Caulking smell / fumes: Lethal for parrots
#1
01-22-15, 06:31 PM
Caulking smell / fumes: Lethal for parrots
Hi Folks
Need some urgent help please.
I got all the windows and Patio door replaced in my house on Mon/Tue. The installers used caulking on the patio door bottom (where it meets the tile) and the sides. Caulking was called Supra.
I have a beloved parrot at home, and had relocated him to my parent's house. was planning to bring him back on Tue, when I noticed the smell from the caulking. Good thing I did and did some research. Caulking smell/fumes are absolutely deadly for birds.
so urgently need help please in getting rid of the smell/fumes. I live in Toronto, Canada. Tried turning off the heat, and opening the windows, but within 30 mins house is at 10 degrees, and pipes are in danger of freezing. have exhaust fans in kitchen and bathroom running 24x7. smell is still there. It is most evident when I enter the house (heat on, windows closed)
Is there any way to get rid of the fumes/smell quickly? Will turning on the heat of the house to extra high help? Could anyone please let me know how long does it take for the smell to dissipate? and any way (other than my nose) to check if its safe for my parrot to come back? Is there any air test that can be done?
sorry about the long post, but am at my wits's end. Any help would be highly appreciated
Kind Regards
Shahrukh
Need some urgent help please.
I got all the windows and Patio door replaced in my house on Mon/Tue. The installers used caulking on the patio door bottom (where it meets the tile) and the sides. Caulking was called Supra.
I have a beloved parrot at home, and had relocated him to my parent's house. was planning to bring him back on Tue, when I noticed the smell from the caulking. Good thing I did and did some research. Caulking smell/fumes are absolutely deadly for birds.
so urgently need help please in getting rid of the smell/fumes. I live in Toronto, Canada. Tried turning off the heat, and opening the windows, but within 30 mins house is at 10 degrees, and pipes are in danger of freezing. have exhaust fans in kitchen and bathroom running 24x7. smell is still there. It is most evident when I enter the house (heat on, windows closed)
Is there any way to get rid of the fumes/smell quickly? Will turning on the heat of the house to extra high help? Could anyone please let me know how long does it take for the smell to dissipate? and any way (other than my nose) to check if its safe for my parrot to come back? Is there any air test that can be done?
sorry about the long post, but am at my wits's end. Any help would be highly appreciated
Kind Regards
Shahrukh
#2
01-22-15, 08:39 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
MULCO supra expert (made by Sico)
That is a thermoplastic rubber-based sealant that contains acetone . It's not supposed to be used indoors. Usually once a product like that cures the smell dissipates. I don't know if there is a way of getting rid of the smell any faster. Maybe someone else has an idea.
The following link is the Safety data information on the product. The companies contact information is also there and they could be contacted directly.
alcor-inc /DATA/PRODUITRESSOURCE/144_en.pdf
From the installation instructions.....
Avoid using in areas where the solvents evaporating from «SUPRA EXPERT» could affect food or inside residences where sensitive people are present. If the product is used indoors, the area must be ventilated to the outdoors during application and drying time of «SUPRA EXPERT».
MULCO supra expert (made by Sico)
That is a thermoplastic rubber-based sealant that contains acetone . It's not supposed to be used indoors. Usually once a product like that cures the smell dissipates. I don't know if there is a way of getting rid of the smell any faster. Maybe someone else has an idea.
The following link is the Safety data information on the product. The companies contact information is also there and they could be contacted directly.
alcor-inc /DATA/PRODUITRESSOURCE/144_en.pdf
From the installation instructions.....
Avoid using in areas where the solvents evaporating from «SUPRA EXPERT» could affect food or inside residences where sensitive people are present. If the product is used indoors, the area must be ventilated to the outdoors during application and drying time of «SUPRA EXPERT».
#3
01-23-15, 03:32 AM
Fresh air ventilation is the only way to speed up the removal of the odor. You could leave the heat on and the windows open [wasteful I know 
] While there might be some expensive high tech tests - your nose generally works well 
] While there might be some expensive high tech tests - your nose generally works well 
#4
01-23-15, 09:23 PM
Hi Everyone
Thank you so very very much for replying and providing excellent advice and tips.
Just wanted to update everyone on what has happened today
Spoke to my avian vet who lives just round the corner. His advice, the same as some of yours, do not bring the bird back until all smell has gone. he even offered to keep my bird for some time, if my parents could not.
spoke to the company that manufactures SUPRA. their take, SUPRA is only meant for outdoor use, NOT Indoors, and to ventilate as much as I can. No curing time stated.
Spoke to the windows company that installed the windows and patio door and spoke to their CEO. Told him I had paid 11,000 for windows and doors and never expected this problem. they are coming to inspect the house tomorrow. They double and triple confirmed with the contractor. He is adamant he used SUPRA outdoors and Tremflex-834 indoors.
