What brand of air purifier do you have? What do you like/dislike about it? I'm getting ready to purchase 1 or 2 - and there's so many different ones out there - so just curious what everyone's experience with different brands are.

I have never used one but here is a good link for infor.

http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/austinair/index.html

Right now I have two of the HEPA based air purifiers. The filters need to be replaced and are quite costly.

When I purchase again, I will be getting the Oreck which has a permanent lifetime filter. They're definitely more expensive initially than a HEPA purifier, but not having to buy filters will justify the cost in no time at all.

Edited to add: I haven't been able to find any research done about the Orecks as to their bird safety, but I have read that a lot of big aviaries use them.

I started out with an Oreck air purifier but now have an Austin Air HEPA air cleaner. I feel that the HEPA works better at collecting the dust my CAG puts out.
The problem I had with the Oreck is that when a tiny little feather passes through the first filter and attaches itself to the electrostatic filter it makes a snapping sound as it touches both surfaces so I would be washing the thing out every other day. It got to be very annoying. Oreck offered to clean the lifetime filter for me at a price tag of $45.00.

Just my opinion.

I wouldn't like that either. I would think that snapping sound would scare the birds.

I am happy with the birdie dander that my HEPA filters are able to collect also. I just wanted to get away from buying the filters.

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the Austin Air HEPA air cleaner? Do you have to buy replacement filters for that brand?

Hi Karen! It was expensive, around $280.00 if I remember correctly, it's the Healthmate Jr. I got it new off E-Bay. And yes, unfortunately the HEPA filter needs to be replaced about every 5 years and I think the filter is over $100. It's also pretty quiet which was important to me as well because it's in our living room with the FIDS.

The filter is expensive - but when you compare that it's supposed to last for 5 yrs. instead of being replaced every year like a lot of others - it's actually cheaper. (at least I think most other brands say to replace every the filter every year.)

So I wonder if all permanent type filters would have a problem with feathers getting stuck? I've noticed theres a few of the Honeywell purifiers that now have permanent filters that you just clean and vacuum out instead of replacing. I wonder if they're really as good as the other type of filters?