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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Martha,
Please contact the company directly — this is not the Heat Surge company Website.
Maureen
I purchased a heatsurge in January, when it arrived I found two screws rolling around in the box it came in. The screws came from the rear of the unit on the bottom securing it to the frame. Plus the (FLAME) will not dim. All I want is to send it back and get a new one. But of course no will answer the phone at customer service, or is it LACK of customer service. I called another line like I was ordering one, I talked to Arron and told him what was going on. He did the typing on the keyboard like he was entering my info and said that someone will call me back… B/S Can someone help ? email me so I can get this resolved.
The Heat Surge Company had to be threatened with potential legal intervention before it actually sent the remote I’d ordered. Then halfway through the second winter of use the heater quit – not the fan/ light / flame – only the heater. Because it was past warranty, an electrician friend of mine had a go at it – coroded /detached wires. I live in an otherwise dry, electrically heated, small apt. The device does save on heating but so far this company’s quality has been disgusting / questionable. Think carefuly before purchasing one of these fireplaces from this company. ps. I have both Mennonite and Quaker in my blood.
Don’t buy it, They place a hold on your credit card, which makes it look like you paid twice. It takes 10 days for the hold to release my unit arrived before the additional charge was released, and at the time of sale they don’t express that little tid bit with you. The unit does not heat an area sufficently, except maybe 2 feet infront. I like the look of it, but I will be sending it back and hopefully get my refund, or I will be taking that trip to Ohio.
I ordered 2 Heat Surge units on 2/2/2011 and I want to cancel. It’s 2/6/2011. I emailed them and only get an auto reply. Will I have a hard time stopping this order or getting refunded?
Hi Barry,
First of all, DO NOT OPEN BOX. I called FEDEX at 800-463-3339 and refused the shipment. See uf that works. If not call heat Surge at 800-924-7964.
Expect a long hold time. Whatever you do, do not hang up or use the feature that claim they will call you back.
I refued the shipment and FEDEX picked up the box on 2/1/2011 and they recevied it back on 2/7/2011.
If you have to open an investigation with your credit card company. keep good documentation for your credit card company.
I hope the best with your results.
this is what i know about this heater. i do have one. it needs its own 20 amp cicuit or it could burn your house down. do not use extension cord. the heatercord will get very hot if it shares other circuits. it does take the chill out of a room but the claim by the company that it only cost 9 cents an hour is very questionable and it is a Chine product 100%.
i have 2 in my home been using them for 4 yrs no problems it heats up 8 rooms and at times it too hot .. gas company started coming out in winter months to see why my gas bills in buffalo in winter were only 40.00 light bill went up to like 80 to 100.00 sure is better than 250.00 a month for gas im a happy camper here and if one didnt work they send fex fast and was replaced in a week ..
We have one a couple of years old, and it’s already gone out. Everything works except the heating element, and it appears to be no simple task of accessing the faulty unit with the entire cabinet built around it. For the kind of money these things cost it shouldn’t already be in need of repair. It’s only been used a couple of winters now so it’s not like we use it constantly. Not happy here at all.
Once Upon A Time,so it started, A poor man and woman collected cans and copper to scrounge money to buy what they thought was a great way to heat up their house for their six cold children hoping it would put more food on the table.
Before the first year the unit was replaced(warranty).So off to collecting again to get the EXTENDED warranty…so much for that. So the second year came into action. Mind you it’s just a unit that they only used 3 out of 12 months. Same OLE STORY. “I’m Sorry BUT your warranty was up in Jan. You can TAKE IT to Cleveland Heights and have it fixed, BUY a replacement unit for $250.00 or a Refurbished for $187.00″,BLAH ,BLAH, BLAH!!!
The children are still cold and with the cost of food ,they’re hungry also.
THIS company is a DISSERVICE and a DIGRACE to the people in and around Ohio and it does NOT have ANY thought of the people who ACTUALLY have purchased their piece of USELESS equipment!
i had mine two years and it just quit ,dont know how to replace the heating element ,,,i hardley used it just when it was chilly in the fall that was it ,,,im pissed it is a rip off cant even find where u can replace the element ,,,,and look everywhere on the internet ,,,please help can get my money back ,,and 4 400.dollars done want to throw it out eighter ,,,im very mad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Purchased mine 2 years ago and front is melting off.
@ Brenda Dalka: Call someone that does oven repair for the element.
Check this out before you buy!!! In addition to the things you have read consider this advice BEFORE you buy. I ordered a heat surge unit on Nov 16, 2010 but I was advised that I had to send in the money before I could receive a unit. I did not send in the money and they did not accept my credit card info. Case closed right?? WRONG!! I received an email Dec 21, 2011 saying that my heat surge unit was on the way! WHAT! I don’t want it now! I called the company right away and they said: Just refuse shipment- No sooner than I put up 2 signs on my door saying “Return to sender” FEDEX was at the door attempting delivery. To make matters worse, my account had already been charged.I’m still waiting for my money back!! Don’t trust this company! If you already ordered cancel right away!!! CANCEL! CANCEL!!, CANCEL!!!!
I ordered one unit and the same evening called and said cancel the order. They gave me a hard time! Then they shipped it Fed-Ex and I refused shipment. Prior to that I had called my bank and had them put in a fraud report. I have the tracking # and the information that the unit was returned to Ohio. Representative said – oh, the holidays – blah blah, as soon as they scan it back in they will credit your account. Either way – I know I will have that amount credited to my account. The Fed-Ex delivery woman was very helpful and wrote down all the info. and gave me the tracking # so I know it has been safely returned. I will never order anything that I see that looks too good to be true. I will purchase a couple of nice oscillating infrared space heaters w/ remote control and sue my landlord for allowing this lousy apartment to be so frigid that my son’s bedroom shades had ice and snow on them! FYI, I did try out one of the oil filled heaters – fine if you are going to sit in a closet! Much luck and warmth to all!
I bought 2 of these units in April 2010, 1 for us and 1 for our daughter for xmas.Used mine a few times then summer came then last fall of 2010 mine wouldn’t work anymore. My daughter and son-n-law opened theirs at xmas time (dec 2010) and it wasn’t even the same as the 1 I had ordered.Company didn’t care! So now that mine doesn’t work even after my son-n-law went through troubleshooting in manual (what a joke) and then called customer service (they were so rude!)they just said order a new insert for $249.00 plus shipping.While we were troubleshooting,my daughter read the stickers on the back and they both say “Reconditioned by: Heat Surge”. I paid $614.00 for 2 units and now I read that refurbished are only $187.00. We have emailed and called and they are just plain RUDE. DO NOT BUY A HEAT SURGE PRODUCT!!! This company scams all people of all ages. They say ol well your one year warranty is up…then we get a letter that says that I bought scratch and dent products with only a 90 day warranty.This company is scammers,liars,misrepresents their product,do fraudalunt methods, and theifs. I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and also with our state Attorney General for fraud.
We bought the roll n glow heater just 2 years ago.This is only the 2nd winter for it and it has gone completely out.!!After reading the comments,it sounds like these expensive fireplaces only last a couple of years at the most.We will be buying a different electrical fireplace from a more reputable source!!!!Any ideas on uses for the cabinet with out the heating element?????????LOL