Do I need to buy helium?
Yes. You will need to remember to buy helium canisters for inflating your balloons. Weights and ribbons also come in handy for tying them down.
Helium balloons are a wonderful
addition to any party scene. They are well worth the extra effort they
take to get them inflated, and you can take your pick from all kinds of
balloon depending on what you are celebrating. Whether it’s themed
balloons for a kids' birthday party, milestone and number balloons or personalised balloons for that special someone, helium balloons will give your party lift off!
The video above demonstrates how to use our helium canisters. When
inflating, ensure the balloon is wrapped around the nozzle tightly to
stop any helium from escaping. Once inflated tie with a tight knot or
wrap with ribbon to keep the helium in place.
It is important to note that latex and foil balloons have different
float times. Latex balloons can last between four and five hours in
their prime, and need to be inflated fully. Foil balloons will last considerably longer than latex balloons as it's harder for the helium to escape from them. Confetti balloons can
last for less time than foil balloons due to the weight of the helium
and air combined with the weight of the confetti. For best results in
all cases, try inflating the balloons as close to the event as possible.
Since latex is porous, helium begins
to seep out from the surface of the balloon the moment the balloon is
filled. How long the helium lasts inside the balloon depends on its
size. An 11" latex balloon inflated to 11” will typically float for up
to 18 hours, but will only look good for about 12 hours.
Not all latex balloons are the same. Some latex balloons (especially
cheaper brands) do not always hold helium as well as others, which means
that they will not float for as long as suggested above.
The
most common mistake made when inflating a latex balloon is that people
tend to under-inflate them, which will drastically reduce the floating
time.
Yes. To make latex balloons float for longer they can be treated with HI-FLOAT, a
patented liquid solution that dries inside latex helium-filled balloons
to form a coating that helps hold in the helium. A single squirt inside
the balloon keeps it floating up to 25 times longer!
Unlike latex balloons, foil balloons are not porous and therefore do
not require any treatment to make them last longer, however, they do
have a limited floating life. An 18” foil balloon will float for an
average time of three to five days and often longer, subject to the
temperature and altitude that it is being kept at. Larger foil balloons
will float for longer as more helium is used to inflate them.
Knowing how much helium you will
need is a key part of your party planning. There is nothing worse than
running out of helium in the middle of decorating. You need to factor in
the size of your balloons, the material and the quantity. For example, a
foil number balloon will require more helium than a standard latex
balloon.
Our smallest helium canister will fill approximately up to 30 Balloons.
- 30 9" Balloons OR
- 12 12" Balloons OR
- 3 36" Balloons
Our large helium canister will fill approximately 50 balloons.
- 50 9" Latex Balloons OR
- 20 12" Latex Balloons OR
- 5 36" Foil Balloons
Our helium canister twin pack will fill approximately 60 balloons.
- 60 9" Latex Balloons OR
- 24 12" Latex Balloons OR
- 6 36" Foil Balloons
Our helium canister triple pack will fill approximately 90 balloons.
- 90 9" Latex Balloons OR
- 36 12" Latex Balloons OR
- 9 36" Foil Balloons
For larger balloon installations please see our large helium canister twin pack (up to 100 balloons) and our large helium canister triple pack (up to 150 balloons).
