How to Patch a Pin Hole in a Air Mattress

Repair a pin hole in your air mattress before it gets bigger.

Sleeping on an air mattress can make all the difference in a good night's sleep when camping outdoors or while sleeping on the hard floor. Though they are made from strong, durable material, air mattresses are not indestructible and can become damaged either by accident or from normal wear and tear. Learning to repair a simple pinhole does not require a patch like other tears. Being prepared can both save your back and keep you from having to replace the entire mattress when the hole grows larger.

Things You'll Need

• Soap and water
• Marker
• Seam sealer with polyurethane
• Talcum powder

Instructions

1. Inspect the air mattress to locate the pin hole. Search the top and bottom surfaces. Fill the mattress with air, fold it in different positions and squeeze it until you hear the air leaking out. If you cannot find the leak, wipe soapy water on the mattress and squeeze the mattress while folded in different positions. Find the bubbles to determine leak location.

2. Mark the pinhole with a marker. Rinse off the soapy water and allow the air mattress to dry completely.

3. Apply seam sealer to the pinhole.

4. Cover the seam sealer with talcum powder to prevent contamination by dirt and other objects while drying. Seam sealer is very tacky.

5. Allow the sealer to set up and dry completely before using the air mattress.

Tips & Warnings

• Check for leaks before a camping trip, because it is easier to do a repair at home than while camping.

• It takes seam sealer up to a day to completely set up and dry.

References

• Campetent.com: Thermarest and Self-Inflating Air Mattress Repair