Help needed:Undetectable air mattress leak

robAK

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Messages
195
Location
ALASKA
As sbove. I have a Nemo tensor 25r mattress that I cannot find to repair. Any suggestions?
 
Joined
Aug 25, 2016
Messages
884
Get ivory liquid dish soap (or equal) and mix it in water. Just as if you were blowing bubbles and smear it over the pad. If the leak has adequate pressure, it will start to make an air bubbles on the exterior at the leak location
 
OP
R

robAK

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 19, 2017
Messages
195
Location
ALASKA
I’m sorry guys should have been more descriptive. I’ve done soapy spray and fully submerging every inch and cannot find it. It’s definitely a slow leaker but I cannot for the life of me find the leak.
 

UtahJimmy

WKR
Joined
Jul 6, 2016
Messages
884
Location
SLC, UT
I don't have a Nemo so I don't know what valve they use, but might want to focus on that area? Over pressurize, you'll find it!
 

SHTF

WKR
Classified Approved
Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
5,097
Location
Colorado
I bet its only deflating when you put weight on it after its blown up in that case its probably the valve. So fill it up again put it in tub and add your body weight. See if that makes it leak. We just replaced one that had a leaky seam where the material was glued together so we contacted Big Agnes and they sent us a new pad after we showed them that we had cut the corner off the current mat. THey wanted to make sure we where not trying to get a brand new extra mat.
 

kpk

WKR
Joined
Sep 25, 2014
Messages
775
Location
MN
I had a small inflatable pad for sitting on that kept going flat. I submerged it in the bathtub expecting to find a hole or two and an easy patch job. Stupid thing must've had a million tiny holes in it. Assuming it was of those small thorny vines that got it.
 

Mansfield Outdoors

FNG
Rokslide Sponsor
Joined
Jun 20, 2017
Messages
78
Location
Seattle Area
Had exactly the same problem with a 4 year old air mattress, slow leak which just couldn’t be detected. Kept waking up on hard ground with an empty air mattress. Started out trying to patch it while still out in the bush, submerged it in lakes, streams, etc. and still couldn’t see any bubbles. Once home did the same thing in the bathtub and sat watching endlessly but still couldn’t see any evidence.

Called Big Agnes to see if they had any thoughts, and as another poster pointed out, they asked for a pic of the valve cut off and promptly sent a brand new replacement.

Excellent customer service like that is very much appreciated and that’s why I’m taking a second to mention this. Thank you Big Agnes!
 

rclouse79

WKR
Joined
Dec 10, 2019
Messages
1,884
I had a similar situation with my thermarest xtherm. I even took it to a swimming pool with goggles and couldn’t find it. I think the problem is with the valve. I cranked it down last time and it held air.
 

Legend

WKR
Joined
Jun 13, 2017
Messages
945
As sbove. I have a Nemo tensor 25r mattress that I cannot find to repair. Any suggestions?
Two things:

I had the same issue with an exped. I mailed it to them and they repaired it at no cost. You might try testing their customer service.

The other likely issue isn't a hole but rather a bad valve.
 

rayporter

WKR
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
4,403
Location
arkansas or ohio
i fought with a thermarest and could not find the leak. mailed it to them and they sent a brand new one. and it was OLD, too. had a metal valve.
 

Scrappy

WKR
Joined
Jun 5, 2013
Messages
786
I had same issue last year with my Nemo tensor. Couldn't find the leak to save my life. Sent it in for repair and they promptly patched it near a seam and sent it back. No fuss no muss. Great customer service for sure.
 
Top