How to Find a Hole in an Air Mattress

An air mattress is a convenient item, easy to store, and very flexible when friends come to play and sleep overnight. But a tiny hole can also cause you to find yourself lying on a flat mattress the next morning on the floor. Finding a hole in an air mattress is sometimes as difficult as finding a needle in the bottom of a tank, but manufacturers have many methods to fix it. You need to check the valve first, as this is very likely to find the problem. If valve inspection does not find a leak, you can use one of the other methods.

Table of Contents

Literature test

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Remove the bed linen from the mattress. You won’t be able to see holes or tears in the mattress while it’s still covered with sheets.

Take the sheets somewhere else, away from where you checked for holes so they don’t get in the way.

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Take the mattress to a spacious place for easy manipulation. You need to walk on the mattress, turn over and inflate the mattress.

If you’re camping, you should probably do this inside your tent to avoid wind and noise.
Make sure there is enough light. You must be able to see clearly when looking for holes.

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Inflate the air mattress as much air as possible, but not too much or the mattress will burst. Air mattresses are not designed to inflate air from high pressure sources such as an air compressor.

You can blow or pump to inflate the mattress. Many air mattresses come with this tool to help you inflate the mattress.
Do not over inflate. Most manufacturers warn that mattresses can burst if inflated too much.

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Literature test. You should do this before checking the rest of the mattress, as the valve is the most common place for leaks. This way you will save a lot of time instead of finding the hole using other methods, because the valve is the main place for leaks. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Make sure that the valve seal is completely closed to the valve body.
With a double-lock valve, you need to make sure the valve body is pressed against the stopper behind it.
If the valve has a problem, you probably can’t fix it. However, if the valve seal doesn’t close properly to the valve body, you can try inserting a small piece of plastic for a quick fix.
If the valve seal is completely closed to the valve body, and the valve body is completely pressed against the stopper behind it, move on to finding a hole in the mattress.

Use dishwashing liquid

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Pour a little dishwashing liquid into a spray bottle with warm water. Mix thoroughly to ensure an even amount of soap on the entire mattress surface. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can use a rag dipped in soapy water.
A sponge dipped in soapy water also works well with this method.

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Spray or wipe around the valve first. The escaping air will cause bubbles to form on the surface. Make sure the mattress is inflated.

With any method, you should always check the valve area first, as the valve is the most likely to leak.
If you see bubbles rising near the valve, check to make sure the valve is closed properly.

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Spray on mattress surface by area. Start with the seams, then the rest of the fabric. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

The leak will be detected by the soap bubbles emerging.
Don’t worry when the mattress gets soapy. You can wipe off the soap, and the mattress will be dry.

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Mark with an oil marker when a leak has been found. Oil markers will not smudge on wet mattress surfaces. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Using a towel to dry the leak first will make it easier to mark.
You can also use a piece of masking tape or a marker to make a clear mark once the mattress is dry.

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Dry the mattress in the sun or in the wind for an hour or two. The seams will take the longest to dry. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If the mattress is not dried before storing it, mold may form on the mattress. It is important to make sure the mattress is completely dry before storing it.
Make sure the mattress is completely dry before using any patches to patch the mattress.

Check mattress

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Check the mattress with your eyes. You need to do this while the mattress is still inflated. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Even a hole as small as the tip of a pin can be seen when the mattress is under tension.
Do this step where there is plenty of light.
Observe by area. Check the top of the mattress first, then the surrounding edges, and finally the underside of the mattress.
Be sure to double-check the seams, as that’s usually where the tear is.

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Use the palm of your hand to smooth along the surface of the mattress. Usually you will feel the air in the mattress “rubbing” against your skin. ^{[7] X Research Source} br>

If possible, dip your hands in cold water first. The air escaping from the mattress will speed up the evaporation of water from your skin, and you will feel colder.
Slowly stroke along the surface of the mattress. If you move too fast, you may not notice the subtle sensation of the air coming out.

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Press the mattress with your hands and listen. Hold your ear close to the surface of the mattress, while moving along the surface of the mattress. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

The ear is the more sensitive part when you check for leaks. The air coming out will make a hissing sound.
Auscultation for leaks is more effective for large perforations.
Listen very carefully around the seams on the mattress, which is where the most common leaks are.

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Mark the leak with a pen or tape. That way you can find a place to patch later.

Some manufacturers provide instructions on how to patch the hole. Some other places will ask you to send the mattress to them for repair.
Do not attempt to patch a mattress without instructions from the manufacturer. Different materials may require different methods.
Once you’ve identified one leak, check the rest. There may be multiple holes or tears that are causing the problem.

