Comfortable after all the thing is an inflatable mattress - and as a backup sleeper in case of unexpected guests will fit, and on the beach with him you feel like a king. But there is one huge drawback for this remarkable object - even the smallest hole leads to the fact that the mattress turns into a useless pile of rubber. What to do if you lower the air mattress and how quickly to find a hole - you can find the answer to these questions in our article.
How to find a puncture in an air mattress?
So, we face a challenge - to find a tiny hole on a large enough surface of an inflatable mattress. We'll fill ourselves with patience and proceed.
Method 1 - tactile
First, let's try to determine the place of breakdown without any auxiliary devices or substances, relying only on hearing and touch. To do this, it is necessary to thoroughly pump the mattress, and then several times slowly over its surface with hands at an altitude of about 2-3 cm. At the puncture site, the skin will feel an airy trickle. Increase the sensitivity of the skin will help ordinary cold water, which you just need to moisten your palms. People with good hearing can find a puncture and with the help of this feeling - in the place of leakage there will be a quiet hiss or whistle.
Method 2 - soapy
If the first method has not yielded any results, an ordinary dishwashing aid will come to help in finding the puncture. It must be diluted in water in such a proportion that a strong soap solution is obtained. And then, using a spray or any sponge, apply a well-inflated mattress on the surface. At the puncture site, characteristic bubbles will form on the surface of the soap film. What is good about this method is that, simultaneously with the search for damage, the mattress will be cleaned of dirt and grease. The found place of breakdown will need to be marked (encircled with a permanent marker or a ballpoint pen), and the mattress should be cleaned of soap and dried thoroughly before repair.
Method 3 - submersible
For inflatable mattresses of a small size, a submersible method may well come up, how to find a leak. With it, the mattress is placed in a container with water and the place of breakdown is determined by the air bubbles rising to the surface. After that, the mattress is completely dried, and then they begin the repair work.
Method 4 - aqueous
Another way, where the puncture site will help find water. The truth in this case is no longer the mattress will be placed in the water, and the water in the mattress. For him, you need to pour a small amount of water inside and have a good chat on the mattress in different projections. Where there are wet spots on the surface and there will be an attempted breakdown. But the water way has a serious enough negative - the mattress after it will have to dry for a very long time, and the remaining moisture inside will lead to the formation of mold and the appearance of an unpleasant smell.
How to find a puncture in an inflatable mattress - useful tips
To cope with the search and elimination of mattress damage in the shortest possible time, we suggest using the following algorithm:
- Start the search for leakage from the valve and side seams, as these places suffer from the greatest overload during the "blowing".
- The second stage is to inspect the lower part of the mattress, since it is it that contacts the outside world: pebbles or sand on the beach, or a floor covering of the house. Sometimes the cause of the puncture can be almost not visible to the eye of a fragment or sliver.
- Before sealing the hole found, the surface of the mattress should be thoroughly degreased, and the mattress with the velvet covering also remove all the villi.
- Glue on the patch should be applied a thin layer. A thick adhesive layer is not enough that it will dry for a long time, so it can not provide a reliable connection.