Patching your Inflatable Air Bed
Those who’ve owned several inflatable air beds should know that some are easily prone to leaks. Although there’s always the option of purchasing a newer, more durable air bed, many overlook the cheaper alternative. Almost all air beds currently available on the market can easily be repaired without need of replacement. What’s better is that some air beds can be repaired for absolutely no cost!
Leaking inflatable air beds are typically repaired though a process known as patching. Patching refers to the process of appending a piece of material to a troubled spot – in our case, a hole. Patching kits for inflatable air beds come bundled with a piece of vinyl and some vinyl glue. The glue needs to be applied around the troubled area and topped with the piece of vinyl. If your bed incurred a puncture on its topside, patching might not be a repair option. Inflatable air beds that feature a suede topside cannot be repaired with a vinyl kit. The suede will hinder the glue from sticking to the bed and will thus render your repair ineffective.
Before going out to purchase a repair kit, we recommended contacting your air bed’s manufacturer. They might be able to ship you a repair kit for free. Those who are experiencing air leakage from the top of their bed should especially consider contacting their bed’s manufacturer. Even if the manufacturer cannot ship out a repair kit, they should be able to recommend a specific product that can end the leaking.
Unfortunately, patching is not always a practical solution for all inflatable bed leaks. Since air beds can experience small, multiple leaks at the same time, patching is not always the answer. If an examination has lead you to believe that your bed is leaking air from multiple areas, we suggest purchasing a can of acrylic spray paint (that preferably matches the color you’re your inflatable bed). The spray paint will be able to fill the miniature holes without much of problem. Before painting the bed, be sure to deflate it and take it to an open space. Apply multiple coats of the paint to the affected area at appropriate intervals. Once the paint is dry, you should be able to re-inflate the bed and continue using it.
Your bed may require a combination of both patching and spraying. If this is the case, we recommend patching the larger holes first, then spraying the appropriate areas to fill in the smaller holes. Don’t rush the repair process as you may end up damaging your air bed. Respect dry times and recoat the problem areas as needed.
If your inflatable air bed has a few good years to it but is experiencing leaks right to left, it might be wise to invest in a new one. Decent inflatable air beds can be found for as cheap as $50 (although we recommend investing in higher quality ones). If you’re short on time and looking for a quick fix, it’s highly advisable that you purchase a new air bed.
It is our hope that the preceding information has familiarized you with the repair pathways available for most inflatable air beds. We encourage you to tackle a repair project shall your time and patience permit. If you have some additional questions on the repair process for your specific inflatable bed, we suggest you contact the bed’s manufacturer. They should provide you with all pertinent information on repair procedures.
Image Courtesy: Windell Oskay