I have a BA Insulated Air Core 20x72x2.5 (red) and another BA Insulated Air Core 20x72x3.25 (blue). Both have a slow leak that will not make it thru the night :-(.
How does everyone find a leak in their sleeping pad? If I can find it the leak, how does I fix it? Are they reliable if I fix it or should I look for another one.

Oh no! I don't have a good suggestion for you other than putting it under water to see where the leak is, but I'm not sure if that's the prefered method.

I'm always concerned when MiniMN jumps on my Exped. We usually hammock camp now though so I hardly have to worry about a sleeping pad leak, but we might go back to the tent on our next trip. Undecided.

Good luck.

I have the same problem. Here Is what Big Agnes recommends.

I have BA pads too that have leaked. I just get a large Rubbermaid type tub and fill it with water or use the bathtub. I look for the leak by submersing the pad in the water. Once found you just use the repair kit that come with the pad. Check around the valve area too as that is a common place where they have had problems with those type of valves not seating right when closed.

Coincidentally I just fixed a Big Agnes yesterday. I found it by spraying a 1:1 mixture of dish soap and water over the whole thing (Next time I'm going to use a paint brush). I was a little skeptical, and focused on the seams, but sure enough there were three very, very small pinhole leaks.

I rinsed it with a garden hose and washed the patch area with goof off remover (all I had, rubbing alcohol would work too, or acetone or paint thinner)

The leaks were so tiny that I probably could have just smeared the contact cement that comes with the pad over the leaks (might even be able to use seam sealer), but I elected to apply a patch that came with the pad. Just put the cement both on the mattress and the patch, allow to dry for a few minutes, and carefully apply the patch so there aren't any wrinkles or bubbles.

Soapy water works great and avoids having to submerge it completely in water, just rub the soap all over the pad and you'll start to see bubbles where the leak is, even the smallest leaks are made obvious with this method.

agree with above water method, but would make sure that the valves are seated properly and tested overnight before I 'd put mine in water.

If the leak is at the welded seam, it is not repairable. BA has done excellent warranty work with me on 2 pads with leaky seams. Replaced both for free with new versions.
Locate the leak (I photo'd mine, to send to BA via email), contact customer service, for their recommendation.

butthead

I had a BA pad that had the very same problem. I could not find the leak so I called BA and they recommended that I send it into them for inspection/ repair. In just a few days I got an email reporting that the pad would be replaced on warranty and I received a new pad very soon after that at no cost.

I've always had better luck with the bathtub submersion method than with the soap bubbles method. I also enjoy the saved step of rinsing off all the soap. Manufacturer patch kits work well, but in their absence, I've had great luck on pinholes with just a small drop of thick cyanoacrylate glue. The wetness from the tub even helps it to cure quickly.

WHendrix: "I had a BA pad that had the very same problem. I could not find the leak so I called BA and they recommended that I send it into them for inspection/ repair. In just a few days I got an email reporting that the pad would be replaced on warranty and I received a new pad very soon after that at no cost."

This seems like the best method of repair, to me.

I will it try these ideas and I think I will call BA tomorrow also, just to see what they say. As always, thanks for the advice..

BA is excellent about replacing pads under warranty. I have had two replaced and a buddy also had one replaced.