For the past couple of years or so, you have probably been hearing about or dealing with helium shortages, the rising cost of helium, etc. As a wholesale distributor of balloons for over 14 years, we too have been hearing about it from balloon suppliers and retailers….everyone is quite concerned! Perhaps the following information will help educate you as to what helium actually is, where it comes from & if the shortage is real…
What is Helium and How Is It Used?
Helium is the second lightest element and is the second most abundant element in the observable universe, being present at about 24% of the total elemental mass, which is more than 12 times the mass of all the heavier elements combined. Its abundance is similar to this figure in the Sun and in Jupiter. Large amounts of new helium are being created by nuclear fusion of hydrogen in stars. In 1903, large reserves of helium were found in natural gas fields in parts of the United States, which is by far the largest supplier of the gas today.
Helium is used in cryogenics (its largest single use, absorbing about a quarter of production), particularly in the cooling of superconducting magnets, with the main commercial application being in MRI scanners. Helium's other industrial uses—as a pressurizing and purge gas, as a protective atmosphere for arc welding and in processes such as growing crystals to make silicon wafers—account for half of the gas produced. A well-known but minor use is as a lifting gas in balloons and airships.
Helium is a finite resource and is one of the few elements with escape velocity, meaning that once released into the atmosphere, it escapes into space. Helium is a "remarkable gas," says Michael Harper at Red Orbit, used to make everything from telescopes to MRIs run smoother. And when it's time to unwind, we pump helium into party balloons, or inhale it so we can speak in silly, squeaky voices. The trouble is, we're using so much helium that we're exhausting the world's supply, fast. Is this the end of the party — or, at least, the party balloons?
Where does helium come from?
The limited supplies of helium we have on earth are mostly contained in underground pockets that got dislodged by oil and gas drilling.
What happened to it?
"As you can tell from the distinct lack of majestic blimps in the sky above you," says Eric Limer at Geekosystem, the future many envisioned in the 1920s "never really panned out." So in the 1990s, the U.S. began selling off its helium surplus, "at a relatively low cost, no less, for things like party balloons." If the government sold helium at what would be the market rate, a Cornell professor has estimated, a single party balloon would cost about $100.
Is there any way to get more?
Yes, but it won't be easy. While helium gas is rare on Earth, it's abundant in space. Solar winds are full of helium. So is the soil on the moon — as proven by analyses of lunar dirt brought home by the Apollo astronauts, says University of London professor Ian Crawford. "So you could envisage the day when it becomes economic to build mines on the moon to supply us with helium. It just depends how expensive our own sources become."
Now…For Your Many Other Questions About Helium!
How much helium is needed to fill an 18" foil balloon?
An 18" foil balloon takes .45 cubic feet of helium.
How many 18" foil balloons will a standard helium tank fill?
A standard helium tank holds 291 cubic feet of helium and fills between 450 and 500 18" foil balloons.
How do you fill a helium balloon?
Here’s a step-by-step YouTube video that show you exactly how to use your helium tank to inflate a helium balloon.
For how long will an 18" foil balloon float?
Average float time for an 18" foil balloon is about a week.
How much helium is needed to fill an 11" latex balloon?
An 11" latex balloon takes .5 cubic feet of helium.
For how long will an 11" latex balloon float?
Average float time for an 11" latex balloon is 8-10 hours, unless treated with Super or Ultra HI-FLOAT®.
If I fill a mini foil (4-inch, 9-inch or 14-inch) will it float?
Nope. Foil balloons smaller than an 18-inch will not float with helium. They are intended for air-inflation only. You can purchase mini foils already inflated, or uninflated. Kelli’s offers several choices of these pre-inflated mini-foil balloons. In fact, we sell them by the thousands every year, all filled with air!
If you’re looking for great gift items for your shop that include pre-inflated balloons (remember – no helium needed!) attached to candies and plush for births, get-well, birthdays, along with all the major holidays, be sure to check out your many choices at Kelli’s Gift Shop Suppliers in the Kelliloons™ section.
If you have any questions or would like to become a Kelli’s wholesale customer, you will find all contact information at kellisgifts.com/Contacts.
Contributed by Jan Hirsch
12-year Kelli's veteran, Website Manager & Blogger