How to Find and Patch a Hole in an Air Mattress

When you’re preparing for a camping trip or overnight guests, air mattresses are a portable, convenient choice for a good night’s sleep.

One of the main features people look for in an air mattress is that it stays inflated all night long. Many of Bestway’s air mattresses are constructed with durable, 3-layer Tritech™ material that’s 44% more stretch-resistant, 19% more pressure-resistant and 18% stronger than standard PVC. By improving internal strength and integrity, Tritech material technology helps prevent the stretching and deformation which can lead to a feeling that your bed is deflating.

While it’s normal to feel like your mattress may be losing a bit of air (the internal beams expand due to general movement), our revolutionary AlwayzAire® dual pump ensures you never wake up on the floor again! The primary pump automatically inflates the bed to the ideal air pressure during setup, while the secondary pump monitors the air pressure and silently re-inflates the bed throughout the night.

If following the basics doesn’t work, and you’re losing too much air too quickly, it’s possible your air mattress has a hole. In the event your air mattress is punctured, follow this simple step-by-step guide to repair the hole:

Step 1: Locate the Hole

Once you’ve noticed a leak, if it’s not easily visible, you’ll need to identify the location of the hole. (If you already know where the hole is, skip to step 2 below.) 

Inflate the air mattress and feel around the surface, sides and seams for any escaping air or noticeable tears. You can also listen for any escaping air while you’re feeling around. 

If you’re still unable to locate the hole, gently rub soapy water on the entire surface of your air mattress and look for any bubbles that appear. Bubbles mean that air is escaping in that area.

Step 2: Patch the Hole

Once you’ve located the hole, deflate the air mattress and get out the repair patch that was included with your mattress. Fixing a hole with a self-adhesive repair patch requires slightly different steps than a non-adhesive repair patch, so we've listed out the differences here. 

Before you patch the hole, you’ll want to start with a clean slate! 

1. Clean the area around the hole with a wet cloth and dish soap or mild detergent.

2. Wipe away the soap with a clean, wet cloth and let the area completely dry.

Self-Adhesive Repair Patch

If your air mattress includes a self-adhesive repair patch, follow these steps:

1. Carefully remove the film from the repair patch.

2. Stick the repair patch over the punctured area.

3. Press down firmly for 30 seconds – making sure to eliminate any bubbles.

4. Wait 30 minutes before re-inflation.

Note: PVC glue can be useful for holes in hard to patch locations. We recommend rounding the corners of the repair patch with scissors to help the patch stay on longer.

Non-Adhesive Repair Patch

If your air mattress includes a non-adhesive repair patch (Tough Guard™ and ToughLite™ air mattresses require glue), follow these steps:

1. After you’ve cleaned and dried the area around the hole, cut the repair patch to the appropriate size to cover the hole. (Important: Do not remove the film from the repair patch.)

2. Use PVC glue to coat one side of the patch (either side will work), and make sure the glue is evenly distributed. (You can find PVC glue at your local hardware store or online.)

3. Place the glued side of the repair patch over the hole and press down firmly for 30 seconds to ensure the repair patch adheres well. (Important: Follow the instructions included with the PVC glue for specific drying times and other details.)

4. Wait 30 minutes for the glue to set before reinflating the air mattress.

Note: We recommend rounding the corners of the repair patch with scissors to help the patch stay on longer.

Step 3: Puncture Prevention Tips

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent punctures in an air mattress (they’re called “accidents” for a reason!), there are a few things you can do to reduce the possibility of a puncture:

• Avoid moving your air mattress once it’s inflated. (Try to inflate your air mattress in the exact location where you’ll be using it.)
• Avoid putting your air mattress next to sharp or hot objects
• Use a top sheet and avoid wearing jewelry (remove sharp objects from pockets) while sleeping
• Put a sheet or blanket (indoors) or ground cloth (outdoors) underneath the air mattress
• Never drag the air mattress on the ground (regardless of whether it’s inflated or deflated)
• Make sure the air mattress is dry before storing
• Store in a dry, not too hot, location

If the hole is too big to repair, you can find a replacement air mattress on our website. If your air mattress is still under warranty, please submit a claim on our support page.

If you still have questions, please reach out to our Customer Support Team for assistance.