Maintaining your AIRCELL™ Equipment

Cleaning

If your unit is especially dirty, it may easily be cleaned using a mild solution of white vinegar, dish soap, and water. Simply fill a bucket of warm water adding ¼ cup white vinegar, along with a few small drops of dishwashing soap. The mixture shouldn’t be especially soapy/sudsy. The tubes may easily be wiped down with this mixture using a soft cloth or sponge–no need to rinse. You may immediately follow this step by drying the tubing with a soft dry towel. Continue to clean the entire unit or the parts that need attention. Allow to dry thoroughly, then put away in its storage bag. An added benefit of using white vinegar is that it is a natural antimicrobial, which helps to ward off any development of mildew if the product will be stored for long periods of time in a non-climate-controlled environment.

For a quick spot clean you may use a product like Simple Green which can be quickly sprayed on and wiped off immediately. Take special care when cleaning the screen-printed artwork on the AIRCELL™ units. The ink can become scratched over time when exposed to harsh chemicals and scubbing.

Insider’s Tip: A fast and easy way to remove grass or granules from a turf field is to use the blower (output mode) to blow off an unwanted debris.

Storage

• Always keep your product stored in the storage bag that was included with the purchase of your AIRCELL™ unit. This bag was designed to help protect the product from reasonable storage conditions and to enhance the overall portability of this equipment.
• After the season is done and the AIRCELL™ equipment will be stored for a long period of time, we recommend storing in a climate-controlled environment. This will help ensure that the materials are free from extreme temperatures, adequate air circulation, and the threat of moisture. If this is not possible, it is best to store in a shed, closet, or field house offering adequate protection from the elements. Make sure the unit is placed off the ground free from the threat of water seeping into the bag and away from critters. We have had to repair units that have holes from mice eating through the tubing. It happens! Also, be sure to keep the unit away from any sharp objects sharing the space such as lawn mowers and field equipment. These items can easily be bumped of shifted causing punctures in your AIRCELL™ product.
• When it’s time to use your equipment again, it is best to examine it the before the first use of the season it’s a good opportunity to inspect it for any damage that may have occurred during storage. Also, keep in mind after long periods of being stored the AIRCELL™ unit may take a few minutes longer to Air Up due to the extended compression time of the tubing. Also, if setting up in very cold conditions the fabric becomes stiff which may extend the set-up time a few minutes longer. Conversely, when setting up in warm temperatures our AIRCELL™ units will become very pliable and the Air Up process will be shorter.

Troubleshooting your AIRCELL™ Equipment

Overnight Set Up

Although we do not advocate leaving your AIRCELL™ Equipment set up for extended periods outdoors, we understand there may be occasions when this is an exception and conditions are favorable: Good weather and secure location. If you choose to do so, we recommend releasing enough air to allow the top mid-section collapses. We call this “dropping the middle”, this helps protect the cage from birds, flying debris, and variances in extreme overnight temperature changes. The next day simply Air Up the unit to its ideal pressure. You’ll know from the sound when tapping on a tube, it should sound like a drum-deep and hollow. If the unit becomes over-inflated, you’ll hear air being release from the safety release valve. This will also happen if the heat begins to rise over the course of the afternoon and the air begins to expand causing the PSI to rise and air needing to be released from the unit.

Unit is moving slightly in windy conditions

While our products are able to withstand wind well there may be occasions when you’ll find the added bonus of using sandbags or water bags to keep the bottom tubes from shifting. Each unit comes with nylon tethers which maybe used by wrapping around sand/water bags to anchor to the D-rings on the unit. We prefer a simpler solution by laying a sand/water bag over the bottom tube in a few strategic positions.

Losing Air

1. Be sure the yellow “pin” is not pushed in before you cap off the inflation valves. If they a pin remains pushed in it will allow air to escape and your unit will slowly lose air ultimately collapsing over hours. Simply push the pin in and slightly twist counter-clock wise to release the pin from a lock position.
2. Check for any damage such as holes, tears, or deep abrasions.
3. If you hear air while the unit is up, it may be the safety release valves releasing excess air as temperature climb. No need to take actions the valves will close as soon as the unit’s air pressure has been stabilized.

Repairing your AIRCELL™ Equipment

When accidents happen and your AIRCELL™ product needs a little more attention, we are prepared to address any necessary repairs that your equipment may need.

Tears, Holes, Slices & more

We have easy solutions to repair this kind of damage. A picture is worth a thousand words and nothing could be truer than when it comes to determining the next course of action. We can often diagnose which repair technique will be most successful by studying photos you send of the damage. We have tested 3 different repair techniques each with its own set of benefits. We offer complimentary diagnosis and easy-to-follow instructions. We are here to help choose the best one for your specific repair. If you don’t feel confident in performing the repair yourself, we offer a repair service by one of our trained installers; call us for pricing.

Abrasions

This often occurs after our equipment has been dragged over jagged terrain such as concrete. The wear you’ll see will be a pattern consistent with result of fabric being scraped or deeply scratched. You may see tiny pinholes or flecks of the white inner fabric called the scrim showing. This is an easy remedy and one that doesn’t need patch material. We recommend using a flexible rubber adhesive called Aquaseal which can be found at Walmart, ordered through Amazon, or other local stores. Download the detailed instructions here.

Small Holes

Anything smaller than the size of a dime can be patched with a traditional patch. This will require using the patch material in the orange tube which is included in each AIRCELL™ unit purchase. You will also need to buy Vinyl cement, we recommend HH-66 which comes in 4oz cans found through any boat- marine shops or available through Amazon. Download the detailed instructions here.

Large holes, gashes, or slices

We’ve successfully repaired slices as long 6-inches caused by metal cleats coming down on a tube as well as larger holes the size of a 50-cent piece. These repairs require a 2-layer patch we refer to as a sandwich patch. Before attempting this patch, we recommend calling us for additional support. Basic supplies are the same as used for small holes repairs. Download the detailed instructions here.

Valve and safety/pressure release valves

The repair or replacement for these parts is a bit more involved requiring a special tool. Contact us for further guidance and support.