If you want to save money on helium costs without sacrificing the magical float times of your DIY balloon studio creations, using a 60/40 helium-to-air mixture is a popular industry secret.
However, mixing gases changes how your balloons behave. Here is everything you need to know about successfully using HI-FLOAT when filling balloons with a 60/40 mix!
Why Use a 60/40 Mix?
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Cost Efficiency: Helium is expensive! A 60/40 inflator mixes 60% helium with 40% regular air, drastically stretching your helium tank and lowering your production costs per arrangement.
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The Catch: Because air is heavier and does not provide as much lifting power as pure helium, a 60/40 mix reduces the overall buoyancy (lift) of the balloon. When you add HI-FLOAT—which adds a tiny bit of weight from the liquid solution—that balance becomes even more critical.
Best Practices for HI-FLOAT with 60/40 Blends
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Do Not Over-Pump: Because lift is limited with a 60/40 mix, strictly use the correct color-coded restriction clip for your balloon size. Pumping too much HI-FLOAT will make the balloon too heavy to lift itself!
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Watch Your Balloon Size: 60/40 mixtures work best in standard 11-inch (or larger) latex balloons. Avoid trying to use a 60/40 mix on smaller 9-inch balloons treated with HI-FLOAT, as they won't have enough surface area or lift capacity to stay afloat.
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Test Before the Event: Always test-inflate a single balloon with your specific 60/40 mix and HI-FLOAT treatment to ensure it floats upright and strong before you build an entire bouquet or arch.
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Use High-Quality Latex: Cheap, thin latex balloons combined with a 60/40 mix and heavy liquid will often fail. Stick to professional-grade brands (like Qualatex, Tuftex, or Sempertex) to ensure maximum stretch and strength.
Using a 60/40 gas ratio is a fantastic way to maximize your profit margins on helium-filled arrangements, provided you balance your HI-FLOAT dosage and stick to proper sizing guidelines.