Giant Helium Balloons

The balloon is the easy part. Helium is the part people have never dealt with before, so here is all of it in one place.

Buy it locally, from a gas supplier

Search for a **welding-gas** or **industrial-gas** supplier in your city. Every metropolitan area has several, and they are entirely used to small accounts that return monthly.

Do not order helium online. Do not use party-balloon helium in small disposable canisters; the volumes are wrong and the cost per cubic foot is far higher.

Expect roughly $300 for a 200 cubic foot cylinder, about $1.50 per cubic foot.

Ask about cylinder rental

This is the cost people forget. Most suppliers charge separately for the **gas** and for **renting the cylinder** it comes in, usually monthly or annually.

Ask about it on the first call. Some suppliers waive or reduce it for regular accounts, and some will sell you a cylinder outright, which pays back if you are a long-term user.

It is not a large sum. It is just an unpleasant surprise on a second invoice.

How much each balloon takes

Balloon	Fill from empty	Cost per fill	Roughly
5.5 foot sphere	about 87 cf	about $130	2 months on one tank
13 foot blimp	about 170 cf	about $255	most of one tank

Handling a cylinder

Helium is inert and non-flammable, so the risk is not fire. The risks are physical: a full cylinder is heavy, and a cylinder that falls and snaps its valve becomes dangerous very quickly.

Keep it upright, keep it secured with a chain or strap, and keep the cap on when it is not in use. Fill outdoors or in a well-ventilated space.

Your supplier will run through this when you open the account. Let them, even if it feels obvious.

Topping off

You lose about one percent a day. The balloon does not fail suddenly; it softens and rides lower on the tether.

Use that as your gauge rather than a calendar, and judge it in the warm part of the day. Cold makes gas contract, so a winter morning balloon looks softer than it is.

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