You may have seen the two-page ads in your local newspaper. The Heat Surge “Miracle” heater keeps on advertising and selling hundreds of its 1500 watt electric heaters. The deal: buy the Amish-made “solid wood” mantle and get the Chinese-made heater for free. Things to remember: all 1500 watt electric heaters produce 5118 BTU’s of heat – no miracle just math, and the only way to save money heating your home with a space heater is to only heat the room you’re in while leaving the rest of the house chilly. Electricity is 2.5 times more expensive than natural gas when used as a heating source.
There have been many complaints from Heat Surge customers and dozens of complaints made to the Canton, Ohio Better Business Bureau about both the ads and company’s policies and practices. The company may have solved some of these problems. As pointed out in our original (12/2007) post questioning the wording of the Heat Surge newspaper ads we suggest a careful reading of the ad and thorough consumer research before investing your hard earned cash in this product. You may ultimately end up loving the looks and convenience of the roll-around unit and its fake fireplace design, but it will not be a ‘miracle’ solution to your home heating situation. Insulation, weather-stripping and programmable thermostats are probably a much more effective investment. If you decide your home will benefit from an electric space heater there are plenty of less expensive (albeit not so fancy looking) alternatives on the market.
Review some of the over 400 comments on our original post for further customer insights.
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Hello, Really enjoy reading your blog. Great stuff.
Thanks!
Will Johnston
growandmake.com
The “Miracle” part is the way the flame looks so real. If you ask a rep at the company, that’s what they tell you. The best part is if you don’t like the unit, all you have to do is send it back. You DON’T have to call the company. There are no Restocking Fees, Cancelation Fees, or Returning Authorization Fees, like some companies. All you are out is your shipping. Not bad at all.
I recently purchased a Heat Surge, using it for the first time this evening and I really like it…not only does it look nice but also provides the extra heat that I need without turning my thermostat up.(in my apartment) I also like the safety of knowing I can leave the Heat Surge on, thruout the day or night, and not have to worry about a fire.
I have recently ordered one of these units and am concerned this is a scam and I may be ripped off. Can I get some input? I am only heating my downstairs livingroom. Will I be happy with the results and the savings? I am looking for any input.
Thank you, Monti
I’m a skeptical person. If I had read all the comments on this website before I purchased my Heat Surge heaters I probably would not have bought them, being the skeptic that I am. Nothing is free, you can buy the heater without the cabinet. It would still cost you about the same price, but with the cabinet it looks alot nicer in your room than just a heater sitting there on the floor. I like the looks of the fake fireplace. It is comforting on a cold night. Sometimes I just turn on the fire, without the heat and turn out the lights.
It seems like I paid alot for a heater, but basically I can say I am very pleased with my purchase of my Heat Surge.
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE ABOUT HOW THE AMISH FIREPLACE INSERT LOOKS IS IT REAL LOOKING WE HAVE REAL WOOD FIREPLACE AND NO GAS TO OUR PROPERTY SO WE NEED ELEC I WAS GOING TO PURCHASE THE HEAT UNIT WITHOUT THE MANTLE AND USE IT AS AN INSERT TO OUR FIREPLACE COMMENTS?
I purchased two units. One without the cabinet which sits in our wood burning fireplace. It looks great in the fireplace and no mess to clean up….The other is in the cherry wood in my livingroom. I kept my thermostat at 65 all winter. The units paid for themselves in my savings from heating with oil. We were warmer and more comfortable then when we use the forced air heat.
We love them they heat well and look great.
Yes your electric bill is higher but the cost saving againest heating with oil was a huge savings for us last winter.
I have purchased one of the heat surge electric heaters and find it great for my spare bedroom which is really my granddaughters’ bedroom. The room is an extension to my apartment and has little to no insulation in the roofing area or below where there is another part of the basement which is unheated. It is always drafty and as cold as it is outside in the winter although there is a heating duct running to that part of the house. I love my new fireplace. It keeps the room cozy and I don’t have to worry about a fire like a space heater could cause. The entire unit is cool to the touch front and back, sides too and the realistic looking fireplace is soothing. Compared to the alternative, having a useless room all winter and a rough sleeping 13 year old in bed with me all winter, the Heat Surge is a Godsend.
WE HAVE TWO FIREPLACES AND LOVE THEM. I HAVE PROBABLY SOLD FOUR FOR HEAT SURGE JUST BY OUR FRIENDS SEEING HOW NICE OURS WAS.
SO FAR ALL OUR FRIENDS LOVE THERES ALSO.
Okay, if the Amish don’t use electricity, then how and why did they “supposedly” invent this product? Also, in the commercials, some of the men don’t really look like the Amish I know. Hmmmm….
