Fix a leaky airtight zipper

Every TIZIP SuperSeal airtight zipper is tested at the factory to ensure it does not leak (at a much higher pressure than packrafts are inflated to). I handle and pack the zippers carefully to ensure they are never folded or kinked before they reach you. When newly installed zippers appear to be leaking, it is virtually always leaking through the weld around the zipper, not through the zipper itself (see step 1, below).

If a zipper is truly leaking and it hasn’t been physically damaged, it’s probably because there’s some debris preventing a seal from forming – even a tiny grain of sand can allow air to escape.

How to fix a leaky zipper:

1. Make sure it’s really the zipper that’s leaking and not the weld between the fabric layers around the zipper.
   • Inflate the packraft and apply some soapy water to the zipper area.
   • Watch carefully to see exactly where the bubbles form – if it’s not along the zipper’s center line or under the metal slider, the zipper is not the problem.
   • It can be difficult to see exactly where the air is coming from, so use a credit card to form a dam between the zipper and the welded fabric, then observe on which side of the card the bubbles form.
   • Also press the fabric weld with your fingers – if applying pressure to the weld changes the rate of bubble formation, the problem is in the weld, not the zipper.
2. If you determine that the leak is indeed coming through the zipper, open the zipper and examine the sealing surfaces. Remove any obvious dirt or contamination.
3. Scrub the zipper with an old toothbrush and water – especially the metal slider and the area where the seal is leaking.
4. Reapply the included silicone lubricant and close the zipper.
5. Inflate your packraft and check for leaks again with soap+water.
6. If the zipper is still leaking, repeat steps 2-5. (You might have to go through this process more than once to get rid of some invisible debris – one customer had to brush/rinse/lubricate his zipper three times before it stopped leaking).

Tips:

• Never fold an airtight zipper – folding a TIZIP SuperSeal sharply can permanently damage the seal. When you pack your packraft, roll the zipper area with a diameter no less than about 7-10 cm (3-4″).
• Avoid fouling the zipper with glue or debris
• Don’t over-stress the zipper by stretching it open forcefully or by bending it sharply.
• Wipe/rinse away any sand, salt water, or debris before opening your zipper.
• Make sure items are clean before inserting them through the open zipper into the packraft – if they are coated in dirt or sand, this debris will stick to the zipper’s lubricant and prevent an airtight seal from forming when the zipper is closed.

Airtight zippers are precision-made mechanical devices and, as such, may wear out over time and are not guaranteed to last forever. To keep your zipper working well for years to come, keep it clean, roll your packraft with care to avoid folding the zipper sharply, and occasionally reapply the included silicone lubricant.