Air mattresses deflate overnight no matter what you do, and you may be confused by this every time it happens. You may ask yourself many questions about why your air mattress is not cooperating with you, and the answers can be found below. Each question is answered to help you determine how to take care of your air mattress for the long term.
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Why Does My Air Mattress Keep Deflating?
Air mattresses deflate overnight because of their design, the temperature and the pressure put on the mattress. No air mattress is airtight. Your air mattress must have a bit of room to breathe, and you will lose a small amount of air just by laying down. The temperature at night is colder than it is during the day. Cold temperatures cause the air inside the mattress to condense. The mattress appears to have lost even more air, but it is simply going through a physical change. The air will take up more space when the temperature rises in the morning.
Do All Air Mattresses Lose Air?
All air mattresses will lose some air in the night, but each mattress is designed a bit differently from its cousin. Your body weight plays a role in the amount of air that is lost, and the elevation of the mattress makes a difference. Mattresses that are used at higher altitudes lose air faster, and colder temperatures make the mattress go flatter than normal. Your mattress is not immune, but some air mattresses may perform better than others.
How Can You Stop This?
You cannot stop your mattress from leaking air permanently. Your mattress will burst if it is designed to lose no air at all, but you may make changes to your environment that help your mattress perform better. Keeping the area warm cuts back on air loss in the mattress, and laying flat on the mattress prevents air from being pushed out at a high rate. People who sit on their mattresses are putting a high amount of pressure on a small space. This pressure forces air out of the mattress faster, and the mattress will be even flatter in the morning. You may change elevation by using the air mattress on the upper level of your home where hot air has risen. Space heaters also work well in an outdoor setting. Or you can get an air mattress with never flat pump technology.
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The Opening
The opening where the air mattress is blown up must be watched carefully. The nozzle is opened often to blow air in and out of the mattress. The opening will lose its rigidity over time, and air will escape through the hole more easily. You should be careful with the nozzle, and tape over it when it begins to lose its strength.
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Fold It Carefully
An air mattress that is not packed correctly will develop small holes that you cannot detect. The portions of the air mattress that were once perfectly balance will be misaligned, and the air will escape faster. Your careful packing of the mattress for each trip will ensure a longer life for the mattress.
Get An Air Mattress With An Automatic Pump
The Insta-Bed Raised Air Mattress with Never Flat Pump. This mattress has never flat pump technology that detects when the air mattress starts to lose air and will automatically kick in a silent pump to re-inflate throughout the night. This is the best way to keep your air mattress from being flat because there is no method to stop your air mattress from losing air so you might as well buy an air mattress that can detect the issue and counteract it. We recommend it here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I’ve over-filled my air mattress?
Since putting too much air in your air mattress can cause it to leak, it’s important to recognize when it’s too full. The best way to tell is by touching it and looking at the mattress. If the mattress is rock solid, then you have too much air, and adding any more weight can not only cause a leak, it can also cause the mattress to pop. Also, take a good look for bulges or stress marks to see if the plastic is stretching. If you see anything like this, release some air until the mattress has some ‘give’.
What are the different ways to inflate an air mattress?
Since it’s doubtful you will use your own lung power to inflate an air mattress — although you can if the air mattress is not too large — it’s good to know there are a number of other options available that are easier and more practical. Inflating your air mattress can be done with a car battery 12V air pump, an electric air pump with USB, a rechargeable battery-powered air pump or a home power adapter air pump. If you do not have an electric pump, you can also use a manual one, like a hand pump, a foot pump or a bike pump. However, some people find buying an air mattress with a built-in pump is the most convenient method and the easiest to set up.
What can I do if the electric pump in my air mattress stops working?
Before determining that it is actually your air pump that is malfunctioning, there are a couple of things to check first. For example, while it might sound silly, check to make sure the power cord is plugged in to the socket properly, and that it matches the proper voltage input: 110V or 220V. Once these have been checked and verified and the pump still doesn’t work, there are a number of ways to inflate the mattress without a pump. You can use a blow dryer or a vacuum cleaner with a blow function. If you are using a blow dryer, make sure to only use the cool or cold-air setting. Hold either the blow dryer or vacuum cleaner hose against the opened air valve of the air mattress, create a seal, and then activate or turn it on to start inflating the air bed. Once it is fully inflated, carefully close the air valve.
How long does an air mattress last?
A good air mattress will last for two to eight years if you use it occasionally and care for it properly. To maximize the life of your air mattress, make sure to carefully deflate it fully after each use and fold and store it in a bag in a cool, dry place away from sharp objects to make sure it isn’t accidently punctured.