My Sleep Number® Bed Is Losing Air

What to expect

  • This article will walk you through troubleshooting steps to help pinpoint the source of air loss in your bed, so you can get the right solution faster.
  • Once you have completed troubleshooting, contact us with the results to determine next steps.

 

What you might be experiencing

  • Continuous loss of firmness after each night of sleep.
  • The pump runs constantly, takes too long to inflate to your Sleep Number® setting or might not be running at all.

 

Common Causes of Air Loss

Some conditions can mimic or cause your bed to feel like it's losing air even when it's not a lead. For example:

  • Room Temperature - Air in the room and within the bed can feel different with temperature changes.
  • Responsive Air® - When turned on, Responsive Air® senses and automatically adjusts back to your Sleep Number® setting throughout the night. Learn more about Responsive Air®
  • Air Pressure in the Room - Small changes may mimic air loss.
  • Getting In/Out of Bed - Movement and body warmth can affect air feel.
  • Sitting on the edge of the Bed- May feel like air loss at lower settings.

 

Key Troubleshooting Steps

If your bed is consistently losing firmness, first ensure the pump is powered on (check the pump's indicator lights and power cord connection). Listen for the pump running; if it runs constantly or struggles to reach your Sleep Number setting, there may be an issue.

After this, the following adjustments can be made to monitor performance:

These steps will help determine if the leak is in the air chamber or caused by the pump.

 

What you will need to get started

  • Remote or the Sleep Number® app to adjust the Sleep Number® setting.
  • Assistance to lift the bed if necessary.
  • Access to the hose connections at the bed. 
  • White air chamber caps (stored inside the bed or base). If you do not have caps, visit your local Sleep Number store to pick up a set or order them online.

    White air chamber caps in a plastic bag.

 

What to check first

  1. Pump: Check indicator lights for power. The pump is usually located at the head or foot of the bed, depending on the model.
  2. Power Check: Ensure the power cord is properly connected if the bed isn’t responding.
  3. If it is clear your pump isn't running, we can help you determine what kind of pump you have so you can order a replacement
  •  

 


When did you purchase your bed?

The troubleshooting process differs slightly based on your bed’s model year. Follow the steps below for 2017 and Newer beds or skip to the 2016 and Older beds section, depending on when your bed was purchased.

 


 

Troubleshooting steps for beds purchased 2017 to present

(If you do not have Responsive Air, skip to step 3)

1A. Using App to turn off Responsive Air®

Responsive Air can only be turned on or off in the Sleep Number® app or using remote (only applicable on certain bed models)

  1. Log into the Sleep Number app.
  2. Select Smart Bed.
  3. Choose the side of the bed you want to set.
  4. Use the toggle to turn Responsive Air off.

    Screenshot showing responsive air in the Sleep NUmber app.

Sleep on your bed for 1-3 nights. If your bed is still losing air after turning off Responsive Air, check your hoses and connections.

1B. Core Remote to turn off Responsive Air®

Responsive Air can only be turned on or off using remote if you own a ComfortMode  (applies to select ComfortMode models only)

  1. Hold down L/R button for 3 seconds or until the indicator turns on or off. 

    CCS Remote graphic.jpg

2. Check Hose Connections

  • Locate where the hoses connect to the air chamber (for 2017+ beds, connections are usually at the side of the bed, near the hip area, or at the head of the bed under the mattress cover). Remove bedding if needed to access this area.

    A couple in a bedroom checking hoses in their Sleep Number bed.

  • Disconnect the hose from the air chamber by pushing on the tab on the connector while gently pulling.

    Hands checking hose connections in a Sleep Number bed cover.

  • Quickly look for damage, such as cracks or breaks in the tubing, air chamber connections and/or missing/damaged O-rings. Reconnect after inspection. Below is what an air chamber connector should look like if nothing is wrong with it.

    Air chamber connector.

  • Trace the hose from the air chamber to the pump and check that the hoses are not kinked, bent, or run in tight angles. This may require you to move around the bed. You will have one of the following pumps.

    Checking hose connections on a Smart Control system.

    Checking hose connections on a Firmness Control system.

  • Once at the pump, ensure the hoses are firmly secured by lightly pulling on the hoses.

