Electric heaters

Zen

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Hi. I am picking up a parrotlet tomorrow and it has just occurred to me to wonder if my heaters are safe to use around the birdie. Its summer nearly so I won't need them on any time soon but I read that some electric heaters use Teflon coating. Thw ones built in to my flat are storage heaters that come on over night while electricity is cheapest and store the heat in bricks inside that is released during the following day. I also have an oil filled heater which I've had for many years so this is possible to use if the storage heaters aren't safe.

Does anyone have storage heaters in a home with parrots?

They have been in place for a few years and I just read an article that states once the heater has been run on full for several hours any Teflon coating will have burned off (if this is true I have no worries as the heaters have been used plenty)
The article didn't mention storage heaters especially but did name oil filled heaters as one of the most bird friendly options as all the heating elements are enclosed (but still recommended running a new one in a seperate room for several hours to be sure any paint fumes etc were burned off).
Any thoughts please?
 
Hello Zen, i have storage heaters and the heaters are safe but i do not leave birds or there cages near them if i use them . when i first use the heaters I make sure the room is well ventilated for the first few hours . the biggest concern is exposed wires going to the heaters from the socket near the floor during the summer all power to the heaters is switched off as one of the heaters did get the wire chewed last year by one of my grey parrots that decided to make its nest under it.
 
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Depends on the storage heater really.
if manufactured before 1974 then they most likely contain asbestos which as long as not damaged not an issue as such.
Ceramic heat retention brick ones are good it's just the elements that have teflon coatings. It's when The Teflon gets to a certain temperature when they become dangerous as The Teflon gives of a gas that kills birds unfortunately it's not one we can smell, so unfortunately it's not a case of if they have been used a bit or not.
The dust poop and bits of feather that gets into them from having birds can be a problem so regular cleaning a must.
Birds landing on them whilst on can be a major burn issue for their toes so may want to think about one of those radiator covers.
Look up your exact storage heater online and double check it doesn't have any other polymer coatings.
Regulations and models changed in 2018 reference what new ones could and could not incorporate.
If you don't have a radiator cover make sure there's no way your little one would be able to slip off and get stuck behind the mountings.
 
Thank you both. The heaters were installed around 2010 and I did used to use them around my grey but it had never occurred to me that there might be Teflon coating on any parts.
The heaters are flat against the wall so nothing can fall behind them but I will definitely get a cover of some kind before I start to use them.

Many thanks
 
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