How much clearance is required around the moonwalk?
Generally you need about 2-3'. Some manufacturers advice 5+' It is important to be sure the moonwalk isnt going to slide or may contact with anything which can cause damage or injury. This goes for the clearance on top of the unit as well. It is a bad idea to have the moonwalk touching any limbs on trees as they can fall and puncher the unit or hurt one of the riders or spectators.
The moonwalk stinks!? What can I do to get rid of that smell?
Unfortunately if an Inflatable is put away without being completely dry meldew and molds will start to go. Prevention is key. If you have to pick up a wet moonwalk be sure to set it up and allow it to dry completely. During cleanings and takedown it is alway good measure to spray a bit of lysol into the envolope of the moonwalk(through the blower tube). If you do have a bad smell you can attempt to blow some baking powder into the moonwalk. This can stop or slow the growth of the mildew and minimize the smell.
There are few different methods you can use to clean your units. A spray botton filled with plain water will get off light dust and dirt. You can also get vinyl cleaning products that are meant for cleaning gym mats. One product that really works well is MaTT Kleen. It is a disinfectant which kills 99.9 percent of germs bacteria and virus's. It is a good idea to do a good disinfecting every couple of weeks when the inflatables are being used regularly. A dirty moonwalk can spead all kinds of nasty stuff. (Think pink eye, Chicken pox, common colds ect ect)
When you first start cleaning you should sweep or vacumm out all of the dirt and debris. Alway test any cleaner on an inside part of the blower tube. DO NOT use clorine based cleaners or bleach to clean.
Each unit is different so you should always check with the manufacturer of the unit to figure out what the units limits are. The size of the people using the unit should also be considered. Generally a 13' units can handle 6-8 riders and 15' units can handle 8-10
How hard is it to handle and clean the water inflatables?
The Slides and Slip n' Slide's are all great performing Inflatables if you operate in an area that gets good and hot in the summer. You can definitely look forward to renting this unit out on a regular basis during the hot months. You should also plan on spending extra time setting up and taking down water inflatables. For most units you will need to allocate about an hour for setup and 1-2 hrs for take down. Taking down the inflatable takes significantly longer because you have to attempt to get as much of the water out of the unit as possible. Using a shammy instead of towels can be very helpful. Generally when picking up you just want to get the unit dry enough to get it back to your storage location. At which time the unit should be completely dried before being store for any period long than 24 hours. Most of these types of units have zippers which allow access to the inside of the unit. This can be very helpful in speeding up the dry time. Remember that when picking up these units they are going to be significantly heavier than they were when you dropped them off. Having 2 people for these pick ups is highly recommended
Generally a 13' x 13' moonwalk will weigh between 175-200 pounds, and a 15' x 15' weighing between 230-275 pounds. Although a unit with an elaborate theme such as a monster truck can be significantly heavier. Slides can weigh well over 1000 pounds, requiring several workers and special equipment to effectively move the units.
You should really look at your options when buying an extension cord. Be sure to think about the fact that this cord is going to be used ALOT. Saving a buck or two is not the smart move. Get the highest quality outdoor cord you can afford. Get a cord that has a GFI built in, and get a variety of 50' and 100' cords. Be sure to get cords that are 12 AWG (When setting up always try and use the shorter cord and don't exceed 100')
A GFIC is a Ground Fault Interupt Circuit. These plugs are found in area's where water is likely to be such as the bathrooms,kitchen and outdoors. The GFIC give an extra level of safety when dealing with electricity in moist or wet conditions. The circuit is designed to "trip" if water is in contact with the circuit. Hopefully tripping before electricution takes place.
Most of the time outdoor plugs are on GFI Circuits. However this is not always the case. Sometimes you need to go through a window to a plug inside. You can get a GFI circuit that plugs in-line to your extension cord. Giving you the protection of a GFI circuit.
How many amps do the blowers use? How big should the fuse be on the customers outlet?
A 1hp blower uses approximately 12.8 Amps on Startup and 10 amps while running. It should be noted that alot of you customers will have a 15 or 20 amp circuit. Be sure that the customer knows not to put any heavy loads on the circuit, Such as a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner as this will most definitely trip the breaker turning off the blower in the process.
Generally you should check the label on your blower to figure out how many watts and amps it uses. You should always figure your renters will inevitably end up using the extra plugs for cotton candy machines, stereo's ect.
A 2500 watt generator is about right for 1 1hp blower and some extras.
Most 5000 watt generators are suitable for 2 - 1 hp blowers and some extras.
What is the general equipment that I will need to run a Moonwalk Rental Company?
You are going to need many different tools. Some are absolutely necessary others are just really helpful to have.
Hammer - A good hammer will be needed to get the stakes in and out of the ground.
Mallot - A mallot can make driving the stakes into the ground a bit easier.
Stakes - These are used to anchor the moonwalk to the ground so it doesn't tip over. Usually these are included when you buy a moonwalk.
Rope - You will end up using this for all sorts of things. From securing stuff in your truck to staking the moonwalk gown.
Dolly/Hand Truck - A good dolly with inflatable wheels is the way to go. The pnuematic (inflatable) wheels make it much easier to roll the heavy moonwalk up curbs and through grass. Be sure to get a dolly that is rated to support the weight of your bouncers.
Tarps - You will use tarps to protect he bottom
Extension Cords
Circuit Tester
Safety Glasses
Generator