Air mattress keeps deflating and no hole?
Why is my air mattress deflating all of a sudden?
Where’s the hole?
How to find the leak if I can’t hear/see it?
A few question for the ages…
It’s frustrating when an air mattress keeps deflating even when there is no visible hole.
The frustration gets worse when the slow leak in the air mattress won’t stop even when you thoroughly inspect it for holes and find none.
Let’s see what we can do about it.
In this guide, we’ll look into the 3 reasons that might be behind the misterious deflation and then look at your options of where to go from there.
4 Reasons & what you can do
1. There is a pinhole that’s causing the deflation but it’s so small that you have the “no-hole” impression
2. The airbed is leaking from the area around the pump
3. The bed is placed in an area with significant temperature changes – this stretches the PVC of the airbed and changes the volume of the chambers. From your point of view, it seem like it’s deflating without being punctured.
4. Worst case scenario – you have a seam-leak on your hands
Last updated: May 2023
Placement of the airbed might be causing the leak
It’s not enough to pump your air mattress and use it, you must check the area it is placed to ensure that it is safe.
To stop your mattress from deflating, the space should be big enough for the mattress, and the surroundings should be kept clean so that sharp objects or small stones that could cause “invisible’ pinholes and slowly deflate the airbed.
These punctures can be so tiny you could miss them with ordinary eyes, but big enough to cause a slow leak in the air mattress.
The second tip is not placing your mattress in an area of a room with significant temperature fluctuations (eg. heaters).
Give the Air Mattress Time to Stretch Out
When you pump a new air mattress, it usually appears sturdy and firm. As they start using the bed, most owners would find that the mattress sags a bit.
This slight sagging is because of the mattress stretching to accommodate the weights of the users. This stretching is normal, but it is more noticeable in some brands of air mattresses than some.
To control stretching, it better to pump the mattress, leave it be for a day or at least 8-10 hours and then add air to your desired firmness.
That goes for even the smaller units. I’m mentioning it because we’v ebeen getting questions about that. On that note, you can see our list of the top-rated Twin air mattresses here.
Temperature of the Room
The air mattress will change firmness whenever there is a significant change of temperature in the room. Just turning off your heater can be enough.
To check this, inflate your mattress fully hours before you go to bed, and when you are ready to sleep you can top up the lost air. You can, of course, use a heater in the room, but make sure it’s not close to your bed.
Ensure that you do not keep the heater too close to the bed to prevent your air mattress from deflating due to misterious leaks.
The “no-hole-deflation” can be caused by overloading
Manufacturers specify weight limits for all sizes of beds. This means that a twin sized bed and a Queen bed are not created to accommodate the same weight.
Do not over-exceed the maximum weight capacity of your bed. Also, it does not matter whether people are sleeping or sitting on the mattress, the air mattress will not develop a slow leak if the weight requirement is followed to the later. Overburdening is one of the common cause of “air mattress deflation and no hole” situation.
To stop the air mattress deflating, don’tt let kids bounce on it. This could cause wears and tears in the mattress.
If nothing else works
When enough is enough
If you own an air mattress, there’s nothing worse than the frustration of finding the mysterious leak.
You spend hours spraying the thing with soap water looking for bubbles, toss it & turn it listening with an “open ear” hoping to hear the hissing sound.
To be blunt, more often than not it’s just not worth it because if the airbed is leaking and there’s no hole to be found, it’s very likely that what you’re dealing with is a seam leak.
Leaking at the seams is common and practically unsolvable
If it’s a seam leak, it might be time to look for a new air mattress. Here’s why…
Patching a pinhole might work, at least temporarily, but with seams, it’s probably not worth it.
Even if you do manage to locate the general area of the leak, the surface of the seams is simply not effective.
- It’s not flat so the adhesives won’t stick
- There’s too much pulling and stretching at the seams for the patch to stay in place
Do all airbeds leak?
