Request: Repairing an Air Mattress
Archived on 08/25/2009
I have a fairly cheap air mattress. The one I have has a leaking valve, the large plastic outlet valve. The valve cover turns and instead of locking, keeps turning and the air escapes from this loose fitting. Any ideas on how to repair it such that the outlet valve will still function? Thanks for your help. Geschusa
By geschusa from RI
Feedback:
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
Hi, I had the same problem. I blew the mattress up so I could 'feel' where the air was escaping and used Power Grip I think it was called. It wasn't caulk per se, but in the same kind of container. It was a liquid nail. Had to do it twice but finally got it where it doesn't leak anymore. My granddaughters use it quite often with no problems. Good Luck.
(07/17/2009)
By Hiswitnessishere
Report Spam or Abuse

Request: Repairing an Air Mattress
Archived on 07/15/2009
How can I find a leak in an air mattress?
By TA townie from Hershey, PA
Feedback:
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
Fill the bathtub. Fill the air mattress with air. Push it under the water in the tub. You will see bubbles where the leak is. Move it around. Turn it over. You will find it very easily. Good luck. Peace and blessings, Jan (07/01/2009)
By jantoo1
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
I don't know why, but it posted before I could finish. Must have hit the wrong button. Oops. Anyway. Once you find the spot. Mark it. You can go to Walmart and they have bicycle tire repair kits for just a couple of dollars and it will fix several holes. Also they make some stuff like that for those above ground pools. But the Walmart junk works just fine. Cheaper too. Good luck. Peace and blessings, Jan (07/01/2009)
By jantoo1
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
Blow it up and have someone sit on it. While they're sitting, spray the mattress with water. When you see bubbles you found the leak. Good luck. (07/02/2009)
By clutterfree
Report Spam or Abuse

