Do You Need a Balloon Pump to Inflate Balloons?
Balloons are fun, colourful, and can even be classy. They exude celebration vibes and make for cost-efficient and easy decorating. Not so many years ago, we used to blow up latex balloons with our mouths without even thinking about it. Now, we know a little bit more about the dangers of latex, especially for people with allergies. In addition to the latex construction, chemicals are added to give balloons their desired strength and stretch.
Balloons are now being sold with the warning ‘Use pump, not mouth’ as a standard precaution. Aside from the fact that the materials were not designed to be in our mouths, balloons with confetti are also a choking hazard. Using a pump gets the job done faster and safer and allows you to control the inflation size. It also won’t leave you dizzy and breathless.
Types of Balloon Inflators
The type of balloons, size of the balloons, and the number of balloons you inflate will help determine which balloon pump is most suitable. You can either use a manual pump or an electric balloon pump.
Manual Balloon Pumps
A manual balloon pump or hand inflator only inflates one balloon at a time. The open end of the balloon is pulled over the front tip or nozzle of the pump. You simply push the handle back and forth to pump air into the balloon.
An advantage of using this type of inflation is that you can count how many times you need to pump to get the balloon to the size you want. You can then ensure all the balloons are a consistent size, which is especially handy when creating centrepieces or a balloon arch.
Manual pumps can be single or double-action pumps. A single-action pump pushes air into the balloon in one direction only. This will take slightly longer than a double-action pump, which releases air into the balloon both on the push and pull action of the pump.
Electric Balloon Pumps
An electric balloon pump or balloon compressor is the ideal way to inflate a lot of balloons. It makes a tiring and tedious job effortless. Electric balloon pumps generally have different settings, and it only takes 2 seconds to blow up an 11-inch balloon. Some models allow you to blow up more than one balloon at a time. Party decorating has never been so efficient!
Which Balloon Pump Is Better?
Other factors that will determine which balloon pump will be best are your budget, how often you need to inflate balloons, and how many balloons you inflate at a time. Electric balloon pumps are pricey. If you’re catering for parties or even planning a wedding or large event where balloons are going to form a significant part of the décor, there is no doubt that an electric model is the best choice.
There are a few more benefits to having a balloon pump that you may not have considered. They can be used to easily pump up pool inflatables, beach balls, inflatable mattresses, and other inflatable furniture in a flash.
Regardless of which pump you choose, the bottom line is that you should always use a pump to inflate balloons. It’s healthier and less hazardous, plus it makes party prep much easier and faster.