The longevity of air mattresses is directly proportional to how well you care for them. Leaks, tears, punctures, and bursts from over-inflation are all potential consequences of the materials they’re built from. All air mattresses deflate with time, so you’ll need to top off the air occasionally to keep yours at the desired firmness.
You’ve earned your rest after a long day. Reading a lengthy guidebook on how to inflate your bed correctly is the last thing you want to do. The trouble is that if you don’t follow the directions exactly, your bed probably won’t work as well as it might.
The mentioned procedures are there for a purpose; you should take the time to study them, comprehend them, and put them into practice. Keeping the air pressure in your air mattress constant can help it last longer and keep you more comfortable. What follows is a list of potential causes of air loss in your air mattress:
Changes in Temperature
In the wild, there appears to be a large temperature swing between daylight and night. The air temperature drops dramatically at night, making for a cooler sleeping environment. Because air mattresses can’t be filled to their full potential (due to seam tension), they lose air pressure as it becomes cold, making the mattress feel saggy and uncomfortable.
Prolonged Or Close Contact With Heat
PVA, the material used to make most air mattresses, expands and weakens when exposed to warm temperatures.
If you are using your air mattress for camping, tents will have many sources of heat. Any source of heat will do, whether it’s a fireplace, stove, hot water bottles, or a heat vent. The areas of the airbed that are exposed to direct sunlight or heaters may warm up and burst at the first touch of any sharp item, therefore it’s best to keep them away from the window or other heat sources.
Excessive Weight On Bed
Air mattresses have a maximum load that they are meant to support. For example, the weight limits for twin and king air beds are not the same. These restrictions apply to both sleeping and sitting on the bed.
Overstuffing or exceeding the recommended weight limit for the bed might cause the air mattress’s material to strain and leak air. If you want to keep your air mattress from deflating, it’s important to not exceed the weight restriction set by the manufacturer.
Manufacturers of air mattresses often list the maximum weight that can be supported by the bed; this particular model supports up to 650 pounds, making it suitable for two people.
Leak In The Mattress
The thin material used to make most air mattresses also makes them easily damaged by punctures, stretches, and even complete ruptures after prolonged usage. Putting weight on the bed may cause air to leak out.
However, depending on how small the hole is, leaks could be difficult to spot. Selecting a mattress with an extra thick cover and placing it in a safe location greatly reduces the likelihood of harm. The strong PVC used in construction increases the longevity of PVC air mattresses.
Fraying Seams
The most important feature of air mattress sets is the seams. You may use any adhesive to patch needle, stick, or paw holes in the top of the mattress, but seams will require a lot more work. Extra pressure on the bed from the weight of the occupants or from the heat might cause the seams to separate. Most of the time, heaters are to blame for exposing seams to high temperatures.
As the sole component that experiences the greatest degree of strain, seams can be negatively impacted by even minor factors like overinflation and weight.
Over-Inflation Of Air Mattress
Seams become more prone to leakage if air mattresses are inflated to their full capacity. It is suggested that the first time you use your air mattress, you only fill it up to roughly 90% of its capacity. Overfilling a mattress causes it to sag and become less comfortable.
Using The Mattress Right After Inflating It
Upon its initial usage, an air mattress, even a brand-new one, will quickly lose its inflated state. The mattress may look like it’s deflating, but it’s really undergoing a natural transformation.
It will take some time for the seams, cells, and other components to fully expand and take their final form. Thus, blow up the air mattress and let it rest for a day or two without being slept on so that it may return to its original shape.
Sitting On An Air Mattress
The edge of an air bed is a particularly vulnerable spot because of the concentrated weight of a person sitting there. A mattress’s deflation rate can be accelerated by punctures and rips caused by this kind of pressure. On the other hand, when you lie flat on your bed, your body weight is evenly distributed across the surface, putting less strain on the mattress and reducing air leakage.
Pet And Children
Children and cats may be too tempted to destroy your air mattress. Accidental punctures to the air mattress can be caused by the bare feet of some pets, especially cats.
Leaks at the seams of air mattresses are another problem that can occur when youngsters use them for jumping. You should either keep your dogs and kids away from the air bed or invest in a pet-friendly flocked puncture-proof type like this one.
Packing and Storing Incorrectly
The hardness of your mattress at night might be affected by air that has been left in it all day and night. Inflate your air mattress just when you want to use it, fold it up and store it away until then.
Ageing Mattress
Although you can’t halt the passage of time, you may delay its effects by maintaining an air mattress at the proper pressure. Mattresses may lose their quality with time.
Conclusion
Although air mattresses are not as long-lasting as other types of sleeping equipment, with the right amount of maintenance and caution, they may last for quite some time. What could possibly be more vital than a warm and pleasant night under the stars at camp?
Keep an eye on the temperature of the room; don’t put more weight on the mattress than it can support; fix any leaks you find; don’t overfill it; let the material expand; don’t let kids or dogs play on it, and store it securely to keep your air mattress inflated throughout the night.
