Okay, so I needed a bunch of balloons for my kid’s birthday party, way more than those little disposable tanks could handle. Those things are kind of a joke anyway, barely fill anything. I remembered someone mentioning you could rent actual helium tanks, like the big boys. Party City popped into my head.
Figuring it Out
First step, I checked online – not their website, just a quick search to confirm they actually do rent tanks. Looked like they did. So, I hopped in the car and drove over to the nearest Party City. Didn’t bother calling ahead, figured I’d just see what the deal was when I got there.
Going to the Store and Renting
Walked in, kind of wandered around looking for someone who wasn’t busy with streamers. Found an employee near the registers and just asked, “Hey, do you guys rent out helium tanks?”
They pointed me towards a service counter, usually the same place you order balloons. There was a bit of a line, typical Party City on a weekend, you know? When it was my turn, I told the person I needed helium for about 50 balloons.
They showed me the different tank sizes they had. Honestly, they look pretty industrial. Not super complicated, though. There was like a small, medium, and large, basically. They told me roughly how many balloons each size would fill. I went with the medium one, seemed about right.
Here’s the process breakdown:
- You pick the tank size.
- You pay the rental fee. It wasn’t crazy expensive, but definitely more than the throwaway ones.
- You also have to pay a deposit. This was pretty hefty, makes sense I guess, they want their tank back. They put it on my credit card.
- They make you sign a rental agreement. Usual stuff, don’t damage it, bring it back on time, etc.
- They give you a quick rundown on how to use the nozzle, open the valve, safety stuff. Pretty straightforward, just turn the knob slowly.
They also gave me the regulator nozzle thingy you need to actually fill the balloons. Make sure you get that!
Getting it Home and Using It
Okay, lifting the tank wasn’t fun. It’s solid metal and full of gas, so it’s got some weight. Managed to get it onto one of their carts and wheeled it out to my car. Had to be careful putting it in the trunk, made sure it wouldn’t roll around while driving. Strapped it in with a bungee cord I had.
Got it home, lugged it inside. Setting it up was easy. Just screw on the nozzle they gave me, make sure the main valve on the tank is closed first. Then, when ready, slowly turn the big valve handle on top. Put a balloon on the nozzle, bend the nozzle, and pssssh! Helium. Filled up all 50 balloons no problem, probably could have done more. Way faster and easier than messing with multiple tiny cans.
Returning the Tank
Party was a success, balloons everywhere. A few days later, it was time to return the tank. First, I made absolutely sure the main valve on top was cranked shut. Didn’t want any leaks. Then came the fun part of hauling it back into the car. Same deal, secured it so it wouldn’t become a missile if I had to brake hard.
Drove back to Party City. Wheeled the tank back inside, straight to the same counter. Told them I was returning the helium tank. They checked it over real quick, probably just to make sure it wasn’t obviously damaged. Then they processed the return.
They credited the deposit back to my card. The person said it might take a few days to show up, which it did. Got my receipt and that was that.
Was it Worth It?
Yeah, definitely. For a large number of balloons, it’s way better than the disposable tanks. Less waste, more reliable pressure, fills way more. Just be prepared for the deposit and the hassle of transporting a heavy metal tank twice. But overall, a pretty smooth process at Party City.