Balloon FAQs
At Quality Cake Company, we pride ourselves on our range of balloons and the services we offer. We have created these FAQs to help you understand more about balloons and which ones to choose.
How long will my balloons last?
Latex or traditional balloons – helium-filled
- These should last approx 8-10 hours, so will need to be collected as close to the party time as possible.
Foil balloons – helium-filled
- Foil balloons are made of metallic material and are less porous than latex, so will last about 2-3 days fully inflated.
- You may find that some of our balloons will stay afloat for weeks!
Air-filled balloons
- Air-filled balloons can last a lot longer than helium (air particles are large than helium, which means they don’t escape from the balloon as quickly – it’s all science!) and can last over 2 weeks or longer if they are looked after.
The cold will also affect the life of helium, so make sure balloons are kept at room temperature.
This only applies to balloons used indoors. If balloons are used outdoors then the temperatures can affect balloons significantly.
Do you inflate balloons purchased elsewhere?
No, there is a global helium shortage and at this time, with prices soaring and demand outstripping supply, we can only inflate helium balloons purchased in-store.
Can I release balloons?
DO NOT RELEASE BALLOONS INTO THE AIR
We do not sell any balloons that you plan to release. We understand that this is a nice gesture, however, you do not know where they will land and the damage it may cause to the environment or animals. There are other ways to mark the occasion:
- blow bubbles
- plant a tree
- spend time with loved ones
Please dispose of your balloons sensibly in household waste.
What is included in the price?
All of our balloons are priced including the helium, a string and a plain white weight.
We pride ourselves on adding a personal touch to every balloon that leaves our shop. So, we add extra ribbon and like to offer upgrades to the weights.
How do I store/keep/transport my balloon?
We can pack your balloons in a bag before you leave the shop for easier transportation. Or feel free to bring something large with you, if you wish.
Latex balloons and some of the Bubble and Orbz balloons are particularly delicate, so you need to be careful with them and avoid sharp objects.
Remember to store your balloons at room temperature, as helium is affected by cold temperatures.
Never float or store your helium balloon by a heat source e.g. a light, as they could burst.
Keep balloons away from children and never leave them unsupervised with a balloon.
How do I get the confetti to stick to the balloon?
Confetti balloons are a great way to add a touch of glamour to your party or event. But it can be a bit tricky to get the confetti to stick around the balloon.
The best trick is to rub the balloon to get the static electricity charged and then move the confetti to the charged areas.
Balloon Terms & Conditions
Balloon Payment
Bookings (over £50) must be secured with a £5 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking to secure the event date. Full payment is due at least 2 weeks before the event date.
Balloon Guidance & Information
Balloon sizes
The noted dimensions of foil balloons are their size uninflated, as designated by manufacturers. A foil balloon with a noted size of 18 inches will be closer to 13 inches once inflated. This discrepancy is not as significant with larger foil balloons. For example, a 28-inch foil would typically be 24 inches at the widest point after inflation.
The dimensions of latex balloons are their inflated size. (For example, an 11-inch latex balloon has an 11-inch diameter at the widest point and is usually inflated within an inch of the stated overall size to maximise balloon wall thickness).
Safety caution note
Please remember it is not safe for children to be left unattended with balloons.
Foil and latex balloons with/without ribbons/valves attached must NEVER be released outdoors. Foil balloons can cause damage to electricity lines if they come into contact with them.
Please help protect the environment: AT THE END OF THEIR USE, ALL BALLOONS MUST BE DEFLATED AND DISPOSED OF RESPONSIBLY & RESPECTFULLY WITH YOUR RECYCLING SERVICE.
Balloon Collection, Transportation, Storage and Delivery
Receiving your order
Once your balloon order has been handed over to you or your nominated recipient and/or venue, we are no longer responsible and the risk transfers to you.
Where balloons are provided in bags, they must be removed from the bags immediately, leaving in the bags can significantly reduce float time.
Storage Information
Both heat and cold affect the float time and lifespan of a balloon. We accept no responsibility for balloons which are affected by temperature. We will always endeavour to place balloons in a position where they will not be affected; it is your responsibility to check your venue for this to see if your decorations may be affected.
We accept no responsibility for any decorations which may burst or deflate due to being moved or interfered with by anyone after we have completed set up and left the venue.
Subject to below, all balloons supplied on “date of event” are intended to last for that event unless otherwise agreed and clearly stated on your order details.
Balloon life
Foil balloons filled with helium will normally float for about 7 days. However, in cold temperatures, the helium may cause the balloon to appear deflated but after re-entering into a warmer climate the helium expands, and the balloon will be inflated once again.
Latex balloons with helium will only float for an average time of 12 – 14 hours after inflation. If you wish for extended float time for latex balloons, please state this at the time of booking. The hi-float gel will need to be added to each individual balloon at an additional cost.
Weights
We use water / heavy weights to weigh down our balloon displays. The weights are secure but may cause damage if not handled correctly, we accept no liability for any damage caused.
Substitution Policy
From time to time certain balloons and accessories may become obsolete, which is out of our control; however, we will do our best to select replacement products to reflect the original design specifications as closely as possible. We reserve the right to replace items with component parts of equal or better quality without consultation.
Changes to your balloon order
- To change your order – we need at least 48 hours’ notice, and this may incur additional charges.
- To postpone your order – we need at least 48 hours’ notice, we can do this free of charge within 12 months of the original event date.
- To cancel your order – If you no longer require your order, the payment terms stated above apply and the below terms are applicable:
- More than 48 hours’ notice – Refunds are at our discretion depending on work carried out to date and retention of your booking fee.
- Less than 48 hours – Refunds are not possible as we will have assembled your balloon display.
Comments and Complaints
Complaints are extremely rare so most require further investigation and a refund may not be possible. Balloons are perishable goods; Quality Cake Company cannot return unwanted balloons. In the unlikely event of a product defect, the customer must inform Quality Cake Company within 24 hours from receipt of the balloon(s) for us to investigate further.