Guide to Inflating Helium Balloons

1: Always use a good quality balloon

First of all use a good quality Helium Quality balloon

Helium is the most expensive part of making a latex balloon float, the balloon is the lowest cost, so spend a few extra pennies on a good quality balloon and you will be rewarded with longer lasting balloons, better colours and shapes.

Helium quality balloons we recommend are from brand leaders Qualatex or Anagram.

2: Balloon Floating Time

Balloons float for a limited time when filled with Helium.

The length of time a balloon floats for depends on several factors including the shape size and quality of the balloons used.

A balloon inflated to   9” Diameter float time approx.   6 Hours

A balloon inflated to 11” Diameter float time approx. 18 Hours

Calculate how long you need the balloon to float for.

If you are decorating a room youself. You may be decorating a room at 9:00am in the morning and need the balloon floating till midnight or longer and will need a good size good quality balloons.

3: Helium VS Air filled balloon

Helium being one of the smallest molecules in the world means that if you inflate a balloon with air it can last months, whereas if you inflate it with helium it will last hours this is because the Helium molecule is much smaller than air and quickly seeps through the skin of the balloon.

The most important way to prevent this is by purchasing a high quality “helium quality” balloon.

4: How Much Helium Will I Use?

This depends on several factors including the shape size and quality of the balloons used.

However it can be said that Size Matters

A balloon inflated to 11” will use approximately twice the amount of gas compared to a balloon inflated to 9”

5: How to ensure your helium balloons are the same size

Idea 1:

Place 2 chairs the required distance apart i.e. If you need an 11” diameter balloon place the chairs 11” apart this will give you a quick and easy way to check the diameter of your balloons.

Idea 2:

Get a large cardboard box and cut an 11” hole in the base, this makes a great template.

Both these Ideas will ensure your balloons look even and professional. This will ensure they stay inflated for the right time.

6: How to tie a balloon.

Fill balloon, grab balloon with one hand  and stretch the neck of the balloon up and down a couple times with the other hand, this will make the neck more pliable and easier to tie. Simply wrap the neck of the balloon around your 2 main fingers and then tuck the end of the neck of the balloon through your fingers so that it completes the knot. Then attach ribbon see below.

7: How to attach ribbon to a balloon

Whist you have the balloon partialy tied round your fingers, you can simply slip the ribbon between your fingers and the neck of the balloon.

8: Cylinder safety .

Warning helium cylinders contain gas at high pressure. If a valve on the top is broken or damaged the helium cylinder could be projected forwards like a bullet causing untold damage.

Transporting:

Always ensure the Valve is removed before transporting.
Always ensure the cylinder is secure in a vehicle and cannot move around.

Working:

At all time when working with or transporting a Gas Cylinder Safety is paramount:

Always ensure the gas cylinder cannot be knocked over and is preferably anchored at all times to so a solid object.

Always work in a quiet area where you will not be disturbed

Not say near a doorway where people are moving in and out.