Air purifier

[Jerseyjeff62]

I go this (attached) and I hope it's okay for Gracie. I have her in my living room and this on the table closest to her....has anyone used it

 

[Piasa]

Hey Jeff,

Ionizers are potentially dangerous to parrots (and even people) for 2 reasons.

One, they produce ozone as a byproduct, even models that advertise minimal to no ozone emissions still produce some amount of ozone as it is part of the ionization process.

Two, the negative charge created by ionization makes dust particles stick together and become heavy, this is how it cleans the air. However, if these particles get breathed in, they will also stick to the sides of the lungs.

From the research I did when looking for my own air purifier, the models I found that are HEPA only with no ionization were IQ and Austin Air (I bought an Austin), also the Rabbit BiOS (but not the Minus, it still releases some ozone I found out). These are all high end models. I hear some lower end Honeywell and others may not have an ionizer, but I haven't personally looked into them.

Lots of companies, even high end ones advertise no ozone but they still release it (Blue is one of them).

 

[KitasDante]

I use a honeywell air purifier. Works great. I got the round cream colored one - although I must say not good for small rooms gives off a "charcoal" like smell but once I moved and its in a bigger place haven't had that smell since.

 

[Allee]

Hey Jeff,

Ionizers are potentially dangerous to parrots (and even people) for 2 reasons.

One, they produce ozone as a byproduct, even models that advertise minimal to no ozone emissions still produce some amount of ozone as it is part of the ionization process.

Two, the negative charge created by ionization makes dust particles stick together and become heavy, this is how it cleans the air. However, if these particles get breathed in, they will also stick to the sides of the lungs.

From the research I did when looking for my own air purifier, the models I found that are HEPA only with no ionization were IQ and Austin Air (I bought an Austin), also the Rabbit BiOS (but not the Minus, it still releases some ozone I found out). These are all high end models. I hear some lower end Honeywell and others may not have an ionizer, but I haven't personally looked into them.

Lots of companies, even high end ones advertise no ozone but they still release it (Blue is one of them).

Thank you, Piasa! Great information!

 

[Jerseyjeff62]

Is this one better

 

[Piasa]

Hey Jeff,

You can contact the company and ask if the purifier you are looking at has an ionizer or just a HEPA filter. If it does not have an ionizer and worked with HEPA filter only, it should be safe.

 

[Jerseyjeff62]

Hey Jeff,

You can contact the company and ask if the purifier you are looking at has an ionizer or just a HEPA filter. If it does not have an ionizer and worked with HEPA filter only, it should be safe.

No I checked before I got this one ...no ionizer.but how can they sell something which is dangerous to your or your animals Heath ?

 

[Piasa]

It's just the way of the world. The systems in place to regulate safety of merchandise don't have the resources or clout to take on everything, just the most egregious.

Warning labels on products only happen after a ballot initiative or after a company is taken to court and loses. For example, California Proposition 65 is a warning label they put on plastics and brass that contain lead. You see it all the time on drinking water plumbing fittings, Christmas lights, electrical tape, etc. No amount of lead is safe to ingest, but all these things are still sold.

Here are the warnings the EPA and State of California's EPA give about ionizers and ozone:

www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/ozone-generators-are-sold-air-cleaners
Hazardous Ozone-Generating "Air Purifiers"

 

[jibbs1977]

Ive just bought this one it is one of best on market take a look NaturoPure HF380 Blue NaturoPureTM Multiple Technologies Intelligent Air Purifier HF380 | Appliances Direct

 

[ZephyrFly]

That has an negative ion phase too. Is it safe if the ioniser can be turned off?

 

[Jerseyjeff62]

How close to your bird cage do you keep the unit?

 

[Piasa]

I don't know if there is any "right" way to position the purifier, I think so long as it's running in a space under its max capacity, the birds will benefit.

The purifier I have is on the floor and about 2 feet from my pionus' cage (the dustier of my two birds) and maybe 6 feet away from my conure's cage. Both of their cages are about 3 feet off the floor. I have the blowing fresh air directed parallel to the side of their cage so they aren't in the draft.

 

[Jerseyjeff62]

I have it about 6 feet away and a chair in between it and the cage