How to Fix a Tear in an Inflatable Water Slide

Inflatable water slides are fun for kids on a holiday. They can become worn out from many children climbing and sliding on them, and they may become torn at some point. If that happens, the damage is usually fairly easy to repair. 

How to Find and Repair a Hole in an Inflatable Water Slide

The first thing you need to do is to figure out where the hole is. A small hole can cause a slow leak and may be hard to find. If you cannot see the hole, you can find it by spraying the water slide with soapy water and then inflating it. If you see bubbles forming, that is where the hole is.

Before you can patch your inflatable water slide, it needs to be completely dry. You can make it easier to find the hole again when the slide is dry by putting strips of masking tape around it to form a square.

The next step is to sew the hole shut with a needle and thread,use strong thread and sew as close together as you can. You may have a needle and thread in your home, or the water slide may have come with a repair kit when you bought it.

After you have sewn your inflatable water slide, you need to patch the hole. Cut a patch that is at least ½ inch bigger than the tear, spread small amounts of glue around the square, and place the patch onto the glue to cover the tear. Then let the glue dry on the patch for at least 24 hours. If there is a chance of rain or high humidity, do not leave the inflatable water slide in a place where it will be exposed because that can prevent the glue from drying. After the glue has dried, you can re-inflate the water slide.