Seasons change, and as they do, the care of your inflatable advertising balloon does, too. The informative articles in this section will go a long way to ensuring your giant inflatables retain their usefulness year after year.
Add Years To Your Cold-Air Inflatables
Want to extend the life of your cold-air inflatables? Here's a tip that seasoned installers use to extend the life of their rental fleets:
Apply a coating of vinyl protectant, i.e. Meguiar's Natural Shine, after every use. Just spray on and wipe with a clean cloth. This will prevent cracking, give added protection against UV rays, and add years to your investment!
Annual maintenance is a must to keep your inflatable working properly and looking its best. For those balloons that are used frequently, more regular cleanings are recommended. Keeping your inflatable clean will not only increase its life by preventing mold, mildew and the general stink factor, but it will do wonders for its appearance as well. We've seen amazing transformations of older, dirty inflatables after professional cleaning, both by hand washing and commercial machines. The question is, when do you clean your inflatable by hand, and when do you have it washed in a commercial machine?
If you live or work in cold-weather climates, you're sure to be dragging out your coat, hat, and gloves soon. It's fall-time and that - needless-to-say - means colder weather. It also means your helium inflatables probably need to be packed away until spring. Why? Helium contracts in cold weather, which means your inflatables will likely be grounded. Yes, you can fly helium-filled inflatables in winter months, but the process is a bit complicated. (More on that another time.) Usually, helium inflatables are packed away and other types are brought out for use during cold-weather months.
Sealed (airtight) inflatables are exceptional promotional tools. Their small size makes them highly portable. Their ease of setup and removal gives you a quick way to draw a crowd on a moment’s notice.
Sealed inflatables do, however, have a few special requirements when it comes to care. Following the instructions below will help ensure you get plenty of use from your sealed inflatables over their lifetime.
When working with helium-filled inflatables, it’s important to keep several basic tips in mind. With proper care and maintenance, your helium inflatables will give you lots of use down the road.
Wintertime Tips for Helium InflatablesYou don't see helium-filled inflatables used outdoors as frequently in the wintertime. That's because helium behaves differently as the weather turns cold. When the temperature falls helium contracts making it difficult (but not impossible) to use. If you need your helium inflatables for parades or for indoor fairs or exhibits patience is going to be the key. Here are some tips that will help you remain afloat.
Summer brings its own set of challenges when it comes to inflatables. Heat isn't a problem for inflatables, but storms of various sorts can certainly do major damage. The most common threat to your inflatable during the summer months however, is wind!
During a storm, lightning can stop your inflatable in its tracks in several ways. If the power goes out so will your blower, which means your balloon will deflate. The high winds that often come with storms can tear tether straps or anchor points on your inflatable. Unsecured objects can also hit your inflatable tearing or otherwise damaging the material.
Helium inflatables are fun and exciting, but are very different in function and care than cold-air or sealed inflatables. Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions about helium inflatables that can help you with their use and maintenance.
Aside from your inflatable being stolen, having it damaged in some way during an event is just about the worst thing that can happen. However, there are several ways to quickly rectify the situation so the event can continue as planned.