Is This Amish-Built Electric Fireplace Any Good?

stonecypher · #1 10/25/08, 09:28 PM

Although I normally mute any television commercial for a product that's "not sold in stores" (and which no doubt has "operators standing by")

I was intrigued by the spiel for this electric fireplace that you can roll around and plug in supposedly anywhere. I mean, how could you doubt the quality of an item built by all those earnest-looking, hardworking Amish guys in the background???

http://www.heatsurgetv.com/

Has anyone ordered this product? Is it a good deal or a ripoff, especially with energy costs? Is it priced right for the value? Any comments would be appreciated!

MELOC · #2 10/25/08, 09:29 PM

it's an electric heater with a fan and pretty lights...that's about it.

AR Transplant · #3 10/25/08, 09:33 PM

I got a thing in the mail about this, I think it is a rip off because it is just a fancy over priced electric heater and those are really rough on electricity bills.

I am not amish, but I was offended to see people dressed up like amish people working in the barn type building.

just my .02

#4 10/25/08, 09:53 PM

OTOH..

I have an electric heater which uses 110 and is modeled after a wood stove. That thing heats up the entire living room AND my electric bill only went up +/- $3.00/month last Winter..Since I cannot have a real wood stove, this suits me fine for now.

MELOC · #5 10/25/08, 09:59 PM

OTTH (lol...3 hands) electric is a good choice for me right now vs. the kerosene i normally suppliment with due to high kero prices and a low electricity cost compared to other parts of the country. i estimate kerosene would have to drop to around $2 a gallon to compete with an electric heater.

i am just not a fan of gimmicky electric heaters. the best option is for a standard, baseboard type of heater or an oil filled radiator type. that is especially true if you leave the heater on and keep the room at a fixed temperature. if you are in the habit of letting a room cool and heating it again later, perhaps a heater with a fan is good because it circulates the air better.

FarmboyBill · #6 10/25/08, 10:00 PM

Yep, who would haul the fixins up in a hay loft to make stoves??

copperkid3 · #7 10/26/08, 12:10 AM

My folks got a circular ad in the mail that showed this item. I believe if you read the fine print, there is some mention that the wooden mantle piece surrounding the "electric" fireplace...... might......just possibly be made or at least finished by or assembled by someone with an Amish-sounding name.....or some such thing. It really looked a bit hookey and as we heat exclusively with REAL WOOD......just were so not interested!

#8 10/26/08, 01:17 AM

Does anyone else find the term "electric Amish built" kinda funny to start with?

It's a glorified space heater.

fmsc68 · #9 10/26/08, 04:57 AM

Ordered one late last winter and really enjoyed using it, especially on the days when mornings are very cold,the house is cold, but you hate to turn on all the heat or build a fire. Rolled the heater into my bed-bath room and was warm and cozy as I was getting dressed and/or paying bills; reading; & emailing. Ordered another one for my son and his family hopefully they will enjoy it more this winter as their home is new, has high ceilings, but is cold and drafty unless the heat is going full blast. I didn't see hardly any increase in the electric bill from the use of the heater and I plan to use it even more this winter, so I'll let you know the results.

eurycea12 · #10 10/26/08, 06:12 AM

Amish + electricity?

glenn amolenaar · #11 10/26/08, 06:28 AM

I think it is called marketing. Have you ever been in an Amish home with electricity? Here they dont make loans on homes due to lack of electric wiring and plumbing.
Glenn

Fae · #12 10/26/08, 06:31 AM

I have not seen this but they are not Amish because the Amish do not allow their pictures to be taken. The heater may be fine but I object to someone exploiting anyone.

Cindy in PA · #13 10/26/08, 08:11 AM

My father just bought the Edenpure, the other electric heater without the mantel, even though I told him not to. It seems to put out nice heat, but I was surprised that it does not work on a thermostat setting. It just has low to high etc. (really different levels) and I hope that it actually is "set" to something & not just running full blast constantly. Of course some guy told my Dad he ran one all last year & his electric bill went up only by $20/month. It states that it takes 1.263 killowatts per hour. I told my Dad if it actually runs constantly for 24 hours, it will cost him $90/month. We'll see who is right. He wouldn't listen to me. He is trying to heat his whole house (maybe 700 sq. ft. on the main floor), so we will see what happens.

Sabrina67 · #14 10/26/08, 08:29 AM

We know a person who bought 3 he said they were no different than any other heater. I was looking at them and they "looked " like they could be nice.
I am not sure about the Amish involvement, I figure the closest it comes is probably went by an amish farm at some point. lol

**Cabin Fever** · #15 10/26/08, 08:38 AM

I believe Sabrina67 is correct. The wooden fireplace cabinet is made by the Amish. The electrical part is probably made in China.

People, remember this. Any electric heater that simply plugs into the wall (120v) will deliver no more heat than a hair dryer or $20 milk house heater.

plowjockey · #16 10/26/08, 08:57 AM

We have one similar that was purchased from Menards and is China made. I think we got on sale for about $90.

It's looks nice and does throw out some heat, if you sit in front of it. No thermostat control.

It is not the same as a real fireplace, for sure.

Most of the time it just sits in the corner, taking up valuable space.

hunter63 · #17 10/26/08, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonya

Does anyone else find the term "electric Amish built" kinda funny to start with?

It's a glorified space heater.

I was thinking the same thing, it's called an "Oxymoron".
You know like "jumbo shrimp"?

The Amish built my log cabin, and there were no electric wires running to the farm and shop where it was built.
They don't have a problem "using" electricity, as long as it belongs to you.

As far as the heater, watts in-heat, out can be calculated.
Number of watts, X hours run, X number of heaters, X price per kwh = monthly bill increase.
No free lunch.

hunter63 · #18 10/26/08, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fae

I have not seen this but they are not Amish because the Amish do not allow their pictures to be taken. The heater may be fine but I object to someone exploiting anyone.

This isn't exactly true, as I have pic's of the Amish crew building my pouch on my cabin, and didn't seem to be a problem.

nrst · #19 10/26/08, 10:18 AM

Sorry this is my first post here but my mil saw this last week and if you read the fine print at the top of the second page it says the heater is made onthe coast of China, and the Amish built the mantle for around it.

soulsurvivor · #20 10/26/08, 10:23 AM

We received this heater as a well-intentioned Christmas present, so it's not like we could send it back. The heater is ok as far as electric heaters go. I have used it here in the back of the house a few times, and it does heat a 10x12 room that has low ceilings and well insulated. It's pretty to look at with fake flame effect. It has a remote control. The metal sticker on the back says it's an "Amish Mantle Made In The USA, Power Unit Made In China". It also says that it's a "Heat Surge Electric Fireplace".

It would be very safe to have around children, so I guess that could be a positive. The metal heating unit is inside this wood mantle rolling cart with a metal front screen and the heat is on a blower fan that can be set from high to low.

One of DH's coworkers has this same heater that he and his wife use as a regular fixture in their living room as a fireplace. They hang their Christmas stockings on it.