The Heat Surge-Amish Fireplace

Does your home have a "cold zone"?  I think every home has a room or two that, for whatever reason, stays noticeably cooler than the rest of the house.  You can spend all winter trying to adjust the vents and the thermostat, or you can buy a small space heater to heat the chilly areas.

For the past several years, I've noticed full page newspaper ads for heaters with wooden mantles made by Amish craftsmen.  The As Seen On TV infomercials refer to them as the "Amish Heater", but their true name is The Heat Surge Roll-n-Glow Electric Fireplace.  This is a small heater (the whole unit is only about 2 feet high and 2.5 feet wide) with two power levels of 750 watts and 1,500 watts.   It uses fake flames produced from two light bulbs behind the "logs" to simulate a traditional wood burning fireplace.  The unit is easily movable because the fireplace's wooden cabinet is on wheels.  It comes with a remote control that adjusts power, heat output, even the brightness of the "flames".

The Heating Unit

In doing research on the unit, I found several quotes from Heat Surge Vice President David Baker that helped to explain some of their advertising.  He acknowledges that      " The heating unit is made in China" , so the Amish do not totally make the whole heater.  In explaining the word "miracle" used in their advertising, he states: "These heaters are being called a miracle because they have what's being called the 'Fireless Flame' patented technology that gives you the peaceful flicker of a real fire but without any flames, fumes, smells, ashes or mess.  The patented 'Fireless Flame' looks so real it amazes everybody".  I also found out that the Heat Surge is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and has the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, so there has been independent testing of the product.

Amish Mantle Production

Because the Amish are prominently represented in Heat Surge advertising, the Canton ,Ohio BBB looked into their claim of Amish Craftsmanship.  This is what they found:  "In response to the advertising that Heat Surge were doing in showing pictures of the Amish, we toured the facility where the mantels were being put together and we were introduced to people of the Amish faith," said Joy Bender, Vice President of Operations at the Canton, Ohio Better Business Bureau.  They also learned that the Amish-made mantels advertised are crafted and assembled by local craftsman from Holmes and Geauga counties in Ohio.

With regard to the quality of wood used, Heat Surge VP, David Baker, stated to consumer Affairs.com:   "The entire mantle is of real wood, no pressed board. The oak mantle also is built with a true solid oak piece for the top as well as the trim. The cherry mantle also has a solid wood top and trim and is made of poplar with a cherry finish, not unlike many cherry finished pieces of furniture."

Is It For You?

We spend most of our time in the family room, and of course, that is the room that we stays cool in the winter no matter how we adjust the vents.  We could buy a cheaper electric space heating unit at the local warehouse store.  But, since that room is where we spend most of our time and entertain, we would like for the heater to look like a piece of furniture, and the heat Surge fills the bill.  Also, the portability of the unit and the fact that the casing is never hot to the touch is a big plus, so I think we'll spring for it.  We always wanted a fireplace...