How do I repair a leak in a Coleman air mattress?
Shelby from Rio Rancho, NM
Put crazy glue around the leak, then put duct tape on the circle. You are combining 2 wonderful products into one solution. Once you have one circle and tape, keep doing that for a lot of coverage. I did it and it worked. (07/03/2007)
By gr_alli
Buy an .88 cent bottle of Elmer's glue. It works wonders and holds better than anything I've found. Just apply a small amount and work it into the leak. It takes persistence and a few applications but the seal is amazing. (11/17/2007)
By Lisa
Go to the hardware store and get a vinyl patch kit, air mattresses are made of vinyl like a swimming pool. That should hold. (12/13/2007)
By John
I repaired a tear in the flocked velvet portion of the vinyl air mattress with Elmer's Probond Polyurethane Ultimate Glue. Just wet (water) the area to about 3/8 in. outside the tear area with a few drops of water and rub it in so that water also gets under tear. Apply a few drops of Polyurethane Glue and rub it into the area forcing it through the tear or hole and let it set for 24 hrs to fully cure.
By patchy
Cabela's sells a patch kit. Google them.
(06/02/2008)
By CBGB
I also have a Coleman air mattress that has had minut leaks. I would fully inflate it at bedtime, and by morning it would be about half-deflated.
While the soapy water technique may work, it's messy and you have to remove the traces of soap before you can patch. I recommend fully inflating the mattress, then checking the entire surface with: water moistened hand, sound, a piece of wrapping tissue, anything that will alert your senses to the leak. Generally, start with the valve and then the seams (however, both leaks I've repaired have been in "field" areas).
Once you've found the leak, use the recommended patch kit if you have it. Since the Coleman bed is constructed of PVC, and the holes were pin-sized, I didn't even use any patching. I used a Q-tip to thoroughly clean the area (about 5/8 inch circle) with purple PVC primer, then with the other end of the Q-tip, pressed PVC cement into the pin-hole two or three times. If bubbles are escaping through the cement, hold your finger over the hole for a few seconds.
Don't know if this would be effective for rips or tears, but it's been effective for the tiny leaks I described, and the repairs are almost invisible. (11/06/2008)
By D_Redding
I didn't even realize my air mattress had a hole till I was blowing it up for company. My cat, upon inspecting this strange new giant blue thing, was giving it the once over and found the hole. I fixed that one and sent kitty around again and he found another one. Third time passed inspection. Bike tire patches work well on the smooth part, the fuzzy top is a little trickier. (11/13/2008)
By Hole
I just repaired 2 Coleman Air mattress using a product called McNett Aquaseal. I found this in a hiking shop rather than at a camping store. The repair was so good I have to look hard to see where I repaired it. As the product is slow to set, 8 to 12 hours, after about 3 hours I grated chalk over this and after about 8 hours washed it with a cloth. No patches and barely visible this stuff is good.
By Tony S.
I became somewhat on an expert on these fine examples of "made in China" quality bedding. I have owned a few as they help my back problem heal fast. The usual leaks are around the 3rd recess in and 4th down, just get a towel and turkey baster, pour water in that recess/ dimple, and it will be there or close, on the seam where they vulcanize the inner baffles to the surface.
Pour some water in that dimple I described or the ones around it, and you will see a seam leaking from the bubble flow. Mark it with a marker pen and then remove water with the baster, then towel dry.
I have a old bed I cut patches from, as its best to use same material, purchase some "3M Vinyl" cement in a tube, spread on patch then apply patch ( after deflating mattress) place a small board under area, place a weight on patch and leave 24 hours, and its ready to go again. If the Chinese space suits are made by same folk who make the Coleman air mattresses then I think we shall see a lot of dead Chinese astronauts a float in deep space next few years. (01/23/2009)
By Jack H.
Rubber cement and Duct tape (trust me). It works no leaks ever. Just put rubber cement on the hole and on the duct tape press together firmly (While Mattress is deflated will work better), and presto good as new. (01/27/2009)
By Dan
I just had a leak in the side of a Coleman air bed (Queen Size). Inside the box there was a small piece
of clear patch material with instructions printed in red on the paper backing. The hole I found by inflating the bed and resting on it, running my hand around the side of the of the bed. It was a lucky find, I guess, but I did not want to go to the trouble of soapy water painted on with a paint brush, etc. I found the leak and circled it with a Red Sharpie Pen. I cut a piece of patch material and placed over the hole. Now I have to wait 20 minutes before re-inflating the air bed. I love this air bed it is the only thing that really helps my sciatica/back pain. (06/23/2009)
By Harpin' Hank
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