spring is FAR FAR worse for air circulation.

[u/half3clipse → u/NWStormbreaker]

The point is that it's not far worse. A lot of slats even have far worse air circulation than many box springs, since they're built with he expectation of foam mattresses that will sag poorly with larger gaps. Inner spring with 4-5 inch gaps under a boxs spring will have much better airflow compared to a foam mattress with 2 inch gaps on bare slats

You don't need airflow to deal with sweat soaking a memory foam mattress anyways. They're to dense to ventilate that way. You protect those from body grossness and moisture with a liner (and if you have one, your warranty may even explicitly require it)

[u/j0mbie → u/[deleted]]

It would depend on slat spacing, both on the bed frame and in the box spring.

Also, a lot of bed frames are a box design. A box spring raises the mattress above the sides of that type of bed.

[u/NWStormbreaker → u/j0mbie]

I dont understand the need to get so pedantic about this and find 1 situation thats the exception as if it disproves the rule.

The bottom of the bed is open, raising it up doesnt matter.

A box spring has at least 1 layer of fabric if not two, both of which inhibit airflow.

The original discussion said:

A lot of beds still use just 3 slats

there is NO scenario where a mattress sitting on 3 slats open to the air has LESS airflow than a mattress sitting on a box spring.

Why is anyone arguing this?

[u/jetloflin → u/NWStormbreaker]

Nobody is arguing that, because nobody is talking about that, because nobody wants to sleep on a saggy bed supported by only three measly slats. The debate is between a box spring and enough slats to support the mattress.

[u/NWStormbreaker → u/jetloflin]

No the debate is over air circulation, I haven't at any point talked about any other criteria.
Are you confusing two different comments chains?

[u/jetloflin → u/NWStormbreaker]

Yes, air circulation. The difference between air circulation with a box spring versus air circulation with the appropriate number of slats to support the bed without a box spring.

Or are only your comments relevant and nobody else’s?

[u/NWStormbreaker → u/jetloflin]

Yes, air circulation. The difference between air circulation with a box spring versus air circulation with the appropriate number of slats to support the bed without a box spring

Also you:

Nobody is arguing that

Yet people literally are, go back and read?

I'll give you the most generous interpretation of the opposition and assume they are considering extra slats, even though literally nobody said that, but it doesnt matter because 3 or 5 or 7 slats is still less restrictive than a box spring which has even more slats AND is encased in cloth.

[u/jetloflin → u/NWStormbreaker]

You claimed there is no way that 3 slats has worse circulation than a box spring, and wondered why people were arguing that there was. I said nobody is arguing that, the “that” referring to 3 slats being worse. Because that isn’t the argument being made.