How to Keep Your Christmas Inflatables from Blowing Away

Decorating the house for Christmas is one of the many milestones of the holiday season. At least four in 10 homeowners put up Christmas lights, hang a wreath on the door or set a Santa figure on the lawn.

Among these festive choices, inflatable Christmas decorations have become increasingly popular due to their eye-catching designs and easy setup.

However, outdoor Christmas decorations face challenges from harsh winter weather. Strong winds, ice, and snow can easily damage or displace lightweight decorations, especially inflatables.

Christmas inflatables are often a considerable investment. Protect that investment and ensure your decorations stay put throughout the season.

Here are a few tips to keep lightweight lawn decorations and inflatables secured throughout the holidays.

Since wind is the biggest threat to inflatable decorations, placement is key. Avoid placing inflatable Christmas decor in wide-open, wind-prone areas. Instead, choose flat ground (rather than a hill or slope) in a more sheltered spot.

Ideally, place your inflatables near natural or man-made windbreaks, such as walls, fences, trees or bushes. These barriers can reduce the impact of wind on your decorations.

Consider the direction of prevailing winds in your area. If strong winds frequently blow from a particular direction, orient your inflatables to minimize exposure.

Ground stakes are an effective way to keep a Christmas inflatable stable. Most inflatable decorations come with tether lines and stakes, but it’s worth investing in additional tie-down stakes for extra security. Ensure the stakes are pounded deeply into the ground to keep them from coming loose during high winds.

If you live someplace where the ground freezes early in the season, set up your inflatables before the ground hardens. Otherwise, you might struggle to get stakes in place.

Secure your inflatable at multiple points, using the tether lines to anchor it. This helps spread the force of strong gusts across several points, reducing the risk of the inflatable tipping over or lifting off.

For added security, consider weighing down your inflatables with sandbags, gravel bags or pool weights. Tie the weight to the inflatable using its tether line or a sturdy rope. This method works especially well for larger Christmas outdoor decorations and in areas where stakes won’t hold the decoration securely.

If you're concerned about aesthetics, try disguising the weights with decorations or covering them with snow.

Another alternative is to tie your inflatable decorations to a secure object, such as a fence post, porch railing or sturdy tree. While inflated, wrap twine or a thin, durable rope around the middle of the decoration. Be sure to wrap the rope at least once around the decoration, ensuring it’s snug but not tight enough to affect its shape or airflow.

The wind isn’t the only thing that can whisk away your outdoor Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, large inflatables are sometimes the target of thieves.

Fasten blow-up Christmas decorations to a secure object with a bicycle lock, chain or heavy-duty cable lock to deter snatch-and-grabs.

Positioning your inflatables near well-lit areas, like under motion-sensor lights or in sight of security cameras, can also help discourage thieves. If possible, keep decorations close to the house to make them harder to reach.

For even more peace of mind, some homeowners use GPS trackers or inexpensive alarms that trigger if the decoration is moved. These security measures can be a great investment for high-value decorations.

While most inflatable outdoor decorations are designed to be weather-resistant, prolonged exposure to snow, freezing rain or extremely high winds can cause wear and tear over time.

If severe weather is forecast, consider deflating your inflatables and storing them temporarily until conditions improve. This can prevent damage from ice buildup or tearing due to high winds.

Regular maintenance can also prolong the life of your inflatables. After storms, check for any damage to the tethers, stakes or to the inflatable itself. Repair any tears with a patch kit.

Gently clear away any snow or ice build-up. Heavy snow can weigh down the inflatable, making it more vulnerable to collapse or tearing.

Inflatable decorations make a fun and whimsical addition to your outdoor Christmas decor. With proper precautions, you can keep them secure, so they brighten your yard year after year.

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