FINCHforum

Are electrical space heaters safe for bird rooms? I used to have one with a built in thermostat that would turn off after it got to the desired temperature. I just turned one on that smelt i think it's because it hadn't been used in so long and it was starting up again. But is it bird safe?

Hmmm.... I have the same kind. I thought the initial smell was dust or like u said because it hasnt been used in awhile. No smell now tho. I have it in the sun room now. Birds seem to love it. They huddled close to it when it was chilly the other day.

I use something similar to this:

Madcat wrote: Hmmm.... I have the same kind. I thought the initial smell was dust or like u said because it hasnt been used in awhile. No smell now tho. I have it in the sun room now. Birds seem to love it. They huddled close to it when it was chilly the other day.

Maybe it's okay then. I'd like something with a thermostat though

Toddmin Todd where did you get it?

DanteD716, I bought it at Home Depot the other year. I've also seen them at Big Lots too.

I'll look around. Thanks!

I use the same kind also. Usually when they first start up they burn off dust and dirt, so you might wipe it down really well before plugging it in.

I'd just like to remind everyone to be careful with any space heater.
I have used the oil type (pictured in Todd's post above) and also the coil radiator type. NEVER LEAVE THEM UNATTENDED.
I say this because one day while I was in the kitchen I smelled smoke, walked into the bedroom, and the coil radiator heater was smoking and on fire. I caught it in plenty of time but who knows how quickly it could have gotten out of hand. I then purchased an oil heater. It lasted about a year. The wiring was smoking one day when I walked into the room.
It was fortunate that I never left one of these heaters on while I was not at home. These were no inexpensive heaters. One was 'Honeywell' and another was 'Westinghouse'. Both had thermostats.
I am back to using a coil radiator type but am ever vigilant when using it.
I set my central system between 60 and 65 degrees and use the space heater once in a while in the smaller rooms when I am in them.
I have to add that we also have a pellet stove which is used in our kitchen/family room, but it is not used while we are sleeping.

Sadie, very scary to hear this! I use this type of heater also and thought it was safer because it didn't have the "open radiant elements" that could catch something on fire if near by. I didn't think IT would catch on fire!!! I'll be watching out for this. Thanks!

Sadie - Great reminder!
They can be super dangerous. I was a police/fire reporter for over a decade and space heaters were the single most common cause of house fires in the winter months. (In non winter months, it's cooking).

So I wouldn't use one of these unless you're awake and in the room (or very, very nearby and able to respond.)
I'd also have a full size fire extinguisher (not the little kitchen ones) nearby, just in case something does go wrong.

I think they would be safe for bird rooms, as long as the birds aren't flying free. I'd be afraid they'd land on it without realizing it was hot.

I have one in my bird room. It has the built in thermostat and it shuts off once it reaches 24 degrees Celsius. I also worry about it being a fire hazard. I leave it plugged in continuously and since it gets ridiculous cold here- we're talking -35 celsius, I don't really have any other options

I have used the radiator-type heaters for several years now and loved them. I had a room off my back porch that was not insulated, and that is where I kept my birds at that time. I left that heater on all winter in that room, whether I was home or not. I had the Delonghi brand with a digital thermostat.

I spent today helping a friend clean up her bird room after a tragedy with one of these heaters. It malfunctioned during the night, kept heating all night instead of just maintaining the set temperature. When she awoke in the morning, the bird room was at least 110 degrees (probably even much higher near the ceiling). She lost 93 finches overnight, all were in the cages on the top level and some in the middle level. All birds on the bottom level were OK.

Such a devastating loss. I think this is the biggest fear for all of us, something going wrong and losing a huge part or all of our flock. I will never be complacent about these heaters again.

Oh wow that's so sad Sally

Sally , so sorry to hear this, the poor birds and such a horrible experience to encounter in birdroom


I use a similar 2KW oil filled radiator but with a seperate thermostat, thermostat on heater is set just below max and it's then plugged into a socket controlled by a STC 1000 as in photo



I've it set to turn on socket at 18 celsius and turn off at 20 celsius so anywhere outside this range the heater has no power going to it;