How to find a hole in an air mattress?

All air mattresses, despite their practicality, have one significant drawback - the possibility of a puncture. With careless use, such a product can easily be cut or cracked. This article will describe in detail the process of finding a problem area in an Intex type mattress if it releases air.

There are several ways to find a hole in a mattress at home, each of them requires a different set of materials. Sometimes the damage can be so small that one way is indispensable, and the owners are forced to use several search methods at once in turn.

Below are 5 popular methods, they will require the following tools:

• soap solution - liquid soap, shower gel, shampoo or dish gel can be mixed with water;
• capacity for diluting the solution;
• sponge for washing dishes - to determine the operability of the valve (instead of it, you can use a regular rag);
• shower sponge - to treat the surface of the mattress with soapy water;
• waterproof marker - in case there are several holes, you will have to circle each of them so as not to lose it.

If a mattress cut is fairly easy to find, then finding a puncture or crack will take a lot more effort.In most cases, the damage is so small that it is almost impossible to see it without resorting to the use of additional tools. Before you start troubleshooting yourself, experts recommend looking at the instruction manual, which always comes with the mattress.

Any guide to troubleshooting an air mattress will tell you to check the valves first. The most common cause of deflation is loss of tightness. If you notice that the problem lies precisely in the valve, simply clean it of dirt and rinse the components. After the manipulations, the tightness should be restored.

note that The operation of an air mattress is similar to the operation of a vacuum cleaner: air is drawn in through one hole, and exits through another. Consequently, over time, debris, dust particles, pet hair and other contaminants can get inside. There are seals on the outlet valve. It is on these rubber bands that all the garbage settles.

The steps to clean the valve will look like this:

• first remove the valve, rinse under running cold water and reinstall;
• the next step is to inflate the mattress by 80-90%;
• close the outer and inner plugs;
• take a sponge or a small piece of rag and start applying the soapy solution to the valve and the surrounding area around it;
• the applied solution must be whipped to a state of foam and wait a few minutes;
• if the problem lies precisely in the valve, you will hear a quiet whistle, and bubbles will begin to form on the surface;
• if the problem is small, the mattress can be taken to the nearest service center or you can fix the problem yourself;
• if repair is not possible, the valve will have to be completely replaced.

The formula of the "correct" soap solution: 100 ml of liquid soap is diluted with 500 ml of water. If the mixture does not lather well, add more soap. This method of searching for damage is one of the most common, but it takes a lot of time and effort.

• First you need to decide on the place where you will work. There should be enough light and space. If there is not enough space in the apartment to walk freely around the mattress, you can take it out into the yard. However, first make sure that there are no objects on the ground that could damage the product.
• Next, you need to inflate the mattress more than usual, but do not overdo it.
• Take a pre-prepared soap solution, soak a sponge for dishes or a piece of gauze in it and start rubbing the mattress. Rub generously until foam appears. Experts recommend treating the seams first, since most often the problem lies precisely in them. Bubbles will appear at the puncture site.
• Arm yourself with a waterproof felt-tip pen in advance. After finding a hole, you need to circle it so as not to lose it later.
• If the first damage is found, it is not recommended to stop there. Continue to inspect the product to see if there are any other problems.
• Rinse off the foam and dry the mattress well before repairing.
• Seal the damage.

This is a rather difficult way to find a problem, since the owner must have good hearing and vision. Therefore, for people of age, this method is considered not the most effective. However, it does not require any special tools, all that is needed is a well-lit large room and absolute silence.

Consider this method step by step:

• Inflate the mattress and begin to examine it, gradually pressing on its individual parts and listening to the sounds. The place where the hole is located will begin to make whistling sounds.
• If the above actions are not successful, you need to moisten one palm in cold water. With a dry hand, you should press on the product, and with a wet hand, keep it as close to the surface as possible. First, go over the bottom of the mattress, then along the seams, around the edges and on top. In place of the hole, you will feel cold air. Water in the palm of your hand will enhance this sensation.

This is one of the easiest ways.

• Inflate the mattress half way. If you fill it completely with air, you will not be able to submerge it under water.
• The procedure can be carried out in the pool, on the river and even in the bathroom. The product should be heated in parts.
• Submerge one section under the water and press hard on this place. If no air bubbles appear, continue to do the same with the rest of the mattress.

The sequence should be the same as in the methods described above: first the valve is heated, then the seams, then the rest of the. The damaged area is outlined with a waterproof felt-tip pen, the product is dried and repaired. This method of finding holes will not take much effort, however, for convenience, it is advisable to work with an assistant.

This method is not suitable for everyone. In most cases, owners of country houses with a yard resort to it. In the process, you will need a large area, a hose and a garden tap.

• Inflate the item and lay it out on a flat surface.
• Next, slowly start pouring water on the mattress. You need to let the water flow without pressure - this is very important. Small bubbles will begin to appear at the site of injury. Take your time with this procedure, because if the hole is small, bubbles will appear once every few seconds.

General recommendations

• It is forbidden to pour water into the product, because it will be quite difficult to get rid of it.
• If you used a method that uses water to identify the problem, be sure to dry the mattress. Otherwise, stains and an unpleasant odor may appear.
• If you decide to water the product from a tap, be very careful, because the yard can simply be flooded. Do not forget that this method entails a large consumption of water.

Summarizing the above, we can say that if the air mattress began to deflate quickly, this does not mean at all that it is no longer suitable for use.

How to find a hole in an air mattress with water, see the following video.