I just received mine I didn’t read any reviews before I order it its a little on the small size but nice looking. The flame looks really good the wood top is nice no problems so far. I was at first looking to save money on my heating bill I don’t know if I will but very closely second was I wanted a life like fire place which my wife does not want because we have a 3 year old and a 6 year old both boys. As soon as they got there hands on it they loved it they wanted to roast there hot dogs I had just made lol. The Heating comes out OK I expected a little more force but the look of the flame is worth the cost if thats what they cost. Then I started reading reviews and almost sent it back. If you need a low cost space heater then this is not for you. But if you want a save electric fire place for a reasonable amount compared to the cost of some of the others which are bigger but much more expersive then this ones for you. I have a front door which my wife won’t let me replace and it leeks like s sive and this is perfect for puttting it next to the door and window to off set some of the heat loss from that. If there is one for $350.. total cost then please post the link if not don’t post links that sell theres for $599…And I don’t work for the company Just a buyer of a nicely priced electric fire place. Again if you need a space heater buy one cheap home depot. P>S> there ad’s are miss leading as to the Mircle of saving money the should have to change that but I wanted a kid safe fire place thats what they should focus on. Hope this helps
Yes,I to have A crow to pick with this new “MIRACLE HEATER”. I at first thought that there was some real technology going on here, But as an electrician later discovered that it was simply a 750 watt on low & 1500 watt on high heater unit installed into a nice wooden jacket.By the way 1500 watts will always be 1500 watts in the electrical world & will never put out more than 5118 BTU’s of heat. So… yes this a really attractive unit, BUT NOT A MIRACLE & Any 1500 watt heater can be purchased at your local Menards or Home Depot FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST!!!
I am a supervizor of a call center that sells this product and its the bees knees so buy it!!!
I ordered two for a friend who has trouble heating her house and oil is extremely expensive. I was told they would ship in 10 business days. That evening I read about the issues and decided to cancel. I called the next day (less than 24 hours after the order) and was told they were shipped that morning at 9:15 a.m. I called back the next day and was told they were shipped at 7:15 p.m. I was told I could not cancel since they had been shipped, and I would have to wait for them to arrive and refuse them. I found out from the second person that they were being shipped UPS and given tracking numbers. Three days later UPS still says nothing about shipping them. I think it is a scam to say they were shipped, to avoid giving the money back right away. So far they have had my $712 for four days and are collecting interest on it or using it, and I cannot use it for something more helpful to my friend. I have reported to the Consumer complaint division of the Attorney General’s office here. I am worried that UPS may deliver when the lady is not home and then how are they refused? This is not right.
Some of the posts above appear to be damage-control posts from shills for the company. (At least the call center supervisor admits to it.) I would say with a high degree of confidence that many are.
The problem with this or ANY electric space heater that people don’t think or know about is the amperage draw with them. A 1500 watt heater is going draw around 12 -13 amps. A lot of your 110 breakers are on 15 amp breakers. So when you have the heater on and maybe a tv computer or a couple of things on the same circuit, you are getting close to maxing out on that breaker. I have seen people have 3-4 space heaters in their house (my rental property!) to save on gas usually because it has been shut off! And of course they are going to start tripping breakers, and some people will just keep resetting them. BAD IDEA!! Don’t do that, reset 1 time and MAYBE 2 but after that you need to realize you are having a problem and call someone. The moral of the story is be careful overloading your electrical system with things like this. It can be VERY dangerous.
We’re an established company with millions of
satisfied customers whose focus is to exceed customer expectations.
To accomplish this, along with other successful methods,
we’ve set up a Web site to share the facts about our company at http://heatsurge.wordpress.com
to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Chris Pugh
Heat Surge
Heat Surge started their own blog to extend their marketing reach and get people off forums like this, where they might be exposed to a broad range of product experiences, both good and bad. Just more marketing. Many companies now have blogs to drive additional traffic to their products.
I am considering buying a stand alone heater and this on e came to mind.I live in a 500 square foot studio apartment with no heat and have been relying on two electric heaters for heat.They are both 1500 watts each. Will one of these heaters be enough?
Solid wood means one thing to some people and another to these people. Plywood is not solid!!!!! and who would pay almost 300.00 dollars for the mantle if the heater is free. Also the Amish would not use electric tools.
I don’t care how good the thing is this is playing of the stupidity of people….
This Heat Surge unit is a real scam, and they lie about it being able to heat up any room of any size. We have had it for three days, and the only heat it generates is in front of the unit, and does not go much beyond two feet even with the fan on high.
Save your money, and don’t be fooled by all the hype in the ads!
I’m a federally registered EPA green builder (one of only 198 to qualify in California) so am looking for any method of saving energy quite literally all the hours god sends. I have to say the Amish stitch is a good one as no one believes they would con any one, but take a better look, first off this ain’t an Amish company, it don’t save any energy at all, its just a space heater, there’s nothing special about it at all and you’d be better buying an oil filled radiator for just 30 bucks.
