Almost nothing fails for the reason people expect. Here is what actually comes back to us.
First: wind
By a very wide margin. Not a puncture, not a seam. The balloon was left up in weather it should not have been left up in.
Above about 25 mph the loads on the tether and the tether patch climb quickly, and something gives. Weather loss is not covered by our warranty or anybody else’s, because it is entirely a decision rather than a defect.
Second: the tether patch
Where the line attaches is where all the load concentrates. On a well-built balloon it is reinforced; on a cheap one it is a patch stuck to the skin.
When you inspect a balloon before buying, look here first and at nothing else. It predicts the rest of the build.
Third: storage
Put away damp, folded on the same lines every time, or stored somewhere that reaches attic temperatures.
Dry it before it goes in the box, and do not fold it identically every time. Two minutes of care, and it is the difference between years and seasons.
Last, and rarely: punctures
Genuinely uncommon, because the balloon spends its life at 120 feet where there is nothing to hit. Most punctures happen on the ground, during filling or packing.
And they are the easiest thing to fix. A puncture is a repair; a wind loss is a replacement.
Ask for a quote. Call 1-800-791-1445 or email sales@arizonaballoon.com and tell us the size and whether you want it printed.
More at arizonaballoon.com.