Children will do just about anything just for fun. At home, they can play with toys, video games, or go outside. Whenever children are out, you’re bound to see them running around the street. There are many things that kids can do outside, such as bouncing around in a bounce house.
Bounce houses are typically seen in public places, such as the mall or parks. As time went by, they became widely available to have at home, eliminating the need to go to a different place just to experience a bounce house. However, there’s a reason why bounce houses are often found indoors: the weather.
You can use a bounce house on a summer day, but what about during the winter? With this in mind, this begs the question of whether you can use a bounce house in the cold. In this article, we’ll shed some light on the usage of bounce houses in the winter. Read on below to learn more.
The Obvious Short Answer
The short answer is you can’t use a bounce house in the winter. The only way you can do so is if your home’s indoors are large enough to inflate the bounce house, which it probably isn’t. Technically, though, you can use one—but you shouldn’t risk it.
The Cold Threshold of a Bounce House
In science class, we were taught that molecules are constantly moving around. If an object is warm, the molecules expand. When cold, the object contracts as molecules come together. This scientific tidbit plays a vital role in how bounce houses become bouncy.
A bounce house is made with vinyl, which changes in softness and firmness depending on the temperature. Using a bounce house in cold weather is never a good idea because bounce houses are only ideal for temperatures of 60°F or warmer. If the temperature goes below that (let’s say 50°F), the bounce house will become stiffer.
At 40°F, the vinyl doesn’t just stiffen but also turns more brittle. If someone is bouncing inside, the vinyl may crack, which causes permanent damage to the overall structure. In other words, no child will be comfortable or safe when using a bounce house during the winter.
The Danger of Brittle Vinyl
If a child uses a bounce house in the winter, it’s not just a matter of maintaining its integrity but a safety hazard as well. Let’s say a child uses a bounce house during the cold winter months. Prolonged exposure to cold weather conditions causes the vinyl to turn brittle, and a child may not bounce off. Instead, they might fall through, which can cause injury.
You’re probably thinking of getting a bounce house hire that specializes in colder weather, but we’re here to tell you: no one will take you up on your offer. The safest way for children to use a bounce house in the winter is if it will be erected indoors in a large enough venue. In fact, rental companies are more than happy to do this because not every event organizer gets bounce houses for events in the cold.
If you’re getting a bounce house at home, you’ll need the following:
- Space
- Durable flooring
- Safety mats
- A heavy-duty tarp
Conclusion
You must not use a bounce house outdoors during the winter under any circumstances. If you do, you’re exposing your children and bounce house to unnecessary risks that are otherwise avoidable. There’s no other reason to set up a bounce house in the cold because it can only bring bad things.
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