Each air mattress has its own main reason puncture Beach mattresses suffer mainly from the sharp edges of shells, pebbles, twigs or glass fragments, but sleeping mattresses, that is, air beds, can become victims of pets who decide to innocently sharpen their claws while the owner is not looking. However, here is the fact - the product suddenly deflates, and you have to urgently look for information on how to seal the mattress, and preferably more reliably.
Main problem in case of such troubles, find the puncture site, and if everything is clear with a beach mattress (a river or sea will become an auxiliary means of finding the unfortunate hole), then what to do with an air bed? It’s somehow not cost-effective to transport a thick one to the river or to the ocean shore, and it won’t always fit into the product even half-folded. To seal an air mattress, you first need to find the place where the patch will soon appear. How to do this?
We are looking for a puncture using the soap bubble method! To do this, you should walk a soapy sponge over the surface and press on the inflated mattress. If you know approximately the location of the damage, then the search area is noticeably narrowed; however, a small edge of the mattress can be immersed in a bath of water. It is better to mark the discovered puncture, use a marker, you can smear it with bright nail polish, but you will still have to wipe this place with acetone.
Before figuring out how to seal an air mattress, you need to find out what kind of material is being repaired. If available repair kit supplied by some manufacturers, the problem is solved, but when purchasing it yourself, it is important to understand: not every glue is suitable for the material from which your mattress is made. There is a significant difference in the approach to sealing an air mattress made of rubber, rubberized fabric or sprayed polyvinyl chloride. The repair patch must be made from the same material as your product, although there are exceptions. For example, a rubber patch on PVC does not apply in the best possible way, but a leather patch can hold up just fine.
So, a short algorithm for “how to seal an air mattress”: we look for the puncture site, mark it, degrease it, glue the patch and leave it under load for a day. That's all, it would seem, wisdom.
The question arises: how and what to do with these PVC mattresses, which are covered with a special velvety coating? Usually the surface is degreased with solvents - acetone, white alcohol. The spraying is carefully cleaned off with fine sandpaper. If the surface turns out to be slightly rough, then this is even good. Please note that both surfaces to be glued need to be treated.
We carefully study the glue and read the instructions for it. Please note that PVC glue is quite toxic, it is better to work with gloves. However, the solvent should also not be touched with bare hands. According to the instructions, glue the patch onto the deflated mattress, cover the puncture, and press it with a weight. The weight can be a book on which a weight or a bucket of water is placed.
Attention: how to seal an air mattress without sticking a load to it? Place an ordinary drop of glue on a fresh patch; now it does not pose a particular danger. It is extremely rare, but still, such an incident as gluing the surfaces of the mattress from the inside does happen. That is, the upper panel is glued to the lower one through a puncture or cut. To avoid this, you need to use the following trick. Apply a very weakly inflated mattress with appropriate glue at the puncture site and leave to dry. A frozen drop of glue will create a barrier for fresh glue when you apply the patch according to all the rules. A properly repaired mattress will serve you well for years!
It doesn't take any special skills to seal an air mattress and extend its life. It is worth mentioning that not all products make sense to repair. You can figure out whether a product cannot be disposed of if damaged, even at the time of purchase. Air mattresses worth trying to seal come with a patch and rubber glue. If there is no repair kit, it is most likely easier to throw away the product.
Features of repairing bathing mattresses
Mattresses for relaxing on the shore and water are more often damaged than sleeping mattresses when they come across a sharp stone, a random splinter - any sharp object. At the same time, a repair kit is rarely included with them - this means that the mattress cannot be repaired. You should pay attention to its design.
Products consisting of two or more independent sections can be glued together. A puncture in a separate part causes inconvenience, but has virtually no effect on safety when swimming. It can and should be repaired. It is better to avoid swimming on a sealed single-section mattress.
These recommendations apply to a single injury. If a multi-section mattress is damaged a second time, and in another section, use on water is not recommended. The same thing happens if there are punctures in one section, but from different sides (bottom and top), since in water the mattress endures strong loads - air pressure from the inside, water pressure from below and from the sides, and body pressure from above.
For repairs you will need:
- a piece of material similar in quality to a mattress;
- waterproof glue;
- degreaser, solvent, acetone, alcohol or high octane gasoline;
- heavy object with flat surface- press.