Second, the posts proclaiming its benefits appear all over the net on many websites, literally word for word, this is a con pure and simple.
Dave Flanagan
why dont they make it the perfect con and have that irritating idiot billy mase sell it for what its worth $19.95 and if you order now we will throw in 3 more for free just pay the $750.00 shipping and handeling
i wouldnt buy anything a loud mouth fast talking salesman like billy m ass sells
This is obviously a scam. First, if the heater is free…then one ought to be able to order the unit alone for ONLY the price of shipping.
Second, the heater produces only 1500 watts. It is a fact, btw, that space heaters represent a not very effective means of heating a space, except in a very small room, such as a bathroom or guard shack.
Third, among electric heaters, the oil-filled ones are more effective and efficient and I have seen them on sale for as cheap as $35. Seems to me it was at Target…a few years ago, when I took my Chinese buddy down there to buy a couple. He has been most happy with them in his small apartment.
Incidentally, I am absolutely sick of these insipid, stupid, manipulative erectile dysfuncton ads…as well as the “take your mother’s jewelry and mail it to us for money” ads. I’d imagine these companies are making a killing these days.
Presently sitting here in what was our cold living room with my 3 grandchildren. I had turned off my new cherry heat surge fireplace as I wanted my son to take it downstairs to play room (which also gets cold) but the children asked if we could turn it back on. We all love the glow of the authentic looking fire and it does give off enough heat to make this room very warm and cozy. And I am thinking about getting another heater for basement, not sure which kind. BUT, my only complaint is that the “cherry” wood is sloppily applied ie: whatever stain they put on to make it look cherry is less than professional. But, live and learn, I must say we are very happy with the heat and “fire glow” but wood cabinet less than thrilled. And so, 90% very happy with it.
Go to Bob’s Discount Furniture. You can get them for $399. They have an assortment of finishes. They also have large TV stands with built-in fireplace. Much nicer looking than the amish style, and they do the same job! I know…I bought one!
I first called to return it and they said that they would send me a return label, never happened and waited a week…I called back again and the lady gave me a UPS # to inquire about my UPS pick up, but it was the wrong UPS tracking number…it was the tracking number that had it sent it to me…I called another time and they said that the computers were down. I called again and asked that the supervisor email me the return label…don’t be fools people…return it quickly, because the stall tactics are out there. This was a worthless piece of equipment only blowing air a foot from the unit and I never saw my electrical meter move so fast when I plugged it in…
Scam. I can’t believe people fall for this. I live in Lancaster, Pa. The Amish do not pose for pictures, nor do they endorse/advertise ANY product/s. The heat source, come on…do the math. The wood…well, how much does it weigh, shouldn’t that tell you if its real?
Do you really think that you could take a solid piece of oak or cherry furniture, and easily move it room to room? I suppose the people that fall for this scam also purchase quite a bit from “as seen on tv”, its the same concept, just with more misleading advertising.
The “Amish” heater is a deal if you realize you are paying for the cabinetry and the fake fire, which, although I haven’t seen it for real, looks very nice on Youtube, etc. It will not heat any better than a utilitarian unit costing 1/5 as much, because the electricity is ALL converted to heat.. in ANY electric heater. There are many variables in deciding if it will save you anything, but you’d have to turn down your furnace and let most of the house go cold to save anything. Also the ads are deceptive.
Perhaps the product here is not the real issue. It’s the tactics. First, take a look at the advertising. How on God’s green earth can people working in a barn with old fashioned wooded clamps and hand planes, mass produce these heaters for the U.S. and Canadian market. I wouls really like to tour their “Amish factory”. I really cannot see the legitate Amish participating in a nation wide scam like this. Anybody can put some old fashioned clothes on and grow a beard and look like Amish or whatever. Free heaters, just pay for mantles and shipping and handling. Ya right, like many have said, if it has the word “free” in the Ad, beware.
Thanks
Efficiency for heaters is measured by the input and output of the heating element. Electric resistance heaters like this are 100% efficient. That does not mean that electric heat is cheap. Furthermore, there is nothing new about this technology. You are buying an electric heater, a mantle, a light bulb, and a spinning reflector.
The mantle is in fact made in a factory that employs a few amish workers. The heater is made in CHINA.
I got a milk house heater from Vermont General Store 14 years ago for about 59 dollars and this sturdy little heater is still going strong. I don’t care that it doesn’t have a mantle!!!! Cheers!
