I recently received an email reading:
“I have a question for you! You know when you buy a helium balloon it goes down a little after half a day - and then more etc, does that ever happen when it’s in the box?”
and thought it would be worth publishing my answer, so here’s my reply:
“Hello Paula,
Thanks for your email.
Foil balloons filled with helium (like the ones we send) usually only start to go down after 3-4 days. In the right conditions it might last up to 8 days. We prepare the balloons in the afternoon for arrival the very next morning so they arrive fresh and customers can enjoy them for a few days.
Sometimes faulty balloons can deflate quickly after being filled up. To make sure that any faulty balloon is weeded out, we leave all our helium balloons to stand at least an hour before packing them up.
I hope this help! Regards,
Sophie”
For those of you who are like me curious by nature here are a few more facts about helium balloons and helium:
- All foil balloons can be refilled by taking them to your nearest helium balloon retailer
- Helium gas is sensitive to extreme temperature changes. This means that:
- Helium balloons might appear deflated in cold air - to resolve the problem, simply put your balloon somewhere warm and it will expand again
- You need to remember to keep your balloon away from extreme heat however, as this could cause the helium to expand and the balloon to burst
- Always keep the weight attached to the balloon to prevent it from floating away (there’s nothing worse than the scream of a small child who has just lost his/her balloon).
Here are a few facts about helium itself:
- Helium is an inert, lighter-than-air gas (which is why helium filled balloons float)
- It is a non-toxic, non-flammable, odourless and colourless gas
- Helium is an asphyxiant and should never be inhaled
Find out more about the chemical properties of helium here or visit our online shop to buy helium balloons!
November 7th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
my teacher got her balloon on her bday. in Aug.29th 07 and its still floating in the air and its Nov.7th 07 why is that?
November 8th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Hi John,
Thanks for your comment. As new technologies have been launched such as Anagram XtraLife or the Qualatex large Bubble balloons, some helium balloons do now last longer usually around four to five weeks, sometimes beyond this.
These new generation helium balloons are made of less permeable materials, which means the small helium molecules, stay in the balloon longer, resulting in longer float times.
That said it sound as if your teacher got a very good balloon as it is still floating over two months after her birthday!
December 9th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Hi i was wondering if you could answer a question i have. I recieved a little helium get well soon balloon 18years ago after my baby died. This balloon is still solid, is this normal, after such a long time?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Hi Amanda,
The smaller balloons that are mounted on a stick are usually filled with air rather than helium and last much longer than balloons filled with helium.
Helium molecules are much smaller than air and “escape” the balloon more easily.
A few customers have reporter keeping such balloons for a few year - but 18 years is a very long time!
April 1st, 2008 at 5:35 am
my helium balloon has lasted 23 days and its still goin!
April 11th, 2008 at 7:57 am
hi i got my boyfiend a helium balloon for my boyfriend on valentines day 2008 and its now april 11, 2008 and the balloon is still floating…how long did the longest helium balloon stay afloat for??
Santana
April 11th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Hi Santana - I have not got any exact information on what the record for the longest floating helium balloon is. However as technology is improving, we have quite a lot of customers reporting that their balloons have lasted over two month. So your Valentine balloon is doing well!
April 30th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
My Valentine Day helium balloon of 2008 is still floating high! Its April 30th, 2008! I am actually very shocked.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I have a huge helium foil balloon my boyfriend has given to me on 2/14/08 and is still floating till this day 8/19/08!
September 14th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Hi
I let some helium ballons into the air on sat 6th sept 2008, these were normal ones, the foil ones we kept and are still on the ceiling where we put them.
Was wondering how long the ones we let go would actually stay in the air assuming they didnt pop, and how far could it travel?
I know this is prob hard to answer but it fasinated me when i reaslised the others are still up!
Thank
September 15th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Hello Tara,
Normal latex balloons usually only stay inflated for a few days. Latex is a more porous material and the small particles in helium escape quite easily.
How far balloons travel really depends on the weather conditions - winds and so on.
When people organise balloon races - they sometimes receive replies from half way around the world! Anything over a few hundred miles is rather unusual
September 15th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Ahh so they have got far away, cool!
We did write Tara and Steve sept 6th…..maybe should put tags on them with email addy lol
Thank you for ur quick reply
October 12th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
i brought a helium balloon for my godson in april 2008.its now the middle of october and its still floating now! i think it was £5 well spent
November 5th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Another question?? If you MAIL a helium balloon overnight in a box will it pop on the airplane??
November 6th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Hi Kelly,
We send plenty of balloons by plane and they arrive in good condition. When they pop in transport it is usually because the package has been squashed or knocked.
Hope this helps
November 19th, 2008 at 10:58 am
i have had an air foiled ballon on a white stick which it is tied onto by the vendor in my bedroom for 3 years since my grandson was born is this possible?.it is as full as the day it was purchused.regards derek from london..could this be a record even?..im intrigued..
November 19th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Hi Derek - The small balloons on stick are air filled rather than helium filled they are also sealed with machines in the factory which makes them completely tight. They virtually last forever!
The helium filled ones deflate because the helium particles are much smaller than air and “escape” the balloon more easily.
I’ve had someone who has kept a small air filled balloon for 18 years - and still counting!
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 am
I have had a balloon since my bday on July 21st 2008…..it is now November 21st and it is still floating. Hasnt shrunk at all? Any explanation?
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:19 am
With the improvements in technology in recent years, some balloons now last longer. Still so your balloon is doing very, very well!