Hi, can anyone tell me if those "air purifier" machines are okay to use around pet birds? You know, the ones that don't have filters, they are tall and skinny, and have metal sheets inside that collect dust and such? Ionic Breeze is one type. Thanks for any input - cjzeffer.

I cant help sorry but I havea small one here as you have described and it has been on recall due to fires..


If you have the name put it in a search engine and go to company.. re safety.

I am sure you will get input froom others here.

Generally speaking, any type of "ionizer" is often cited as unhealthy for birds (and many feel that goes for humans too). Purifiers that rely on hepa filters are thought to be much safer. The sum-total of my experience on this is based on various posts I've read on bird forums, and articles that can be found on the web. If you Google something like "ionizer safety", or "ionizer safe for birds", something like that, I think you'll turn something up.

Hepa filter air purifiers (no ionic) is what my AV has suggested.

I have this Hunter model.
QuietFlo 245 Air Purifier
Recommend for Room Size: 14' x 16'
Hunter QuietFlo 245 Air Purifier
It works very well.

Attached Images

hunter.jpg (62.7 KB, 0 views)

Thanks all! You know, I wasn't sure about it, but when I used to use it last summer, I could "smell" it ??? Wierd? Anyway, that was before my birds. Funny how as soon as I got them, I'm nervous if someone even comes over wearing perfume! Thanks again, - that picture looks EXPENSIVE. hehe. But nice.

I got the same one, QuietFlo 245 air purifier, in my bird room. I've been wondering about the smell myself. I also have another quietflo air purifier with ionizer but i haven't use the ionizer yet, this is in my room where my new eclectus is going to be for his quaratine period.

Don't use it! That's what I've always been told. I have a Hunter model with an ionizer button, but it's always off.

I've read about ionizers, which I used for years, on the air cleaners. The information coming back lately is that it's not good. The amount of ozone that the unit produces varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. They have found through research that humans who suffer from allergies do not do well with ionizers producing ozone. It actually causes asthma sufferers to become worse. I decided around 5 years ago to quit using the ionizer on my air filter (it's a button).

It might be that you can smell it, but I imagine it's more that you aren't smelling much of anything at all. The ions that are produced stick to the tiny particles in the air and then stick to solid surfaces like your carpets, floors, furniture, etc. That includes the tiny particles that we end up smelling when we walk into a room. It's also what makes the ionizers so popular, as they do tend to kill all the bad odors by taking them out of the air.

The speculation that I read about is that because the negative ions grab onto particles and then sink to the nearest surface, they could provide a danger to a birds sensitive respiratory system. They talked about the ion and particle possibly entering the birds lungs and air sacs and causing a problem. I don't know if there is any truth to this, but that is what I read. I'm going to go look for that article now, so that everyone can read it if they choose.

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I'm having a difficult time finding the article, it's not where I thought it was so I'll keep looking

Also, breathing in small quantities of ozone is not really bad for you, but it's very difficult to monitor exactly how much is given off of these home units.