Dip the mattress in water

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Check the air mattress label. Some manufacturers recommend not submerging their products in water. ^{[9] X Research Source}

The mattress will be exposed to a lot of water when submerged. Mattress fabric may be soaked in water.
When the air mattress gets soaked in water, the seams can begin to damage. The protective layer on the surface of synthetic fabrics can also peel off from the fabric.

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Inflate the mattress slightly. If the mattress is not inflated, you won’t be able to see the steam leaking under the water.

If inflated, you will have a hard time submerging in a pool or bathtub.

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Immerse the valve in a pool or tub filled with water when the valve is closed. Press around the valve. ^{[10] X Research Source}

See if you can force the steam out through the valve.
The air leaking out will cause a stream of bubbles to form around the fistula. Look for these leaks when pressing up around the valve.
Dip each section of fabric in the water. Look for raised bubbles that indicate a leak. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Follow each area. It’s easier to look at small parts than to try to find holes in the entire surface of the mattress.
Pay close attention to the areas around the seam. The seams are the most common places for punctures and tearing.
Mark with an oil marker when you find the source of the leak. Oil pens are less likely to smudge on wet surfaces. ^{[12] X Research Source}
You can use a towel to dry the area around the leak to make it easier to mark.
Once the mattress is dry, you can tape it or use a larger marker to mark the leak for better clarity.

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Dry the mattress in direct sunlight for an hour or two. The seams will take longer to dry. ^{[13] X Research Source}

If you don’t dry the mattress before storing it, mold can form on the mattress. It is important to dry completely before storing.
Before you can repair the mattress with any adhesive, you need to make sure the mattress is completely dry.

Use garden hose

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Use an outdoor table to perform this method. If using a wooden table, cover it with a blanket, old newspaper, or vinyl tablecloth.

A wet wooden table can be very annoying. This method requires the use of a faucet and a strong source of water.
You can also place the mattress on the ground using this method. Remember to cover the wooden surface if placing a mattress on it.

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Use the hose to “submerge” the area around the valve. Move slowly, and the leak should be visible in just a few seconds.

Focus on finding bubbles floating where the water is flowing.
Bubbles coming out of the valve area indicate a leak in the valve. Check the valve to make sure it is closed.

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Water the entire mattress surface. Use small jets of water and work slowly.

Look for lines of bubbles coming out of the leak in the mattress.
Look closely around the seams for bubbles emerging. Bubbles are a sign of a fistula, and seams are often an easy place to puncture and tear.

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Mark with an oil marker when the leak is found. Oil-based markers are less prone to smearing when writing on wet surfaces. ^{[14] X Research Source}

You can use a cloth to lightly wipe the area around the hole to make it easier to mark.
Once the mattress is dry, you can re-mark it further by applying duct tape or a large-tip marker near the leak.

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Dry the mattress in direct sunlight or in the wind for about 1-2 hours. The seams will take the longest to dry. ^{[15] X Research Source}

If you don’t dry the mattress completely before storing it, mold may appear on the mattress. It is important to make sure the mattress is completely dry before storing.
Make sure the mattress is 100% dry before using any gluing method to patch the mattress.

Advice

Use soapy water to make it easier to spot bubbles when water fills the fistula.
Rinse off the soap on the mattress when you find the hole and let it dry completely before you patch the mattress.
Consult the manufacturer for the best repair method. Some manufacturers offer free repair kits or have appropriate instructions.
When inflating the air mattress, light a stick of incense and let the smoke drift into the mattress. As air escapes from the hole, smoke will also escape.
You’re better off buying a new mattress. Consider the time it takes you to find the hole.
Try using a smartphone with an app that measures sound in decibels. Turn off all ambient sounds and scan the mattress with your phone for an increase in sound. To check, move your sensitive lips over that area to pinpoint the hole.
Place the mattress in a spacious place and lie on it to see if you can feel the air coming out.
Some methods recommend letting water into the mattress through the valve. However, you should not do that, because it is very difficult to dry the inside of the mattress; and water inside can cause mold to form and damage the mattress.

Warning

Do not put water inside the air mattress. You will have no way of drying before mold appears.
Do not place the mattress on a sharp object while observing.
Make sure the mattress is completely dry before storing to prevent mildew.
Do not inflate the mattress too much to avoid bursting.

Things you need

Soap water solution
Aerosol
Garden faucet
Outdoor table or flat surface to place the mattress when working.

Steps