How to Mend A Leak In A Sports Ball

There are multiple reasons a sports ball can go flat, including temperature changes, a small hole, a hole in the bladder or just the passage of time. If a small hole is the culprit, this article will show you how to fix it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Leaky ball
• Bathtub
• Dishwashing liquid
• Ball sealant
• Sealant syringe (usually comes with the sealant)
• Air pump

How to Mend A Leak In A Sports Ball

1. Fill your bathtub with enough water to cover the ball, and add a little bit of dishwashing liquid.
2. Submerge the ball in the water.
3. Turn the ball around underwater slowly and look for bubbles. A tiny hole in the ball will cause bubbles to rise up in the water. As you turn the ball, look to see where those bubbles are coming from.
4. Fill the syringe with ball sealant.
5. Locate the air valve on the ball and insert the syringe, just as you would an air pump.
6. Depress the syringe plunger to squirt sealant into the ball.
7. Remove the syringe and insert the air pump into the air valve.
8. Fill the ball with air.
9. Bounce the ball to move the sealant around inside. Now your ball is ready to use. It should remain inflated as if there were no hole at all!

Tips & Warnings

• Each type of sports ball has different psi regulations. Footballs are 12 to 13 psi, basketballs are between 7.5 and 8.5 psi, etc. To find out what psi your ball should be, check its packaging or ask your coach .