BALLOONS — WE WISH THEY WOULD LAST FOREVER
Balloon Planet uses the highest grade balloons manufactured, however, even the world's best balloons are fragile products with a relatively short life span. When ordering or sending balloons, expect to enjoy them for 2 days if used indoors, and less than a full day if used outdoors. Under ideal conditions, balloons can float much longer, but our guarantee is limited to 2 days. More details follow.
1. FLOAT TIMES
Cold air, hot air, high humidity, changing barometric pressure, high altitudes, and moving air from fans and vents will reduce balloon float times. The float times posted on our site are the maximum to be expected. Changing conditions mean that on some occasions balloons may float for only one day, and on other occasions the same balloons may float for many days.
The following standard float times apply to balloon-friendly indoor environments.
FLOAT TIMES FOR MYLAR BALLOONS
In optimum environments, mylar (foil) balloons will remain full and taught for 2 days. Air-conditioned air may cause these balloons to shrivel, but they will return to a normal state when exposed to warmer air.
HI-FLOAT™ TREATMENT
Hi-Float is a non-toxic sealant used inside of the balloon. It is effective only when used indoors, out of direct sunlight, and when not exposed to breezes created by fans, open windows, or air-conditioning. In ideal conditions Hi-Float will extend float times as follows:
11-inch latex: 2 Days
16-inch latex: 2 Days
Float time may be reduced significantly in unusually warm, unusually cool, or very humid environments, and at elevations above 2,500 feet.
Float times for orders received by a third party or transported to another location:
There are no float time guarantees for a delivery made to or received by a third party, such as a front desk staff person, doorman, concierge, mail room, or loading dock. There are also no float time guarantee when balloons are moved from the original delivery location to a secondary location.
Once the balloons have been delivered to the designated delivery location, Balloon Planet considers the delivery successfully completed. Because third parties can get involved in transferring, removing, rearranging, or otherwise damaging balloons, any such treatment may diminish float time and balloons may get tangled, separated, misplaced, or otherwise damaged. BalloonPlanet does not accept responsibility for any such damages to an order.
2. GLOSSY VS MATTE FINISH
When latex balloons are first inflated, they will have a glossy surface. Some designs will be both glossy and translucent. This can be a temporary state. By the time they are delivered, or shortly thereafter, this glossy finish may have turned to a matte finish, and the translucent quality may become opaque. These changes are the result of oxidation, which occurs with certain meteorological conditions. This is normal, and there is no practical treatment that can prevent this transformation.
3. COLOR VARIATIONS
Balloon colors may vary under different lighting or from different production runs. We are unable to guarantee precise color matches.
4. DEFECTIVE BALLOONS
In cases where balloons appear defective, Balloon Planet will replace the balloons at no cost if the following conditions are met:
a) Customer advises Balloon Planet of the problem within 3 days of delivery.
b) The defective balloons are on site and available for pick-up when the replacement balloons arrive.
c) The balloons were not transported from their original delivery location.
5. EFFECTS OF ELEVATION, SUNLIGHT, AIR CONDITIONING, AND WIND
Float times will be reduced at higher elevations. The float time in Denver is half the float time in Los Angeles.
On hot days, in direct sunlight, balloons may pop within an hour. The same result can occur indoors if balloons are exposed to direct sunlight through windows.
Very cool environments may cause helium molecules to shrink, reducing the size and float time of balloons.
A constant breeze passing around a balloon will increase the speed at which helium molecules escape through the wall of the balloon, resulting in reduced float time. Keep balloons away from any type of breeze for maximum float time.
6. CEILING PRECAUTIONS
Static and invisible fibers on ceilings can cause balloons to pop. Allow your balloons to remain tied to an anchor for at least five hours before releasing them to the ceiling. This allows the balloons to shrink enough so that the skin becomes thicker and tougher. After five hours, take 2-3 balloons and rake them across the ceiling. If these do not pop, it should be safe to release additional balloons. If they do pop, allow additional time and run the test again.
7. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
A. Do not breathe helium from a balloon. Helium is not toxic nor flammable, but breathing it can result in asphyxiation (loss of consciousness due to insufficient oxygen).
B. Do not release mylar (foil) balloons outdoors. Power failures can result if these balloons become entangled in electric lines.
C. Popped latex balloons present a choking hazard for small children. Do not leave small children unaccompanied with latex balloons.
8. BALLOON SHAPES
Our rubber latex balloons will inflate to a tear-drop shape or a light-bulb shape, determined by the balloon's composition. Some orders will include both shapes. The colors most likely to have a light-bulb shape are those with Metallic, Chrome, and Pearl finishes.
9. RIBBONS
Our helium-filled balloons are each tied with an 8ft ribbon tether which becomes 7ft long once it has been tied to the balloon. The ribbon is 3/16in wide. The degree of curl in the ribbon may vary between orders. Ribbon colors are matched as closely as possible to the balloon colors, but we do not guarantee exact matches. Ribbons may be matt or glossy, depending on inventory available from our local service provider.
10. EXTENDED RIBBON LENGTHS
We offer 12ft ribbon tethers (3/16in wide) for an additional charge. Please contact us for pricing.
11. BALLOON POSITIONS IN A BALLOON BOUQUET
Because balloons usually twist and turn when disturbed or moved, we do not guarantee that they will arrive or remain in a specific formation. However, they can easily be untied from their anchor and re-arranged as desired. Illustrations on bouquet products attempt to show most of the front view of each balloon used in the bouquet. It may not accurately represent how the bouquet will appear in person.