I had turned up the heat to 28 degrees when I left the house this morning. came back to a hot house and chemical smell. so i decided to go room by room to check. ruled out vinyl smell (new vinyl windows), ruled out wood filller smell and so on. finally went down with my nose to the ground on the patio door, smelled inch by inch and and found the issue. the main strip of caulking under the door, no issue. each side at the bottom and the corner, total of 6 inches each side, chemical smell. Then i remembered that when the contractor was leaving, after having caulked everything, I had asked him to caulk the 2 corners of the patio door, as there was still a gap. he already a caulk gun that he was using outside, and used the same gun inside as they were in a hurry to leave. so they did use TREMFLEX inside the house, but about 12 inches in total, 6 inches on each side, was done by SUPRA.
I have got fans going pointing to the 2 corners, patio door open, am removing the 6 in of caulking on each corner with a knife and hair dryer, and am planning to use safecoat caulking for the two 6 in edges. then just heat the house upto 28 degrees, point fans to the 2 corners, and leave the patio door open for 2 days, and hopefully this will fix the issue.
Will keep you updated, but really just wanted to thank everyone for their help and advice. This little bird means the world to me, has saved my life, and I will do everything to keep him safe and healthy.
Kind Regards
Shahrukh
Thank you so very very much for replying and providing excellent advice and tips.
Just wanted to update everyone on what has happened today
Spoke to my avian vet who lives just round the corner. His advice, the same as some of yours, do not bring the bird back until all smell has gone. he even offered to keep my bird for some time, if my parents could not.
spoke to the company that manufactures SUPRA. their take, SUPRA is only meant for outdoor use, NOT Indoors, and to ventilate as much as I can. No curing time stated.
Spoke to the windows company that installed the windows and patio door and spoke to their CEO. Told him I had paid 11,000 for windows and doors and never expected this problem. they are coming to inspect the house tomorrow. They double and triple confirmed with the contractor. He is adamant he used SUPRA outdoors and Tremflex-834 indoors.
I had turned up the heat to 28 degrees when I left the house this morning. came back to a hot house and chemical smell. so i decided to go room by room to check. ruled out vinyl smell (new vinyl windows), ruled out wood filller smell and so on. finally went down with my nose to the ground on the patio door, smelled inch by inch and and found the issue. the main strip of caulking under the door, no issue. each side at the bottom and the corner, total of 6 inches each side, chemical smell. Then i remembered that when the contractor was leaving, after having caulked everything, I had asked him to caulk the 2 corners of the patio door, as there was still a gap. he already a caulk gun that he was using outside, and used the same gun inside as they were in a hurry to leave. so they did use TREMFLEX inside the house, but about 12 inches in total, 6 inches on each side, was done by SUPRA.
I have got fans going pointing to the 2 corners, patio door open, am removing the 6 in of caulking on each corner with a knife and hair dryer, and am planning to use safecoat caulking for the two 6 in edges. then just heat the house upto 28 degrees, point fans to the 2 corners, and leave the patio door open for 2 days, and hopefully this will fix the issue.
Will keep you updated, but really just wanted to thank everyone for their help and advice. This little bird means the world to me, has saved my life, and I will do everything to keep him safe and healthy.
Kind Regards
Shahrukh
#5
01-24-15, 09:48 PM
Group Moderator
#6
01-25-15, 05:34 AM
Group Moderator
At least you realized a birds sensitivity to air quality before your parrot was injured or worse. Many think it's just a story but there is a reason miners would take a bird with them underground. They are much more sensitive to air quality for oxygen content and toxins than humans.
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A neighbor in Costa Rica had a party and went inside after setting a plate of cut fruit on the table. When he came back out there was a parrot eating the hors d'oeuvres. When just hanging out drinking a beer he'd sit on the back of your chair but he'd retreat to a nearby tree when there were raucous children around or when using the weed eater or lawn mower but he'd come right back when things quieted down. We'd leave food out but he'd go away for hours we assumed to feed on his own but always came back. For 8 months he was always curious to see what the humans were doing. Then a huge flock flew overhead, he took off and never saw him again.
---
A neighbor in Costa Rica had a party and went inside after setting a plate of cut fruit on the table. When he came back out there was a parrot eating the hors d'oeuvres. When just hanging out drinking a beer he'd sit on the back of your chair but he'd retreat to a nearby tree when there were raucous children around or when using the weed eater or lawn mower but he'd come right back when things quieted down. We'd leave food out but he'd go away for hours we assumed to feed on his own but always came back. For 8 months he was always curious to see what the humans were doing. Then a huge flock flew overhead, he took off and never saw him again.