Important! The gluing area will always be a risk area. Do not swim far on a repaired mattress and do not load it beyond the limit specified by the manufacturer in the instructions.
How to determine the puncture site: two ways
Repair of air mattresses (of any type) begins with determining the location of the damage. It is not difficult to find cuts or tears along the seam; it is more difficult to see a pinhole. Cyclists and owners of inflatable boats are well aware of this problem.
Method with water:
- The balloon filled with air is lowered into the water and submerged.
- Air begins to escape from the damaged area, bubbles rising in a stream - this is an indicator of the puncture site.
- In order not to lose the detected defect, it is first pinched with a finger and then outlined with chalk, soap or a contrasting alcohol marker.
The disadvantage of this method is that you have to wet the product and then dry it thoroughly for further gluing. This is especially inconvenient when repairing velor mattresses - the silky surface takes a long time to dry.
Testing without water
If there is no container to put the mattress in or there is no time to wait for it to dry, then the puncture is found by sound. The product is arbitrarily squeezed and listened to. Coming out of a small hole, the air hisses.
You need to be careful not to make mistakes. It is more convenient if the mattress is not inflated tightly - then the dense part is moved around the perimeter in order to more accurately determine where the quiet hiss is coming from. The method is better suited than others for coated products, but is the least accurate.
Another method is using soap. The product will have to be moistened, but not as much as when lowered into water. The point is to inflate the mattress and approximate location soap the puncture. There is no need to press: if there is damage, the air will come out of it, inflating the bubble. It is from this that the future area for the patch is identified.
Advice! If you have absolutely nothing to circle the puncture with, insert a match or a toothpick with a cut tip into it.
Several ways to repair air mattresses
To firmly glue an air mattress, be sure to follow five steps:
- Cleaning up.
- Degreasing.
- Drying.
- Primary treatment with adhesive composition.
- Bonding with placement under the load within 24 hours.
Important! The patch material must be identical to the mattress or as close as possible in quality and composition.
Ideally, a double patch is installed - with the inner and outside, especially if we are talking about a cut or a strong tear. For a small puncture, external sealing is sufficient. In any case, you need to make sure that the glue does not leak inside the mattress - otherwise it will stick together and become inflamed. best case scenario inconvenient, and at worst, unsuitable for use. Therefore, the glue is applied in a thin, uniform layer, not reaching the edge of the patch 1-2 mm.
Stripping is the complete removal of everything that will interfere with the adhesion of the glue and the base. Smooth products washed thoroughly, but velor type Intex, you will have to free it from lint. To do this, use fine-grain sandpaper; you can use a knife, razor, etc. with caution.
Urgent repair of minor damage using improvised means
Mounting tape is used as an “ambulance” for a damaged watercraft. Its advantage over other products of similar purpose lies in its tight fit and elasticity. The method is convenient in that it can be used both at home and in hiking conditions, and there is no need to wait until the first layer of glue dries. The disadvantage of this method is less strength and durability and the inability to repair a strong tear. Scotch tape is good against pinholes and small cuts.
Interesting fact
Gray tape with a stretching effect is used by plumbers to temporarily fix leaks. And insulation made from such material lasts for years.
Directions for use:
- Clean and degrease the damaged area.
- Let dry.
- Seal with tape. A long cut is preferably made in two layers: the first along, the second across.
About the same technical specifications has white insulating tape for electrical wires. It is inferior to “rubber” tape in terms of width and stickiness. It is suitable for temporary repair of a pinhole puncture in a sleeping mattress - but it must be secured with two pieces of cross-section.
Repairing major damage
It is not practical to repair a mattress that is torn at the seams using adhesive tapes: the pressure on the side elements is too great. In this case, it is necessary to install a patch.
Advice! The encircling rigid frame reduces the deformation of the mattress, making it more comfortable to sleep on. And this same element is a guarantee that after serious repairs the product will still serve.
Possible difficulties:
- A model in which the side elements are not an addition, but part of the inflatable balloon, is inconvenient for repair at home.
- Reliable and tight coupling ensures uniform load pressure. To do this, it must be flat at the bottom, heavy and grip every millimeter of the patch. In case of significant damage, pick up required dimensions cargo is difficult, but necessary. If such a pressing tool is not found, and improvised materials of different weights and shapes are used, then some areas will leak air after the first use of the mattress.
