Helium Or Air? And All The Important Inflation Questions (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between helium and air inflation? ›

While air-filled balloons are generally more durable and cost-effective, they lack the floating capability of helium balloons. On the other hand, helium balloons offer a floating aesthetic but tend to be more expensive and less long-lasting.

Never inhale or allow to be inhaled, helium contained in a balloon, a gas container, or filling equipment even for a short period. Inhalation of helium can cause death or personal injury and may also cause dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, narcosis, nausea, or asphyxiation /suffocation.

Hydrogen is lighter than air but it is flammable and as oxygen is present in the air, so the risk of explosion and fire is there. Helium is lighter than air and it is a non-combustible gas so it used to fill balloons.

Environmental Impact: When helium-filled balloons are released into the environment, they eventually deflate and become litter. The deflated balloons can end up in bodies of water, forests, or other natural habitats, posing a risk to wildlife.

Air-filled latex balloons do not float, however, they have the advantage of generally having a longer life than helium-filled balloons. Air-filled balloons can last several days, even weeks, in the right conditions. Latex balloons are made from pure latex rubber, a natural substance which is biodegradable.

Breathing in pure helium can cause death by asphyxiation in just minutes. Inhaling helium from a pressurized tank can also cause a gas or air embolism, which is a bubble that becomes trapped in a blood vessel, blocking it. The blood vessels can rupture and hemorrhage.

► Exposure to high levels of Helium can cause headache, dizziness, and lightheadedness. to suffocation from lack of Oxygen. ► Contact with liquid Helium can cause frostbite.

Another trick is to partially fill with air and then top up with helium which greatly reduces the amount of helium required to around 5 cubic ft, however this will also reduce the balloons float time and reduce the weight that the balloon can hold should you wish to tie a tassel etc from it.

Helium is lighter than air, so helium-filled balloons can stay afloat effortlessly and for longer periods of time than air-filled balloons. This makes helium balloons an excellent choice if you're planning to have floating balloon decorations for birthday parties or weddings.

Helium is a very light colourless gas that does not burn and thus is non-flammable as it is safe. It is often used to fill objects that float in the air. It is a chemical element of the noble gas group found especially in natural gases.

What floats better than helium? ›

Hydrogen is another gas lighter than air; it's even lighter than helium. Hydrogen, however, is not used in balloons and this demonstration shows why. Helium is a special gas called a Noble Gas, which means it doesn't burn.

Although both gases have lightweight natures, hydrogen offers many benefits over helium. Hydrogen is better if you require a more substantial lift for your balloons as it is lighter than helium. It is also much easier to make than helium, making it the cheaper solution to your balloon needs.

Helium is an inert gas that is not harmful to the environment or to humans. However, asphyxiation can result from its use in an oxygen-poor environment, and liquid helium is cold enough to “burn” human skin.

Although it is the second most abundant element in the universe, helium cannot be manufactured, and once released into the atmosphere is lost for ever. Most of our supplies are extracted from the earth's crust in the US.

Balloon arch helium or air

If the event is only going to last a few hours, then a helium balloon arch can be a great choice as it will float and look impressive. However, if the event lasts several days, then an arch filled with air will be more stable since the helium will quickly leak out.

It turns out that helium is a lot lighter than air. Though the difference is not as great as that between water and air (a liter of water weighs about 1,000 grams, while a liter of air weighs about 1 gram), it is still significant. Helium weighs 0.1785 grams per liter. Nitrogen weighs 1.2506 grams per liter.

All balloons can surely be filled with helium but not all of them will float. So here is your guide on which balloons to choose when it comes to filling them with helium so that you avoid all the unnecessary confusion as to why aren't they working out.

Helium has about 1/7 the density of air, resulting in lower turbulence compared to air. Less friction requires less rigidity in platter thickness, allowing engineers to not only use thinner platters but also fit additional platters within each enclosure—resulting in greater capacity and greater speed.