How to find/detect a hole in an air mattress: determine where it goes down

The advantage of an air mattress is obvious: when deflated, it takes up very little space and can be stored in a drawer. However, the service life depends on the operating conditions. If the conditions have been violated, then holes may appear in the process, which will lead to its failure. Users often ask questions about how to find a hole in an air mattress. To find out the answer to this question, read our article to the end. In it you will find a description of different ways and methods of how to find a hole in an air mattress at home.

What will it take to find a hole?

There are several methods for quickly detecting damage. First you need to collect the bedding, inflate the mattress tightly and put it in place so that you can walk freely. The following tools will help you find out where the hole is in an air mattress:

soap solution, shaving foam, dishwashing detergent (you need products that are safe for foaming polymer products);
containers for its cultivation;
sponges, rags for applying foaming compounds or a spray gun;
moisture-resistant marker to indicate the cut on the surface;
culinary film

All this is available in any home. Using available tools, you can quickly find a hole in an air mattress.

Conclusion

There is no need to throw away an air mattress if it has become somewhat deformed, lost pressure or elasticity. Most likely it is pierced. Finding the area of damage is easier if you follow these helpful guidelines:

check if the valve is tight;
read the instructions;
use foam by applying it to the surface;
External inspection does not always give results; it is more effective to place the item under water;
You cannot use a garden hose in small rooms;
After finding a hole, you need to wash and dry the mattress.

Some people try to find the damage by pouring water inside the air mattress. Then it will not be possible to dry it properly. The consequences are the development of mold and the appearance of a damp smell.

Author: Maria Uralskaya

Find a hole in an air mattress - 10 effective ways

The most difficult thing in the process of finding a hole in air mattresses is not even the search method, but the detection of the cut itself. They are almost microscopic. They are difficult to see without tools at hand.

Before you search, it's a good idea to find the instructions that came with your new air mattress and then read them. Manufacturers often give recommendations on how to find and remove a hole, taking into account the material from which it is made.

Valve Inspection

In order not to waste extra time, you should always look for a hole in the mattress after checking the valve adjustment. It is their failure that causes a drop in pressure.

Before checking the mattress valve, you need to clean it from dust and rinse each component. Sometimes these measures are enough to solve the problem.

The pump in an air mattress works like a vacuum cleaner: air is sucked in through one hole, and through another it enters a valve. It contains dust particles, debris, hair, furniture lint, threads and pet hair. The seals become clogged with debris and lose their tightness.

How to proceed:

Clean and rinse the mattress valve.
Let's put it in place.
Inflate the air mattress.
Close both lids well.
Prepare a soap solution.
Apply to the valve and lather the area around it.
Beat the foam until it covers the valve.
If this is the problem and not a hole in the mattress, bubbles and a quiet hiss will soon begin to appear.
It remains to understand what the complexity of the task is. After valve repair or replacement.

Shaving foam

Almost the same as with soapy water. The shaving product must be applied in a thick layer to all parts of the product one by one.

Bubbles will appear where there is damage.

Starch

If there is no starch, you can use loose powder. The product is pumped and then covered with a thick layer of starch or powder. If there is a cut, a cloud will appear in its place.

Listen

Another way is to stand on the surface of the air cushion and move along it, listening, trying to find a hole.

The ears are sensitive to the sound of air escaping from the mattress. He hisses.

Listening to the air escaping from the product is an effective method for detecting a large hole in a mattress. Not suitable for small punctures - the hissing sound is simply not audible.

Visual inspection

This is not a very viable option. Requires attention, sharp vision, hearing. When trying to find a hole in a mattress in this way, you must have with you:

source of better lighting;
space, that is, the ability to approach the air mattress from any side;
absolute silence in the room.

How to find a hole in an air mattress by inspecting it:

Carefully inspect the inflated item, listen, pressing in different places. The area where the hole is located will make a hissing sound.
If the visual inspection is unsuccessful, you can wet your hand with cold water. It is pressed against the mattress, held as close to its surface as possible, touching the seams, all sides, the upper and lower areas. A chill will be felt at the location of the hole - this is a draft escaping outside.

Soapy solution

We will act according to the following algorithm:

Add a little dishwashing liquid (soap solution, liquid soap, shower gel or shampoo) to the spray bottle so that there is enough soapy water to cover the entire surface of the mattress. An alternative to the “sprinkler” can be a sponge or rag soaked in this solution.
How to find a hole in an air mattress at home? Fill it with air and spray, clean the entire surface of the product with a soap solution, again starting with the valve and paying special attention to the seams.
Now look carefully: where the soap bubbles appeared and where there will be air leaks.
Trace the leak with a permanent marker and mark it with a piece of tape or glue.
The next step is to make sure the mattress is 100% dry. Only after this will it be ready for storage and repair.

Using cling film

The surface of the air mattress is moistened with water from a spray bottle and then wrapped in cling film. You should see the reaction. A small protrusion will indicate where the hole is. Appears due to the accumulation of air under the film.

