Air Purifiers

**♥Brittany** · 08-17-2009, 01:03 AM

OK, it's pretty simple, i need an air purifier. I can't decide which one to get because i'm not sure if certain ones are bad for birds or not and which one is the best.
I'm hoping some of you can help me out

.
I was looking at this one - http://www.amazon.com/Alen-T300-HEPA...f=pd_sim_hpc_3

It seems like it would do the job and it's not terribly expensive. I need a good one, that doesn't need the filters replaced too often because i forget about those things (like my air conditioner). It will be going in the bird room so it needs to be bird safe.

So, any opinions?

**Joe____17** · 08-17-2009, 01:10 AM

Well if its cleaning the air i cant see why it would be bad for birds. I have one bird in my room and i have a purifier and it works wonders. I got one with a permanent filter, meaning i dont have to buy filters i just clean the one it came with. If you get one of those let us know how well it works. Im thinking about getting a bigger one.

**♥Brittany** · 08-17-2009, 01:43 AM

Well i heard that there is a certain type of air purifier that can be harmful to birds, but i'm not sure which kind it is.

**Limpyduckling** · 08-17-2009, 02:00 AM

i have a honeywell one works fine. just don' t ge t on that has ions

**Little Cricket** · 08-17-2009, 04:08 AM

I am -pretty- sure that it's ones that ionize the air that are bad, which that one does. I'm not really sure though, I would research it.

**♥Brittany** · 08-17-2009, 05:03 AM

Ok, i've been researching them and I read in another bird forum that the Ionizers are OK but Ozones are not. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone

So i think that one should be good.

**notredamebird** · 08-17-2009, 07:57 AM

I am pretty sure ionizers create ozone as a byproduct. This makes air seem fresher, but it isn't the best method of cleaning, and the EPA and Consumer Reports both advice against exposure to higher-than-normal levels of ozone.

You are better off picking a high-quality unit that relies on a HEPA filter. How good a unit you need depends a bit on how bad your allergies are.

The most economical decent air purifier is made by Honeywell:

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-5025...0520854&sr=8-1

Pricier but very good air purifiers include the Rabbit Air Purifiers:

http://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-Air-Bio...0520881&sr=8-1

And Austin air purifiers:

http://www.amazon.com/Austin-Air-HM4...0520923&sr=8-1

There are some units that cost several hundred too, if you really need something top of the line.

**Mythara** · 08-17-2009, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by notredamebird

I am pretty sure ionizers create ozone as a byproduct. This makes air seem fresher, but it isn't the best method of cleaning, and the EPA and Consumer Reports both advice against exposure to higher-than-normal levels of ozone.

You are better off picking a high-quality unit that relies on a HEPA filter. How good a unit you need depends a bit on how bad your allergies are.

The most economical decent air purifier is made by Honeywell:

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-5025...0520854&sr=8-1

I'm really glad to see you post this one. We'd already chosen this one as the best one we can get here, and I was going to ask if it was bird-safe. I've been having the same problems with allergies, with all six of our birds moulting at once just now.

**♥Brittany** · 08-17-2009, 08:50 AM

Well this air purifier has:

HEPA filter with UV lamp for bacteria removal
Built-in ionizer that minimizes pollutants and produces no ozone

So i would think it is safe right?

Edit:: I found this air purifier just now, looks pretty good to me and it was featured in Bird Talk magazine

- http://www.rabbitair.com/index.asp?P...WPROD&ProdID=3

**Limpyduckling** · 08-17-2009, 11:24 AM

I have read that the ones with the ionizers will kill your birds.
I have a honeywell that has a hepa filter and use it with my birds and it is safe. I've used it over a year. I'm on another bird site and they recomended the honeywell type

**notredamebird** · 08-17-2009, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mythara

I'm really glad to see you post this one. We'd already chosen this one as the best one we can get here, and I was going to ask if it was bird-safe. I've been having the same problems with allergies, with all six of our birds moulting at once just now.

We have one and it seems to be working well. I wanted to get one of the Rabbit Air or the Austin air machines, but I just didn't have that much extra cash available at one time. So we tried the Honeywell and it seems to have helped keep the bird dander and dust (from my books) under control. It's not gone, but it is a bit cleaner around in the room where the cockatiels live. If I bought a second I think I could cover the air in the whole apartment at least reasonably well.

The only qualification I'd make is that none of us have severe allergies, so I'm not as tuned into how well it works for someone with more specific needs. Also, it is an electricity guzzler compared to the efficient rabbit air. It is also noiser than the rabbit machine. It makes a loud, continuous "whoosh" noise, especially on high.

**notredamebird** · 08-17-2009, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Tikigurl

Well this air purifier has:

So i would think it is safe right?

I'd still avoid the ionier, if for no other reason than the fact that ioniers won't do you as much good as a really good filtration system. I don't really understand how it all works, but I understand that ioniers make particles stick together, but it doesn't necessary remove them from the room -- they tend to stick to surfaces in the room, which means they end up airborne again in the future.

I guess some machines collect these particles somehow -- but most of the third party literature stresses that a good HEPA filter is the best.

**♥Brittany** · 08-17-2009, 02:50 PM

I think i'm going to go with the Rabbit Air one. It's exactly what i was looking for.

**Little Cricket** · 08-17-2009, 02:52 PM

For what it's worth, I have a Whirpool filter that uses a HEPA filter. I have it because of my rats, not birds, but it really collets a lot of dust and rat hair.