To repair a mattress along the seam you will need:
- two smooth thin slats;
- clamps;
- rubber-based adhesive;
- acetone;
- rectangular patch.
Procedure:
- The area around the damage is treated with acetone.
- After it evaporates, glue is applied in a thin, even layer.
- The same preparatory work carried out with two patches.
- Leave the lubricated parts in air (the time for this stage is individual for each type of glue, it is indicated on the tube).
- Carefully insert the inner patch and align its middle with the center of the damage.
- The second patch is applied on top and smoothed thoroughly. After connecting the parts, there should be no air bubbles left between them.
- From below and above the glued seam, on top of the patch, slats are applied and secured with clamps.
- Leave the mattress in a vice for a day or half a day.
More in a reliable way repair is the only vulcanization used for repair car tires. It is better to contact your nearest tire shop for this service.
Air mattresses are convenient for relaxing on the water or as guest beds. If the product is damaged and begins to leak air, you should try to seal it. The procedure does not require any special skills, just accuracy and time. A repaired single-section mattress will only last on the shore; if there are several sections, it is quite acceptable to swim on it.
Unfortunately, air mattresses, sofas and beds often fail. But don't rush to throw them away. And in many cases it is not necessary to contact the service center. Most problems can be fixed quickly on our own. We learn to install patches, repair pumps and valves.
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In the photo:
What goes wrong with inflatable furniture?
Valve, built-in pump, shell- these are three “pain points”. The valve may become leaky over time. You can try to repair it yourself, without contacting “inflatable furniture repair.” The pump fails when the brushes that rotate the commutator wear out. And this problem is also fixable. Punctures and ruptures of the shell are the most common problem. To fix it you need to buy a repair kit.
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Many will be interested in learning how to seal an Intex mattress at home in order to extend its service life.
After all, inflatable furniture is not only convenient for outdoor recreation, but also urgently needed when the house is unexpectedly filled with guests.
Most importantly, inflatable furniture is compact - if necessary, it can be easily folded and hidden in a closet.
But keep it at low temperatures such a product is not recommended, since such an environment will negatively affect its surface shell.
How to detect punctures in inflatable furniture?
Before you begin repairing a damaged Intex air mattress, you must carefully examine it for punctures, the number of which can be identified after certain manipulations.
Since inflatable furniture (mattresses are no exception) most often tears along the butt seams, it is worth looking for damage by starting with their inspection.
Typically, such mattresses lose their tightness due to strong inflation, which is prohibited by the instructions.
IN in this case the gap most often occurs between the horizontal plane of the canvas and the internal edge.
Other reasons for damage to an Intex product may be cuts or punctures caused by animals who like to chew something or trim their claws.
If you are unable to identify the damage yourself at home, you will have to seek help from a professional.
The most difficult areas of an air mattress that need to be repaired are considered to be a seam divergence and a broken internal rib - hardly anyone can cope with such a problem at home, so the best solution would be to take the mattress to a workshop for repair.
By the way, to seal an Intex air mattress, you need to contact service center the company in whose store this product was purchased.
If the company is reputable, then it will accommodate its customers halfway, i.e. it can repair the product at home, which is most often suitable for the owners. If the puncture is small, then you can seal the Intex air mattress yourself at home.
Various methods are used to detect punctures in the fabric of an air mattress.
If the product were small, it could be inflated and lowered into a bathtub filled with water, which would allow air to be seen coming out of the punctures.
But since such a product is large, and there is no point in lowering it into water in parts, it is better to use another, no less effective method detecting punctures:
- We take any detergent, but it should be well whipped into foam;
- We apply foam to areas of the mattress fabric where damage is suspected;
- We examine the treated fabric for the presence of bubbles, which will indicate that air is escaping from the mattress in this place.
If this method does not bring results, then you can use another method of identifying punctures, but it is more troublesome.
You need to pour soapy water into the mattress, completely freed from air - five liters will be enough. Then the product must be re-inflated with air.
When the air mattress is turned over, water will spray out from the air holes. All you have to do is circle such places with a marker, free the mattress from water, and dry thoroughly before sealing.
