SO YOUR BOARD IS GOING SOFT
Find it before you fix it
Whether you want to fix it yourself or let the pros handle it, you came to the right place. Before you can patch anything, you’ve got to find where the air is getting out.
This is the exact process we use in the shop. We’re not hiding anything.
What you need
Pump it up and listen
Blow your board up to 11 PSI. Then get quiet and listen. A lot of leaks will hiss at you. Run your hands slowly along the top, bottom, rails and seams, feeling for a little stream of air.
Hear it or feel it? Mark it with a pen right away. Leaks can be really hard to find a second time.
Can’t hear it? Bring out the soap
Some leaks are too small to hear or feel. Mix dish soap into a bowl of water. Clean the board first, then sponge the soapy water on one section at a time.
Wherever air is escaping, bubbles start to grow. Tiny leaks make tiny bubbles, so take your time. Hit the seams, the valve and around any fittings too.
Mark the leak
Found bubbles? That’s your leak. Mark it with a pen, let the board dry, then add tape next to the mark. Now you’re ready to fix it.
Next: How to repair your boardBUBBLES ON A SEAM?
Seam leak repairs... let’s be honest
We don’t recommend fixing seam leaks. The spot where you see bubbles usually isn’t where the air is actually leaking. It’s just where the air is escaping. You fix one spot, the air finds another way out, and you keep chasing leaks. That gets expensive fast. More on seam repairs
Can’t find it? We’ll find it for you.
No shame. Some leaks are sneaky. We’ll find it for $20. Already know where it is? That saves you the $20.