How To Keep Balloons From Popping

Balloons are considerably a fragile item and they need to be treated with care if they are to serve their purpose until the last guest has left the party.

But why do balloons pop and how to prevent them from doing so as much as possible?

Last Updated: May 6, 2024  |  5 min Read

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At times balloons pop because they are faulty or of inferior quality. But on other instances they burst because of the lack of attention or misuse on the part of the user.

I’m listing here the main reasons why possibly your balloons are popping and what you need to do to prevent them from bursting.

1. Punctured Balloons

Balloons may have been punctured, for instance, when trying to get them through doorways. Be careful how you carry balloons especially through narrow spaces. Door knobs and hinges are notorious balloon poppers.

2. Transport

Balloons may have been transported in an inappropriate way, for example, when too many inflated balloons are squeezed into a small car. Try to, either transport them in a bigger car, ask someone to get them for you or just inflate them wherever the party is taking place.

If this is not possible and you really need to carry your balloons in a car make sure to go through the: Best 7 Tips To Transport Balloons Safely.

3. Balloons Left in a Vehicle Overnight

Though perfect conditions may not effect your balloons, it is not advisable to leave them in the car overnight. If it gets too hot they can pop! If it’s too cold, they can “deflate” or sag, especially if they’re filled with helium.

Also, keep in mind that helium-filled balloons won’t stay up for long, even in the most perfect conditions. So it is best if you inflate balloons with helium as closest to the start of the event as possible.

In any case, if you wish to have your balloons ready from before anyway, get them into your house and if you want to hide them, find a cool, dark place like a basement or underneath a staircase.

4. Hot Temperature

Balloons may have been placed where the temperature is either too hot or where it varies a lot as time passes. Direct sunlight will surely burst your balloons in a matter of few minutes. Helium-filled balloons may also pop in these conditions since helium molecules expand with heat.

Check out: How Long Do Balloons Stay Inflated?

5. Human Misuse

Balloons may have been damaged when used or mis-used by children (and adults) before a party for instance.

Pro Tip: Give your kids balloons to play with and keep aside those with which you’ll be decorating your venue.

6. Treatment Wrongly Applied

Balloons treated with Hi-Float, may have been put in bags before the treatment has been allowed to dry properly.

Hi-Float is a patented liquid solution that is applied on the inside to seal off pores in the latex and thus slowing down air leakage.

There will be a risk they will burst when they are removed from the bags.

So, let treatments such as Hi-float take their time to dry completely. In warm conditions, it takes about an hour for Hi-Float to dry in an 11” (28cm) balloon. Using too much Hi-Float can also be detrimental to balloons. A single squirt of this treatment will be enough. Check how Hi-Float can be used properly, here.

7. Static Electricity and Sound Vibration

Balloons can also pop due to static electricity and sound vibration. Keep them clear from electronic equipment such as big TV screens and don’t put them directly in front of large speakers.

8. Faulty Product

Balloon pop can also be the result of a faulty product. There is no doubt that a percentage of balloons are likely to fail. So choosing a high quality product will certainly reduce the balloon failure rate.

Qualatex, who are renowned for their good quality balloons, report a failure rate of 10% for their balloons. So it is best to invest in some good variety of balloons, try some of them before and have some extra to compensate for any loss on the day.

9. Over-inflation

Last but not least and obvious as it may sound, balloons pop because they may have been over-inflated. Just fill them up to the size that they have been designed for.

Pro Tip: Cut a hole in a cardboard sheet with the diameter equivalent to the recommended size of the balloon. Check if the balloon is over or under inflated by passing it through the hole.

Final Thoughts on How to Keep Balloons from Popping

Employing these tips can significantly reduce the likelihood of balloons popping and enhance the longevity of their inflation. Whether it’s through careful handling, selecting high-quality materials, or controlling environmental factors, taking preventative measures ensures that balloons remain intact throughout your event.

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