Request: Repairing an Air Mattress
Archived on 07/01/2009
How do I repair a leak in a Coleman air mattress?
Shelby from Rio Rancho, NM
Feedback:
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
Put crazy glue around the leak, then put duct tape on the circle. You are combining 2 wonderful products into one solution. Once you have one circle and tape, keep doing that for a lot of coverage. I did it and it worked. (07/03/2007)
By gr_alli
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
Buy an .88 cent bottle of Elmer's glue. It works wonders and holds better than anything I've found. Just apply a small amount and work it into the leak. It takes persistence and a few applications but the seal is amazing. (11/17/2007)
By Lisa
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
Go to the hardware store and get a vinyl patch kit, air mattresses are made of vinyl like a swimming pool. That should hold. (12/13/2007)
By John
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
I repaired a tear in the flocked velvet portion of the vinyl air mattress with Elmer's Probond Polyurethane Ultimate Glue. Just wet (water) the area to about 3/8 in. outside the tear area with a few drops of water and rub it in so that water also gets under tear. Apply a few drops of Polyurethane Glue and rub it into the area forcing it through the tear or hole and let it set for 24 hrs to fully cure. Repeat if desired expanding area 1/4 inch. This is a great glue for those around the house repairs as it bonds to just about everything although it does expand upon curing, but is sandable. Follow manufacturers safety directions. (01/13/2008)
By patchy
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
Cabela's sells a patch kit. Google them.
(06/02/2008)
By CBGB
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
I also have a Coleman air mattress that has had minut leaks. I would fully inflate it at bedtime, and by morning it would be about half-deflated.
While the soapy water technique may work, it's messy and you have to remove the traces of soap before you can patch. I recommend fully inflating the mattress, then checking the entire surface with: water moistened hand, sound, a piece of wrapping tissue, anything that will alert your senses to the leak. Generally, start with the valve and then the seams (however, both leaks I've repaired have been in "field" areas). Some sites recommend using a bathtub to check for leaks, but this is unwieldy for the larger mattresses and you probably run the risk of creating new tears or punctures in wrestling it through the bathroom.
Once you've found the leak, use the recommended patch kit if you have it. Since the Coleman bed is constructed of PVC, and the holes were pin-sized, I didn't even use any patching. I used a Q-tip to thoroughly clean the area (about 5/8 inch circle) with purple PVC primer, then with the other end of the Q-tip, pressed PVC cement into the pin-hole two or three times. If bubbles are escaping through the cement, hold your finger over the hole for a few seconds.
Don't know if this would be effective for rips or tears, but it's been effective for the tiny leaks I described, and the repairs are almost invisible. (11/06/2008)
By D_Redding
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
I didn't even realize my air mattress had a hole till I was blowing it up for company. My cat, upon inspecting this strange new giant blue thing, was giving it the once over and found the hole. I fixed that one and sent kitty around again and he found another one. Third time passed inspection. Bike tire patches work well on the smooth part, the fuzzy top is a little trickier. (11/13/2008)
By Hole
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
I just repaired 2 Coleman Air mattress using a product called McNett Aquaseal. I found this in a hiking shop rather than at a camping store. The repair was so good I have to look hard to see where I repaired it. As the product is slow to set, 8 to 12 hours, after about 3 hours I grated chalk over this and after about 8 hours washed it with a cloth. No patches and barely visible this stuff is good.
(01/10/2009)
By Tony S.
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
I became somewhat on an expert on these fine examples of "made in China" quality bedding. I have owned a few as they help my back problem heal fast. The usual leaks are around the 3rd recess in and 4th down, just get a towel and turkey baster, pour water in that recess/ dimple, and it will be there or close, on the seam where they vulcanize the inner baffles to the surface.
Pour some water in that dimple I described or the ones around it, and you will see a seam leaking from the bubble flow. Mark it with a marker pen and then remove water with the baster, then towel dry.
I have a old bed I cut patches from, as its best to use same material, purchase some "3M Vinyl" cement in a tube, spread on patch then apply patch ( after deflating mattress) place a small board under area, place a weight on patch and leave 24 hours, and its ready to go again. If the Chinese space suits are made by same folk who make the Coleman air mattresses then I think we shall see a lot of dead Chinese astronauts a float in deep space next few years. (01/23/2009)
By Jack H.
RE: Repairing an Air Mattress
Rubber cement and Duct tape (trust me). It works no leaks ever. Just put rubber cement on the hole and on the duct tape press together firmly (While Mattress is deflated will work better), and presto good as new. (01/27/2009)
By Dan
RE: Repairing an Coleman Air Bed
I just had a leak in the side of a Coleman air bed (Queen Size). Inside the box there was a small piece
of clear patch material with instructions printed in red on the paper backing. The hole I found by inflating the bed and resting on it, running my hand around the side of the of the bed. It was a lucky find, I guess, but I did not want to go to the trouble of soapy water painted on with a paint brush, etc. I found the leak and circled it with a Red Sharpie Pen. I cut a piece of patch material and placed over the hole. Now I have to wait 20 minutes before re-inflating the air bed. I love this air bed it is the only thing that really helps my sciatica/back pain. (06/23/2009)
By braveharp
Report Spam or Abuse

Request: Repairing an Air Mattress
Archived on 08/27/2006
Does anyone know how to patch a full size inflatable bed mattress successfully? Duct tape has slowed the leak, but the mattress has a flocked or velvet vinyl top, and air is seeping from under the layers of duct tape.
Marieve from Charlottesville, VA
Answers:
Bicycle Patch Kit
Try a bicycle patch kit.
By Glinda (05/15/2006)
Kiddy Pool Patch Kit
I used a patch for the kiddy blow up pools on a water bed & it is still holding a year later. Should work on air also.
By Randa (05/15/2006)
Seal All
there is a product called "seal all" and it works good, even on waterbed mattresses. last time I got it it was in a red/yellow tube. (05/25/2006)
By Diamondee
Krazy Glue
Just try drops of Krazy Glue or whatever it's called. That contact cement. I've used it to patch a water bed in the past, so if it works for water it should work for air. Just do a drop, let it dry and do another one. That should fix it. (05/25/2006)
By galthomas
Duct Tape
I wonder if you can work a piece of duck tape through the split to the inside of the mattress and flatten it down, then stick another piece on the outside. It may last a bit longer that way. (05/26/2006)
By alice_ridden
Report Spam or Abuse

|