Easy Ways to Find a Hole in an Air Mattress

Common Places for Leaks

• Usually, if the mattress has not been exposed to such sharp objects as pins, needles, thumbtacks or pet claws, the air leaks generally occur in the seams. This can make them harder to find because there is no visible puncture wound.

  The first step in finding a hole is to fill up the air mattress and bring it into a silent room. If the hole is large enough you will hear the leak escaping. Feel all around the seams with your hand and see if you can feel any air escaping.

Submersion Method

• An easy way to find a hole in an air mattress is by submerging it in water. If you have a swimming pool, put it in and push each corner under the water, one at a time, hold the mattress up, letting each side sit in the water and turn it over, covering the entire surface until the leak is found. If you don't have a pool, but can fit the mattress partially in your tub, that can work, too. If there is a leak, the air will bubble up in the water. You can then mark it, but you won't be able to patch it until the mattress is completely dry. This makes this method a little time consuming, but it is very effective.

Tissue Paper Method

• Take a sheet of tissue paper and, in a silent room, lay the paper on the filled mattress. If the hole is under the paper, you will hear the hissing noise hitting the paper. If you don't hear the noise or see the paper moving from air escaping through the leak, move the paper and try again. Keep moving the paper across the mattress a little at a time. Turn the mattress over and try that side, then turn it on its edges, moving the paper along until you find a leak.

Baby Powder

• Baby powder also can be used to find leaks. Slowly sprinkle baby powder over the mattress until the entire surface is covered in a fine mist of white powder. When the powder hits the leak, it will puff up the powder in a cloud. This is a very messy way of doing it, but it can be effective. The mattress will need to be cleaned thoroughly before applying the patch.

Soapy Water

• Soapy water can be applied to the mattress a little at a time with a sponge. When the mixture is applied to the area where the leak is, it will form bubbles. Once the leak is found, the mattress will need to be cleaned thoroughly before applying the patch kit or the patch may not stick.