At some point, it’s just too much frustration for a patch that will hold for a few days or a week. Think about the time and the nerves you’re investing and compare that to simply getting an air mattress that won’t leak.
Easier said than done, they can all leak, right?
Well, yes and no….that’s exactly why we’ve been doing some testing to pinpoint the models that are not prone to leaks. The list of top picks here is different than the ratings in our main guide of mdoels that deamed to be as close as possible to full resistance. These are the airbeds that showed teh greatest resilience over time and a low % of leaks, misterious or otherwise – see the guide on puncture-proof, unpoppable air mattresses here.
The results that we’ve seen are staggering, some of the popular models have up to 500% bigger air leak incidence than our picks in the category of the “most durable”.
See the results and list of most durable, heavy-duty air mattresses here >>
Hello everyone
I have a problem with my air-o space 5 in 1 sofa. It leaks especially the armrest and it is really frustrating me. I once took it back to Game and they fixed it and that time the hole was visible so this time around theres absolutely no hole but it leaks. Please help people.
Hi Kiki, I’m sorry to hear that…sofas are tricky. We never reviewed or tested the Air-o-space sofas, but what you’re describing sounds like a seam-leak. Pinholes are hard to find but at least you can hear the “hissing” in a silent room – leaks that develop at the seams or around the pump are trickier. The first thing to do is inspect it for a re-developed leak around the patch (you mentioned it was fixed before). Make a solution of dishwasher fluid and water and use a spray bottle to apply some of the solution around the patch and see if any bubbles appear. If the hole is not there and the sofa is still leaking you’ll have to do the same with the rest of it.
I know it’s tedious but I also know that some of these 5-in-1 sofas are expensive and you’re probably not prepared to give up on it. So, “split” the inflatable into areas and take your time. Bubbles will appear somewhere, that’s for sure. Make sure that you can a dry cloth and wipe the solution off as you go, you don’t want the liquid finding its way inside, it will mold.
Take a picture of the bubbles and send it bob.ozment at yahoo dot com to so that we can recommend what kind of patching might work. Let’s see if we can help
I understand how frustrated u r, I a myself with my air mattress, I decided to use a tire repair solvent called “Slim”, I use it on my camping mattresses before and it worked. However it’s not working on my twin mattress. I’ve put a quart in there and I don’t see the Green Slime coming out anywhere, so I’m guessing I will end up buying another one and try again.
Io totally get it…especially when you fall in love with the bed itself, but sometimes it’s just not worth the time and effort. You can see our top camping airbed picks here.
I have a problem with my air mattress it’s brand new I used it twice and it deflated by its sled I don’t feel a hole or anything I did the soap trick and nothing need help
If I had to bet, I’d say the mysterious no-hole leak is probably coming from somewhere in the area around the pump. If that’s the case, it;s best to leg to of that one and get a new one. Here’s a link to some of the comfiest airbeds that are still good in air retention.
We bought our air mattress last year and had it on our deck inside a tent. An area for ourgrandsonwhenheco es over. So we set things up the same this year but the mattress wont stay blown up and is soft within about half an hour. Are we doing something wromg?
Hi Tracy,
I’m sure you’re not doing anything wrong per se. If I were you, the first thing I’d do is get some cheap foamy inserts for the tent floor. That covers the scenarios of mysterious leaks originating from the deck (if it’s wooden and making pinholes).
If that doesn’t work, you can tell us what airbeds you’re buying and we might be able to recommend a brand or a model with lowest leak stats as per our evidence.
Cheers
The first one was leaking I bought another one bought of them is intex air mattress n I pump up the first one n it stay up the second one I placed it on top of the first one n pump bought thay stayed for a while and now bought of r leaking n no pin holes r leaking I have to waking up several times in the night pumping the mattress
Intex is a good but a budget option if we’re being honest…in the long run, something better is a smarter choice…on the budget side, we like the Dream Series – here’s a link to its Amazon page.
