Electric fireplace and PTFE?

[mnkeastman]

Hey I was reading my Parrots for Dummies book tonight and it mentioned that space heaters can give off PTFE which would be odorless but toxic to a parrot. I went to the Lowe's website and looked up our electric fireplace on it to see if this was a concern and it doesn't say. I sent in a question to them to see if they could tell me but I wanted to know if any of you use these in your homes.

This is the one I have in my living room with our TV on it http://www.lowes.com/pd_348139-47166-73092_0__?productId=3455832&Ntt=electric+fireplace&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Delectric%2Bfireplace%26page%3D2&facetInfo=

I live in an older home that was built in the 1940's so is small and the heat it had when we moved in was oil that needs to be delivered by truck to use with the units on our wall. I didn't like it and it was really expensive having them come out to fill us up so I purchased this last year.

If I can't use it in the same room as my Pionus then I will just have to place the cage somewhere else but I was hoping to have him in the living room so he would be in a high traffic area. Also, I can always get a filter for the air quality if needed but I wouldn't want the bird sick because of it.

If I can't use it then I will just have to search out some bird friendly heat ideas for us. Not sure what those would be yet though, I know they have heated perches and such for the bird but I mean the people lol.

Maybe I am being to careful but I want to be really prepared for success.

Thanks,
Kim

Edited to add: I called Lowe's and talked with the rep there, she says she has owned Parrots before herself and she looked it up for me. Apparently the PTFE isn't emitted until something reachs like 500 degrees and the heaters are only able to be as high as 125 degrees so it shouldn't be an issue. She said my hair dryer is probably more dangerous than my fireplace.

Still waiting to hear from the bird community though because I want to feel sure.

 

[theskywasgreen]

Hi,

For anyone who stumbles across this article like I did I want to provide some info that I found out.

As far as I am aware or can confirm, the only make of electric fireplace that have confirmed their electric fireplaces don't use PTFE or Teflon or any other chemicals is Duraflame.

Duraflame answered it here on an Amazon QA, and found this article on are electric fireplaces safe for birds very informative and goes into some detail and gives suggestions on PTFE and Teflon free electric fireplaces.

Hope this helps someone out there, it should really be a better known fact that many electric fireplaces have a PTFE coating!!

 

[HeatherG]

If the thermostat in the heaters is working, I think it would be safe to use. The issue with Teflon pans is mostly human error.

 

[SailBoat]

The serious issue with using any electrical device is not its operating temperature, but the flare-up (fast-burn) when (not if) it flakes. With the exception of the one referenced above, they are all very dangerous to not only Parrots, but Humans with lung issues.

If it costs more to heat your home using heating oil than electricity, your burner is very old and needs to be replaced with a new unit. Electrical heating should only be supplemental as it is commonly more expensive /less effective than heating oil.