If you did not find any broken/damaged parts, move on to capping your mattress. Contact us if you found any broken/damaged parts.

 

3. Cap Your Mattress

Find your white air chamber caps. Caps are usually stored inside the base near the pump. If you do not have caps, visit your local Sleep Number store to pick up a set or order them online.

White air chamber caps in a plastic bag.

  1. Inflate the side of the bed experiencing air loss 15 Sleep Number® setting points higher than your preferred setting. You will lose some air when you disconnect the hose.
  2. Disconnect the hose and quickly cap the chamber.

              Placing a cap on an air chamber.

4. Sleep On Your Bed

Sleep on your bed for 1-3 nights and come back with your results

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Troubleshooting steps for beds purchased 2016 and older

1. Check Hose Connections

  1. Locate the hose connections at the head of the bed by unzipping the mattress cover. If your bed is a Duvet-style and has two zippers, unzip the bottom zipper.
  2. Fold back any foam comfort pad and remove the foam border wall at the head of the bed.
  3. Disconnect the hoses to inspect your air chamber and hose connections for breaks or damage. Make sure there are black O-rings on the end of the air chamber connectors.
  4. Reconnect after inspection.

If you did not find any broken/damaged parts, move on to capping your mattress. Contact us if you found any broken/damaged parts.

2a. Cap Your Mattress

Find your white air chamber caps. Caps are usually stored inside the bed by where the hoses exit. If you do not have caps, visit your local Sleep Number store to pick up a set or order them online. If caps are not available, swap hoses instead if one side is losing air. This helps determine if the problem is with the air chamber or the pump.

White air chamber caps in a plastic bag.

The below video will walk you through the following steps:

  1. Inflate the side of the bed experiencing air loss 15 Sleep Number setting points higher than your preferred setting. You will lose some air when you disconnect the hose.
  2. Disconnect the hose and quickly cap the chamber. You may need two caps if your air chamber has two connection points.
  3. Reposition the foam and top cover panel on the mattress and zip the cover closed.

 

2b. Swap Hoses

Note: Swap hoses if only one side is losing air. This helps determine if the problem is with the air chamber or the pump. You may need to swap hoses on one side at a time if your air chamber has two connection points.

The below video will walk you through these steps: 

  1. Push in the gray tab where the hose meets the air chamber and gently pull to disconnect the hose. Repeat this on the other side.
  2. Pull the hoses out of the mattress cover through the openings in the cover.
  3. Thread the hose through the opposite opening in the cover.
  4. Reconnect the hoses to the air chamber by gently pushing until you hear a click.
  5. Reposition the foam and top cover panel on the mattress and zip the cover closed.

 

3. Sleep On Your Bed

Sleep on your bed for 1-3 nights and come back with your results

 


After Troubleshooting: What were your results? 

  • Mattress Held Air When Chamber Was Capped: If you didn’t notice any air loss on the side that was capped, the air chamber is likely fine. This means the pump is the most likely issue.
    • If your bed was purchased prior to 2017 and does NOT have SleepIQ® technology (no internet connectivity or app integration): You can directly purchase a replacement pump online through Sleep Number's website.
    • If your bed HAS SleepIQ® technology: Please contact Sleep Number support with your troubleshooting results to get the correct next steps.

Not sure if your bed has SleepIQ? It does if you use the Sleep Number® app, get a SleepIQ score every morning on your remote or app, or have a Sleep Number Kids bed. Look up your order on www.sleepnumber.com/orders/status or contact our support team.

 

  • Mattress Still Lost Air While Capped (Pump Was Running): If the air chamber continued to lose air even when it was capped (and your pump was still periodically running), then your air chamber needs replacing.

 


Contact customer service with the results of your troubleshooting

We will determine the next steps. If needed, a team member will order replacement parts. If your bed held air while capped, leave the caps on. Otherwise, reconnect the hoses to the air chambers so you can continue to inflate the bed as necessary.

Call Customer Support

Mon - Fri: 8AM - 4:30PM CT, Saturday: 10AM - 2PM CT

Call 1-800-472-7185

Chat Support

Available 7 days a week: 6AM - 11 PM CT

Click/tap the "Chat" icon in the lower right corner of your device screen.

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