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.
Unless you plan to use smaller helium inflatables indoors in climate-controlled environments, you'll want to make arrangements to prep and pack these balloons. It isn't hard to prep them for winter storage. You simply need to follow three easy steps to ensure your helium inflatables will keep safely over the winter. That way they will be ready to draw in crowds from far and wide when the weather turns warmer.
All inflatables need to be completely dry before deflating and packing for any length of time. The product should be stored in a climate-controlled environment that is free of moisture. Packing your inflatable when damp, or storing it in a highly humid area can result in mold or mildew that will damage or possibly destroy your balloon.
Step One - Clean the outside of your inflatable with alcohol (like you'd buy in a drugstore) and dust with talc powder. The alcohol will help get rid of dirt and control mold while the talc powder will keep the inflatable from sticking to itself while in storage.
Step Two - Inspect your equipment. Consider replacing the tether line if it’s worn or dirty. Check your cambuckles. Are they bent or warped? They might require replacing, too. Make sure internal lights work (if applicable) and that you have repair kits on hand as well.
Step Three - Carefully roll your inflatable (do not fold) and pack it in a sturdy box to protect the material from being crushed or punctured.
By following these simple procedures, your inflatables will hibernate peacefully throughout the cold weather and be ready to boost your business again in the spring.
Have more questions about winterizing advertising inflatables? Contact us we would be happy to help.
View More "Inflatable Care & Maintenance" Articles
“[The inflatable arch] created a wonderful backdrop to brand our events, capture our sponsors in the photos used by the participants, and made it easy to travel down the coast of California without taking up too much space on our trucks.”
“Not only have they been extremely impactful, attracting hundreds of potential consumers to our sampling teams, but the ease in which we can install them has been a great help...”
"I was especially impressed with your ability to turn around such excellent work on very short notice, and at a fair price."
- R. Stever-Zeitlin, General Mills
“Everywhere it goes, folks go out of their way to catch a glimpse of the colorful inflatable.”
- B. Campbell, Enterprise Beverage Group, LLC
"After speaking to a number of vendors, Landmark Creations had the professionalism, customer service, ingenuity, and creativity that we did not find elsewhere."
"Our tunnel was also a great addition to our pre-game tradition: the Wildcat walk. Our city shuts down three blocks of downtown, and we have hundreds of fans lining the streets with a police escort, while we walk to the stadium."
