One of our biggest concern before setting up our bounce house outside was making sure it was securely tied down. We have had several balls, balloons and frisbees end up in our neighbor’s yard and this is one toy we wanted to keep safely in our back yard before we allowed any of our kids to play in it! We did a lot of research to make sure this would never be a concern.
The best way to secure your bounce house is with long metal stakes hammered correctly and completely into grass or dirt. When set-up on cement or asphalt is necessary, sandbags of the appropriate weight are your best option to anchor your bounce house or inflatable obstacle course.
At first glance I thought that was rather simple, however, the more I researched the more I learned about all the different types of stakes and accessories for sandbags created to help secure your bounce house just right. I was surprised to learn that the stakes that came with your bounce house are not always the best option and taking a minute to find better options are well worth the effort to keep your children safe. The tie downs that came with our first bounce house were definitely not the safest.
Most reliable Tie Down Option:
Though there are several kinds of stakes and options for tying down your bounce house, the most reliable option is a long, strong metal stake made out of a durable material such as steel. A 30-40 inch stake is a good length to hold down your inflatable. If a stake like this is correctly installed at every corner and tie down station on your bounce house there should not be any problems. Before using a stake of this length into the ground it may be necessary, depending upon your location, to have local gas, power or cable lines located so you do not hit one by accident when anchoring your bounce house. Make sure the stakes are pounded down at a 45-degree angle into firm solid ground with the rope stretched taut so the inflatable does not fall over. The ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) says that there should never be more than one rope tie-down connected to a single anchor in the ground at any given time. They also require that any rope or tethers used for additional tie downs should be sufficiently strong enough to hold the structure with the recommended size of “½ solid-braided polypropylene with a tensile strength of 3700 or370 lb test rated”. Once the stakes are anchored into the ground make sure that they are pounded flat with the ground when possible. If they stick out at all make sure to cover with a sandbag or some kind of construction cone to prevent someone from tripping over it while they are running around the bounce house. Always try to pound the stake down at least 70% of the way down. Our first bounce house came with short plastic stakes that we did not trust to use in our yard with our children on it. Keep in mind that your inflatable toy may seem heavy but it is essentially a huge balloon waiting for lift-off with a strong gust of wind. Tying it down properly can make all the difference for your backyard fun and safety.
How to Secure a Bounce House on Cement of Asphalt:
Although grass and dirt are your best options to put your bounce house on, sometimes that is not a possibility. If you must put your bounce house on cement or asphalt, the best tie downs are sandbags. There is a variety of options of sandbags to fill for inflatables with a double D loop connected securely to the sandbag for you to tie to the inflatable connector. Be sure to check your manual for your specific bounce house to ensure the exact amount of weight needed for your inflatable at each tie down point. The standard weight for most inflatables is 75 pounds at each tie-down location. This weight will often mean using more than one sandbag at each anchor point. Make sure that each one is tied together securely through the D loops at the top. Though we have seen water bags or gallon buckets used, sandbags are the recommended use when stakes are not possible. If you are setting up a bounce house or inflatable at a reoccurring site and do not mind a hole in your asphalt, some people have drilled holes and secured permanent tie-down spots in the asphalt. Always remember to put a tarp under your bounce house before tying down the inflatable. This is especially necessary on cement or asphalt where the constant friction between the rough surface and the inflatable can quickly wear down the material.
Are stakes and sandbags the ONLY options?
Though these two are by far the most recommended, the water bags mentioned above are allowed, Additionally, weights from a work out system or water barrels at each anchor point. However, never use concrete or cement blocks or rough landscape rocks as these can easily wear down the material of your inflatable.
We have also heard of people tying tethers to large trees or other secure foundations in the area. While these are not recommended as the sole anchor, they can be used for additional security when they are available. If there is not a secure foundation around, some people have tied the tethers to a truck or vehicle. This is NOT recommended and can be very dangerous if someone is to accidentally drive off and take the inflatable with them along with the children inside.
Do Bounce Houses need to be tied down inside?
There are many variables to this situation. If you are setting up an inflatable indoors in a large gym or recreational room for multiple children to use than you should absolutely always use sandbags to anchor the inflatable. Similar to anchoring on asphalt, make sure there is the proper weight or sandbags on each anchor point.
However, the idea of lugging in sandbags from your garage to your basement floor on the carpet for your two children to use a small bounce seems a little silly. From my experience with a small bounce house indoors, it did not take the kids very long to explore the game possibilities when lifting the bounce house off the ground. This quickly became a problem and caused one of them to get hurt. If you are using a bounce house indoors for personal use and do not want to lug in sandbags inside or make an obstacle course of anchor ropes connected to furniture around your basement, then I would definitely establish a firm rule to never allow never lifting the inflatable off the ground.
Related Questions:
Where can I purchase sandbags as anchors for my bounce house?
Sandbags used to be available at local stores such as Walmart, but your best bet for a larger selection would be to buy them online. Amazon has a few to choose from. Here are two additional options for you to consider. Click on the image to
When shopping for sandbags for your inflatable, make sure that they come with the D rings securely attached so that you can connect them easily to your bounce house tie downs.
Where can I buy stakes for my bounce house?
Stakes for your bounce house are commonly available at most hardware stores.