How to repair an air mattress yourself?
Once punctures in the inflatable product have been detected, they need to be sealed by applying a patch to the damaged area.
But if the seam on the product is damaged, then only professionals with special equipment can fully repair it.
You can try to repair the butt seam of an air mattress at home.
The area where the seam diverges is carefully treated with alcohol, which will help not only clean, but also degrease the fleecy layer of the fabric, then, following the instructions, all that remains is to apply a patch and seal the damaged area.
In this case, there is no guarantee that such repairs will allow long time operate the product.
The fact is that the seams of the mattress will interfere when sealed, as a result of which the patch cannot be firmly pressed to their surface.
Considering this factor and the fact that the patch will spoil the attractiveness of Intex inflatable furniture, it is better to try to repair the damaged seam from the inside:
- the damaged area of the mattress needs to be turned out through the hole for the valve, which can be done using a regular ruler and hands;
- The surface to be repaired must be dry and clean. For the purpose of degreasing, it is wiped with alcohol;
- using the patch suitable size, you need to coat its inside with glue, and there should not be a lot of adhesive, as this will reduce the quality of work;
- The patch treated with glue is pressed tightly against the damaged area of the fabric;
- after 12 hours, the repaired product is turned inside out, and after installing the valve, it is inflated.
In order to improve the quality of the work done, it is recommended to place the sealed section of the mattress under a press.
Since the sealing is carried out using a substance containing hazardous components(methyl, acetone, polyurethane rubber), then the product cannot be repaired in the living room. After using the glue, be sure to wash your hands.
It happens that all the punctures are sealed, and the mattress does not hold air. In this case, it is recommended to pay attention to the tightness of the product valve, which is the weak point of all types of inflatable furniture.
For the purpose of repair, the valve is removed, the place where it adjoins the canvas is sanded with fine sandpaper, then treated silicone grease, after which the valve is returned to its place.
How to store and use an inflatable product?
The rules for storing inflatable furniture indicate that it is better to store the mattress deflated. In this case, the product must be dry and clean.
Therefore, if it was used for outdoor recreation, then it must be thoroughly washed and dried. To wash the fabric, it is recommended to use a weak soap solution.
Cannot be used detergents containing abrasive inclusions or chemically active components.
With their help, you can quickly clean the mattress, but they will significantly reduce the duration of its operation, negatively affecting the strength of the canvas.
Air mattresses are made for for various purposes, they have different quality, which accordingly affects the cost.
Some people, wanting to save money, purchase cheap products with the purpose of using them for other purposes.
For example, they take a swimming mattress with them on a hike to sleep on. As a result, the goal does not justify the money spent, since the mattress quickly deteriorates during use.
If the mattress begins to gradually deflate and there is no confidence that it can be repaired at home so that the product does not lose its previous appearance, then it is better to take it to a repair shop.
The master, knowing his business and having the necessary equipment at hand, will be able to short term solve the problem that has arisen.
With new technologies, all existing punctures and weak seams of the air mattress will be detected and repaired without losing the aesthetic appearance.
You should not attempt to repair the mattress yourself if its damage exceeds 5 mm or there is a problem with the internal partitions.
It is almost impossible to fix such damage at home, while in a workshop a specialist will be able to assess the existing damage and, if necessary, restore the product by replacing sections of the old canvas with a new one.
Do not think that the workshop does not undertake to repair mattresses with large tears in the seams or surfaces.
Products made from the thermoplastic polymer polyvinyl chloride are in great demand among buyers due to their practicality. Air mattresses, pillows and chairs are mobile, compact, and do not require special place for storage as they do not take up much space. However thin material extremely susceptible to mechanical damage. Even a child's toy accidentally lost on the floor can become a source of puncture and tearing of the PVC surface. Tips on how to save money on purchasing a new product self-repair mattresses at home.
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Determining the source of damage
Before proceeding directly with the repair, it is necessary to determine the source of the rupture. To do this, you should tightly inflate the mattress with a pump and press on it with your hands (you can sit or lean on the product with your elbows). The whistling air will indicate the approximate location of the damage. If the hole is relatively large in diameter, you can run your palm over the surface of the mattress and pinpoint the source of the leak. If the puncture is tiny, it is recommended to use one of the following methods.