I can believe people would buy this and further believe that they would think it works because most of them also voted for obama. What more can I say…just wait and see the next 3 yrs.+ People are soooo gullible.
i just wanted to say that the ads that are put into a newspaper are written at a 3rd grade reading level…. and for an adult to, in this day,see something free, and not read the entire thing, is just plain ignorant. it explains it very nicely in the paragraph entitled “how to get 2 free heaters” that they only come free when you purchase the amish made mantle. now no where in the announcement does it say that anything other than the mantle was made by the amish, and even though the heaters are made off the coast of china, they are made to meet certain specifications. do you know that half the stuff you purchase from walmart is made in china!!!!! o ya and when you call in, dont argue about the announcement, half the people that take the calls dont like it either, but hey thats life, and they just work there, they dont make the rules!!
I would like to know if there is a gas heater also. Please respond. Is there a phone number that I can reach you by.
Thank-You John
I ordered the heat surge with the Cherry cab. The heater is pretty – not as strong of a heater as I thought it would be, but definatelty pretty. The cabinet? Garbage! It’s not more amish than you or me. Know any amish bloggers? Seriously – I’ve seen Amish made furniture. Maybe they hire some people to slap the cheap wood together and stain it. Ours was badly made so we returned it with a promise we would have a new one back within 10 days and a promise that I’d be e-mailed a tracking #. 10 days later I called – no heater, no tracking #, and I was told it hadn’t even shipped yet – wouldn’t ship until a few more days yet! Now I wished I would have just asked for a full refund and bought a similar looking heater at a big box store for less than half the cost.
What a scam. If you have to return the unit before or after warranty expires, you have to pay for shipping. Approx. $95. But guess what, if the heating element burns out after expiration of warranty, you will more than likely not be able to find another one to fit. I have called all of the local hardware and heating providers in my area. No one has a heating element the size needed. The heating element seems to be smaller than the basic heating element sold. After contacting Heat Surge, I was told “to contact a handy man. Heat Surge is not affiliated with a repairs company and not at liberty to refer one. Our advertisments clearly state, the mantel is Amish made; however the Miracle Heater is a “work of engineering genuis form the China coast”. So, I guess I’ll have to go to China to get a part. Or better yet, go to Lowe’s and buy a $20 heater and not worry about replacing a part next time. Never again!!
The Heatsurge website is filled with smarmy comments like this one:
“I have never experienced such warm heat in all my life. The heat from the fireplace penetrated my muscles and it’s the first time since 2003 that my legs have been warm.”
WTF?
I wanted to post something like this: “Heatsurge is like having Jesus in the room.”
Alas, the site prevents smart asses like me from doing that. The comments must be submitted, where they are (presumably) censored.
Heaters are heaters. ALL will heat the same way. There is no miracle. By the way, the heating unit is made in China.
This company is owned by Arthur Middleton Capital Holdings, which apparently performs dubious marketing and business practices. Google it. After you do, you’ll head to Costco or Home Depot (or anywhere) to buy a heater for a lot less and will be easier to return if it fails.
well i guess i’m one of those people who fell for this and order one . first off i’m smart enought to know that the amish had nothing to do with these heaters or building of the cabinets.the heaters are what they are it does just what i expected it to do. and let me asure you i knew i was not getting it for free i have been around a few times. there are fireplaces just like these saling for alot more than what i paid for this model.
i was disappointed in the cabinet it was glue together and stained poorley but i will paint it to match the rest of my stuff. everyone i know that has one are please with theirs so please everyone that has not tried one please keep your opin to yourself. and be asured that the amish had notting to with these
You are a real fool to think that the cheap wooden box is made by the Amish. My father-in-law bought one. It is not made of Cherry or Oak, it is lightweight, screwed together like an IKEA piece of furniture and it definitely looks mass produced and not handmade. If you need a space heater that looks nice, go to Home Depot and see the units close up. Don’t overpay on a gutless 1500W space heater.
Hi,2 yrs ago I purchased two of the inserts only.At that time there was no sale as mentioned in all of the comments.I was quite upset when you could get the amish made wood encasement and the insert for free the next year.I paid for the inserts the same price that all else were then paying for the entire unit.I was told that the unit would use the same amount of electricity as a coffee maker.My electric bill with central air is usually $80 to $100 per month and that is being conservative at 75 degrees so if I stayed in that area I would be OK.To my complete suprise the bill ran $45 to $55 with the gas being under $80. The yr before my gas ran $200 a month in the cold.I am thrilled.Maybe the units were different but the only issues I have had are incorrect remotes.They sent the wrong type the first time and then only replaced one that works on one unit only.I will perservere because I love my units and my utility bills.Lets hope this year stays the same.Satisfied in Canton, Ohio Magnet
don’t puy one
My friend bought one of these Amish fireplace heaters and IT BURNED HER F***ING HOUSE DOWN!! KILLING ALL OF HER ANIMALS INSIDE!!!