So we just got the bed a week ago and I found a hole yesterday so i put a patch on it. But it still keeps deflating, and I’ve looked all over it. Can you help?
Hi Nancy,
If it keeps deflating and there’s no visible leak, I’d advise using a solution of water and dishwasher and spray a bit on the area around the initial leak. In scenarios like this, the leak is usually somewhere along the edges of the new patch.
Where exactly was the leak, the naked PVC or the flocked surface?
I bought this air bed mattress ang there’s a leak coming out from the pump do I need a special tools to remove the pump and have it repaired? I want to save my mattress as it is only new there no holes at it it’s still like new please help me where can I buy the tools to fit in to the pump.
Hi Leslie,
I’m sorry for breaking it to you but for most of these, removing and repairing the pump (or a leak on its edges) will be next to impossible.
Bob
why is my air mattress alarm going off all the time saying its low pressure just got it last wk for my sick partner 4 oclock in the morning and cant sleep.with it
Hi Maureen, what kind of air mattress are we talking about here. If we’re talking about the medical airbeds, they usually have a built-in alarm that indicates low pressure.
Now, if you determine that the pressure is good and the alarm is still going off, most of the good ones have a mute function that you can use.
Finally, there’s always a chance that the alarm is faulty – that’s why your best bet is contacting the seller.
I hope this helps
I have a Intex double joined airr mattress and all of the sudden the top bulges up hi and deflates what happened?
Hi Ryan, sorry for the late reply – sounds like a seam on one of the inner chambers burst. There’s no fixing it. Replace the bed if it’s still under warranty – if not, get something better like the Sound Asleep Dream Series which you can see on Amazon here.
Over 8 year’s time I have went through 12 air mattress I only weigh 105 why do they not last
Hi Bob,
That’s a complex question to be answered by a one-liner. Sometimes, it’s about the vinyl that’s prone to developing pinholes that are hard or impossible to find and sometimes it’s the seams coming apart. In both scenarios we could dig much deeper, that would branch out into dozens of potential reasons.
I don’t know which models you owned and how did they “go” but I can recommend a few beds that I’m confident would not disappoint:
Some of the models that feature an auxiliary pump that keeps the bed inflated (prevents it from losing air by quietly turning on if the sensors “notice” a drop in pressure) – like the Cloud Nine which you can see here.
On the other hand, some models are simply stronger…each of those for different reasons – you can see our guide on the most durable ones here.
How can I fix a leak i the pump wheel where the air goes in? No matter which way I turn it the air still comes out fast. I turn it to lock in the air and it comes out just as fast as it does when it is turned to deflate it
Hi Raleigh,
don’t hate the messenger but those kind of leaks are (I’d say) practically impossible to fix, especially if it’s a one-piece pump. If there’s a chance to disassemble it somehow you might be able t find a potential issue (like a crack in the plastic). The question is if it’s worth the hassle vs. buying a new one
Can I use fix a flat ? There are no visible holes. Can fix a flat seal up my mattress on the inside ?
Hi David,
I never tried it but knowing what I know it would be a surprise if that worked long term. I personally wouldn’t try it because I’d be sleeping on a potential source of chemicals/fumes.
Sorry if this disappoints
My Intex airbed would still deflate after pumping, I don’t know what else to do.
Hi Mary, are you saying you found the leak and patched it and it happens again?
My beds problem is more technical / electrical…so what I did I would turn it on to fill up, it would release some air and then shutdown then i would wait a few seconds turn it back on, about 4x till it filled to where the bed would be just fine, no problem during the night…
Hi Pamela, thanks for sharing. What brand are we talking about here. Is the pump “never-flat” (the kind that adds air by itself)?
Halo. My air mattress leaks from the fan around the pump. It’s been 3 days now and I hear the air literally hissing out of the bed. How do I go about it please? The brand is INTEX
Hi Benardine,
that one’s tricky and probably not worth it. You can find the whole using the soap trick described in this write-up but fixing a leak around the pump is very tricky. If it’s under warranty, replace it.
