Skip the self-adhesive patch — use liquid vinyl cement.

The trick is to ditch the sticky patch that comes with the kit and use a vinyl repair adhesive. Self-adhesive patches need flat, smooth contact. Near the valve, the float is curved and rigid, so the patch just peels.

Here’s what works:

Clean the area with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry completely. Lightly sand the surface around the puncture with fine sandpaper to give the glue something to bite into. Cut a