There is nothing more spectacular than a huge inflatable balloon floating in the sky. These colorful, party balloons represent a joyous moment for someone, somewhere. They might even represent a dream come true for someone. However, the truth is that these balloons are not as easy to transport as you’d think. They are heavy, and they take a lot of air. This is why most people opt for using helium instead. It is, however, more expensive. If you want to be able to pop the balloon or let it go, you’ll have to find a way to let the air out of it. This article will tell you exactly how you can do that.
Table of Contents
Find A Pool
In most parts of the country, warm water is available for everyone. In other parts of the country, cold weather makes it difficult for the average person to swim. In some places, the water may be too cold for the balloons to stay inflated. Regardless of the circumstances, you can find a public pool near you. Just do a quick search online and you’ll find a map which will guide you to the nearest one.
Prepare The Pump
Pumps are necessary in order to remove air from your balloon. If you use a hand pump, you’ll only be able to get the balloon deflated to a certain extent. If you use a foot pump, you’ll be able to deflate the balloon to the point of letting go. Foot pumps are, however, much more convenient as they can be operated from the shoreline. It is also simpler to operate a pump while standing on the ground. You don’t have to worry about hitting your head on the pool’s ceiling while trying to inflate your balloon. If you want to let the balloon go, you can do this from the ground as well. Just make sure that you deflate it properly before letting go of it. Otherwise, you may end up in the emergency room. This is why it’s important to learn how to properly use a pump.
Connect The Pump To The Balloon
To connect the pump to the balloon, you will need a connecting hose. This is a thin, flexible tube which will allow you to transfer gas from the tank on your car to the balloon. You will also need a regulator which will keep the gas pressure constant as the tank slowly empties. After you have the tubing and the regulator, you can continue onto the next step. Remember: the thinner the hose, the better. Larger diameter hoses make it easier for the air to escape. This is what causes your balloon to deflate faster than you can pump it.
Attach The Hose To The Inflation Port
The inflation port on your balloon is the part which you connect the hose to. This is typically a 3-inch hole found on the wrapper of your balloon. Just be sure to connect the end of the hose which is attached to the pump to this hole. You then need to carefully watch the pressure which is displayed on your regulator’s screen. When you reach a consistent pressure, stop pumping and cut the connection to the tank. If you want to be able to use the balloon quickly, you can store it in a cool place (not frozen) and deflate it gradually over the course of a few days. This process is called refrigeration.
Test The Balloon To Make Sure It Fills Correctly
Once you’ve connected the hose to the inflation port, you should verify that the balloon is indeed filling up correctly. Do this by testing the pressure at the connection. If you’re feeling extra cautious, you can verify that the balloon is indeed filling by releasing some of the air and seeing if the shape remains intact. You can also shake the balloon a bit to see if the shape is still maintained. When you’re happy that the balloon is indeed filling up correctly, you can proceed to the next step.
Pop The Balloon
You must let go of the balloon in order to pop it. Before you do this, be sure to inflate it as much as possible. Once you’ve done this, you can simply let go of it or, if you want to be extra cautious, tie a knot in the end of the rope. This will prevent the balloon from floating away and possibly harming someone. If you do not want to harm anyone, you must deflate the balloon at a safe distance from them. Sometimes, people are near enough to the balloon that they get hurt by it when it pops. If this happens to you, you could be held liable for the injuries. You must, therefore, take the extra precaution of tying a knot in the end of the rope. This is pretty much self-explanatory.
Store The Balloon Safely
If you want to store your balloon for a later date, you must first deflate it. Once you’ve done this, you can either throw it away or store it in a cool, dark place. Make sure to re-inflate the balloon before you store it. This way, you’ll be able to use it quickly when you want to.
Hopefully, this article gave you enough information to float your balloons in the pool and swim with them. If you found it useful, please share it with your friends who might also enjoy this kind of activity.