I have a soundAsleep air mattress and when I inflate it and go to turn it in the off position it starts leaking air out of the pump piece. Is this fixable or is it garbage?
So I have had this air mattress for only a month. I have learn the do and don’t too late but I want to make sure even if I use the (gorilla glue ) liquid glue on the seems it will not work?
I’m not sure I understand the question but some adhesives will do more harm than good. So be careful and use dedicated patch kits – I’ve always liked the Tear-aid – here’s a link to its Amazon page.
Hey. I have an INTEX double bed with build in pump. It worked great for a month, the bed is located in an empty room so no weird objects around to make pin holes. It worked great for a month when suddenly after a day that we didn’t touch it it deflated. I located a hole as it was hissing air, repaired it with a kit and ever since this hole doesn’t leak. There is no more hissing around but the air keeps deflating. Not rapidly as other comments above, but certainly we sleep in a solid bed and wake up in a wobbly wibbly bed after 5-6h. Inspected the whole bed with no visible holes or hissing. Tested with a thin tissue to see any air flow, still nothing. But the bed keeps deflating every day. We pump it before sleeping every day. Any ideas on how to at least make it work for a peaceful sleep?
Hi Irina…that sounds like a leak from the pump area. I say that because those are hard to find and harder to fix – if it keeps happening, maybe look into getting a more durable, heavy-duty airbed – you can see our picks here.
I have yawn bed we thought we had found the leak covered with repair patch but still leaking what else can we do can you take it anywhere to repair
Hi Marion, after trying and failing with the patching, it’s probably best to move on to a better airbed with a built-in pump – you can see our picks here. There’s a good chance that the leak is somewhere around the pump and those are hard to fix and I don’t know of anyone doing it as a service – it would probably cost more than a new bed.
Hi. I received my airbed, Coleman brand (used) from my mom in the US last year. I’m in Ghana. I started using it in December and it was working fine. I relocated to a new hostel 2 blocks away from my old one. I did not fully deflate the bed since it was only a short distance journey. It’s been 2 weeks now and it deflates a little every night I sleep so I always have to inflate it before bed. What could be the problem please? Can you help?. Because I can’t see any hole in it
If you tried the methods we talked about here and still can’t find the hole, there’s little you can do beyond that…I’m guessing the leak is coming from the pump seams, which is not something that can be easily fixed. I would advise you to get a new one but I can only imagine how difficult it is to have one shipped to Ghana :/
Here’s a “Hail Mary” try engulfing the whole area where vinyl meets the pump in glue..it might do the trick…
I have a bestway air mattress, when i turn the dial to inflate it deflates why?
That’s a new one, Tanya…my best guess is an issues with the electronics of the pump. If it’s still under warranty, replace it.
My air mattress deflates overnight while sleeping and or sitting on it and I’m not that heavy. It never didn’t hat before and I’ve had it since May bim wondering if it’s time for a new one.
Hi Nicole, parts of what you said are vague but yes – it’s probably time for a new one. Cheers
When I turn my air mattress off it starts to deflate from the pump. Do you know what would cause this?
That sounds like a faulty valve – if it’s under warranty, you probably qualify for a replacement Larry.
Hello. I purchased an Intex queen blow up 20? inch mattress. I only used it one trip (5days) and it was perfect each night. Put it away, and used it a month later…every night it deflated. I take excellent care of what I but with hard earned money. No leaks!!! It’s so frustrating. How do I get it to stop deflating??
I totally understand Maryann…but the thing is, airbeds leak…even the top ones will have a certain percentage or mysterious leaks even when there’s no visible hole. Again, I understand the frustration but it’s not worth it – just move on and get a new one – we include a number of links to our top picks here.
And yes, even those might leak if you get a faulty one…it’s the nature of the product.