How do I find an air leak in my Therm-a-rest sleeping pad?

If you think that your Therm-a-rest sleeping pad is losing air, start by checking for any leaks or punctures in the mattress.

If you suspect your pad is losing air and it is not flat, but not as full as you inflated it before bed, the problem can often be attributed to the loss of air pressure as your mattress cools. This is particularly true if you inflate your mattress by mouth. The air going in is warm and, as it cools to the ambient temperature, you can lose quite a bit of pressure, requiring you to put a few more breaths into your mattress. Barometric pressure and significant changes in temperature and weather will affect your sleeping pads' inflation and possibly damage it. 

Always partially deflate your mattress before you leave it in your tent or car for the day. A full mattress can actually burst from the extra pressure if it warms enough in a hot tent or car all day.
 

Checking your sleeping pad for leaks

1. Inflate your mattress as firm as you can get it with your breath.
2. Locate the leak or puncture.
   • Listen for air escaping and try to locate the puncture right away.
   • If it’s not readily apparent where the leak is, you can either submerge the pad fully in water (a tub at home, or a body of water nearby if you’re out in the wild) or you can use a wet and soapy cloth to wipe the mattress.
   • In both cases, you’re looking for bubbles to form, which will indicate where the air is escaping. In the case of a pinhole puncture that takes all night to leak out, it may take a while for bubbles to form, in some cases ten or more minutes. Patience is the most effective tool in the toolbox at this point. 
   • It is best to find as calm and clear water as possible to dunk in and achieving the highest internal air pressure in your pad as possible. Calm and clear water is pretty straightforward. At home bathtubs and kiddie pools are popular choices. If those are not available, a plastic tote or utility sink can be successful. In the field, we hardly need to mention that lakes and ponds are likely better than rivers and streams, but there could be an ideal eddy out there for pad repair.
   • As for air pressure, try folding your pad in half to force more air into a section of the pad than your lungs alone can achieve. Then work in sections searching for the steady streams of bubbles that indicate a puncture. Don’t forget to listen, too. sometimes the little hiss of air escaping will tip you off to the leak before you’ve seen any bubbles. Another method to try is to mentally break it down into smaller areas and go through one section at a time, slowly and meticulously. Flip the mat over and inspect the other side.
3. Follow these steps to Repair your Sleeping Pad.

Send your pad to our Repair Shop for evaluation

If the damage to your pad is covered by our warranty, we will repair or replace your sleeping pad with either the exact same pad or the most comparable if it has been discontinued. It is important to keep in mind that the vast majority of air leaks are caused by punctures, and this is not covered under warranty, but we may be able to repair it for a small fee. 

If you're having trouble locating the leak or need further assistance, submit a request with us.