How to avoid new damage

Repairing an air mattress is not difficult, but it is better to prevent possible damage. It's easy to do:

Before you put down your air mattress, you need to inspect the ground. Sharp branches, glass shards or stones will cause a hole to appear. You need to remove the trash and then put the product down.
Be careful when pumping. Filling too tightly with air increases pressure on the seams. The mattress should be moderately soft.
Keep pets away. Dog or cat claws will cause a puncture, even if the animal simply jumps on the inflated product.
Do not drag when inflated. When dragged, an inflated mattress is scratched by uneven soil. Dragging is especially dangerous if a person is resting on the mattress. Such movement will cause rupture of internal partitions and divergence of seams.
Do not use “aggressive” chemicals for washing. Detergents negatively affect the elasticity of rubberized fabric. It is recommended to clean dirt with a soap solution.
Sit down carefully. Do not fall sharply on an inflated item or jump on it - this will cause the seams and partitions to rupture.
Descend slowly. The air should escape through the valve on its own. Pressure on the inflated item will damage the partitions.
Don't forget about drying. If you put a wet item away for storage, the humidity will cause the rubberized fabric to crack.

Pets should not climb on the mattress, otherwise holes will be inevitable.

A puncture or broken seam can be successfully sealed on your own using a repair kit or available products. But if the hole is large or there is a serious breakdown of the valve system, then it is better to contact a specialist. Service centers have equipment that allows you to repair ruptured septa and repair large cuts, as well as diagnose valve damage.

Garden hose method

The equipment is suitable for use on a summer cottage, an area near a private house. To find leaks you will need:

large area of free space;
rubber hose;
access to water supply (external tap, well).

The hose is connected to a water tap or lowered into a well using an electric pump. First, the mattress is inflated until it is elastic. Lie down on a flat surface. To avoid repeated punctures (from grass, stones), it is necessary to install an elastic band.

A directed flow of water under low pressure is supplied through the hose. Slowly water the surface and observe. A small hole releases air every 5 seconds. The location of the puncture points will be indicated by a quiet hissing sound and the appearance of bubbles.

Diving underwater

How to find a hole in a mattress by placing it under water:

Partially inflate the product so that it can be submerged under water.
Do it in parts. You can use the bath, swimming pool, river.
Squeeze out the recessed area and observe the reaction. The air flow coming out of the puncture will turn into bubbles under water.
First inspect the valve, then the seams, then the rest of the surface.
Trace the cut with a marker.
Dry and repair the mattress.

Before using this method, read the instruction manual for the accessory. Some materials cannot come into contact with large amounts of water.

Diving underwater

To find a hole in an air mattress at home, you need to inflate the accessory by 50% and lower it into a bathtub of water. In summer, this procedure can be performed in a pond or swimming pool. The mattress is not immersed all at once, but in parts.

We lowered one section into the water, pressed hard, and took a closer look. If the bubbles are not noticeable, and it was not possible to release all the air by pressing, perform similar actions with other sections.

This is not the most accurate and quite tedious way to detect holes. It is advisable to involve an assistant. Especially when you have to check a one-and-a-half or double mattress.

The material of the product must be taken into account. Some cheap models do not tolerate complete immersion in water.

Valve Inspection

A common reason for the rapid deflation of a rubber or polymer bed is depressurization due to damage to the integrity or deformation of the plastic valves for air injection.

They must be cleaned of dirt, leveled and washed with warm water. Valves, based on the principle of physical action, resemble passive dust collectors. Air enters through one hole and exits through another. Along with it, small particles of dust, pet hair and other debris get inside.

They settle on the rubber seal of the exhaust valve, gradually destroying its structure.

What can you do to check this element:

Remove the valve, rinse with water and reinstall.
Inflate the mattress 80-90%.
Close the inlets and outlets.
Using a clean dish sponge or rag, apply the soap slurry around the valve.
Wait 2-3 minutes. If the reason for the mattress deflating is the valve, then a quiet hissing sound will be heard and the soap solution will bubble.

Further actions depend on the extent of the damage. Small holes can be repaired with your own hands, but a large puncture will require a visit to a workshop.

Some tips:

Soapy water allows you to focus on the bubbles when it hits the leak.
Before you start repairing your mattress, remove any soap from it and let it dry.
Contact the manufacturer for more information about repairing the hole. Some companies may offer free repair kits or recommendations.
While inflating the mattress, light an incense stick and position it so that the smoke begins to fill the mattress. The point where the smoke comes out is the point of the leak.

Here's another article.

Why does a mattress deflate if there are no holes in it?

It happens that even after the first use, a new air mattress may fail.

Poorly closed valve

You can check how well it twists using a soap solution. It should be applied to the air outlet, and if bubbles form, tighten the valve. If unsuccessful, the valve must be replaced with a new one.

Defective goods

Another reason why your mattress deflates quickly could be a manufacturing defect. In this case, the product must be exchanged under warranty or returned to the seller. To do this, you must have a receipt with you. This will be considered proof that the stolen item was purchased from that store.

Small punctures

If the cause of deflation is not a manufacturing defect, you should look for small pinholes on the surface. Most often, the holes are located at the head, on the inside of the ribs, at horizontal joints. They can arise due to too much inflation. There are two ways to check if the inflatable product is damaged. First of all, you need to try not to inflate it completely and try to understand where the sound is coming from.

The soapy water will also help you find any cuts in the inflatable. Bubbles will appear at the site of damage.

Dishwashing liquid

You can check your mattress for holes at home using a simple dishwashing liquid. First you need to prepare the surface of the inflatable product: remove foreign objects. Pump to the limit.

In a separate container, dilute dishwashing detergent with water to a thick foam. Then lubricate the surface of the mattress with a thin layer of foam. Apply to small areas and observe. Locations of damage and air leaks are determined by the bubbles that form. They are marked with a moisture-resistant marker for subsequent repairs.