Around 40 of our balloons fly weekly in greater Phoenix. Arizona is where we learned most of what we know about keeping them in the air.
Monsoon season is the real test
From roughly July to September, Phoenix storms arrive fast and hit hard. That is when balloons get lost, and it is entirely avoidable.
The rule does not change: winds over 25 miles per hour in the forecast means bring it in. In monsoon season that means checking the forecast every day rather than every week, and being willing to take it down mid-afternoon.
Every serious loss we have seen in Arizona traces back to somebody deciding to ride out a forecast.
Summer heat and sun
Phoenix supplies about as much ultraviolet light as anywhere in the country, and ultraviolet is what ages an advertising balloon.
Cheap balloons are PVC, which goes brittle in sun and keeps every fold crease. Ours are polyurethane, which stays flexible and tolerates UV far better. That difference is why customers here are still flying the same balloon many years on.
Heat itself is not a problem for the material. It does affect lift slightly, which matters more for indoor shows than for a tethered outdoor install.
Buying helium in the valley
Use a local welding-gas or industrial-gas supplier. Phoenix has plenty and they are used to accounts that return monthly. Expect about $300 for a 200 cubic foot tank, roughly $1.50 per cubic foot.
A blimp fills with about 170 cubic feet, around $255, then costs roughly $2.50 a day in top-offs. A sphere fills with about 87 cf and one tank runs it around two months.
Ask about cylinder rental terms while you are there. That is the cost people forget.
Ask for a quote. Call 1-800-791-1445 or email [email protected] and tell us the size and whether you want it printed.
More at advertisingballoonsusa.com.