Water and foam
A tightly inflated mattress should be lowered into water and see where the air bubbles come from. If the product does not fit completely into the bath, it is recommended to immerse it in parts. It is very convenient to find the puncture site using a soap solution. Add dishwashing detergent, shampoo or liquid soap and beat the solution well. After this, you should apply the foam with a sponge to the surface of the mattress and watch the reaction. Bubbles will soon begin to inflate at the puncture site. Once the source of the leak has been identified, it must be circled with a marker and the product allowed to dry completely.
Starch or flour
This method is convenient because after finding a hole, you don’t have to dry the mattress for a long time before repairing it. It is necessary to inflate the mattress tightly and sprinkle the surface with starch, flour or powder. A light “cloud” forms at the point where the air escapes. The hole should be circled with a marker to accurately record its location, and the product should be thoroughly vacuumed.
Cling film
The surface of the inflated mattress should be moistened with a spray bottle and wrapped cling film and see the reaction. The exact location of the puncture will be indicated by a tubercle formed in the place where air accumulates under the film.
If, after examining the surface, not a single hole was found, then the problem is poor valve tightness. A proven method will help you verify this: you should strongly inflate the mattress and pour shaving foam under the valve. Bubbles will indicate where the air is escaping.
Preparation for repair
Before repairing, it is necessary to completely remove the air from the mattress and prepare the surface. To do this, you need to degrease the problem area using gasoline, alcohol, nail polish remover or white spirit. If the hole is on the velor side, you should first get rid of the lint, as it will interfere with a strong adhesion. To remove it, you need to treat the surface with a cotton swab soaked in acetone. After drying, the fluff is removed with a screwdriver, the blunt side of a knife or fine-grained sandpaper.
When removing, you must be especially careful not to rub the area too hard, so as not to further damage the surface.
Defect elimination methods
Sealing an air mattress is not difficult when you know exactly where the puncture is. A competent approach and available tools will help you repair the product without the help of specialists.
Patch
The simplest and effective way repairing damage on the outer surface of the product is a patch. The mattresses usually come with repair materials: special glue and vinyl for making patches. It is necessary to pre-cut the patch required diameter(leaving 2-3 cm margins), degrease it, apply glue. Next, you should combine the parts, press firmly and wait half a minute. For a strong bond, it is recommended to place a weight on the problem area and leave it for 5-6 hours. The mattress can be inflated after 24 hours.
The material for patches from the manufacturer is enough for 2-3 patches. If necessary or if there is no ready-made repair kit, you can make a patch yourself. The raw materials are recommended to use rubber swimming cap, children's inflatable toy, old tire or material from a car camera repair kit. Special glue from the manufacturer can be easily replaced with glue for shoes or rubber. The most effective: “Desmokol”, “Uran”, “Moment Crystal”, “Rubber”. Before repairing, it is recommended to read the instructions on the package to know exactly the drying time of the glue. To avoid intoxication, it is strongly recommended to work in a well-ventilated area.
If punctures are found on the seam, the patch should be attached with inside. To do this, you need to pull out the problem area through the valve hole using a ruler, pencil, marker or pen. Next steps similar to repairing the product from the outside.
"Liquid patch"
Repairing a product using “Liquid Patch” is the fastest and most effective, but expensive. This innovative product increases the strength of the connection, adds elasticity, and renews damaged PVC. Essentially, it is the same vinyl chloride, only in a liquid state. Manufacturers offer a wide selection color range, so choosing the right shade will not be difficult.
Before work, it is necessary to clean the mattress from dust, dirt, and degrease the required area with alcohol. If the length of the cut is more than 3 cm, it is recommended to first sew it together using a thread and a needle. Before use, the glue should be shaken well and applied thin layer, making an indent of a couple of centimeters from the hole. After 6-7 minutes, apply a second layer and leave to dry for a day.
Paper and iron
This is an effective way to repair a mattress without patches and without glue, but only if the damage is on a seam. It is recommended to first unscrew the valve and remove the problem area from the hole. After removing dirt and degreasing, you should place a wooden base, level the product and carefully place paper on the joint. Use a heated iron to iron the area and make sure that the device does not burn an entire, undamaged surface. After the gluing area has cooled, the paper should be removed and the valve screwed back on.
