The Cool Surge portable air conditioner claims, in full-page newspaper advertisements that look like newspaper articles, to reduce the temperature of an average room by “up to ten degrees” using as much energy as a 60-watt lightbulb. Other air conditioners often use 500 watts or more, so it sounds like this device might be worth the cost that is double the price of a small window air conditioner.
Consumer Reports had difficult dealing with the company that sells the units. The organization’s testers had no problem ordering the units from the website for about $300 each, but when they attempted work with a customer service representative over the phone to order a unit, they ran into some problems.
But when we later called the Web site’s order line anonymously, we were told we’d have to pay $49 per unit for shipping, or nearly $100 if we had opted for the company’s two-for-one offer. Another call using a different number listed in a Cool Surge newspaper ad yielded yet another price of $148 per unit — plus $49 shipping — for versions with “slight cosmetic damages.” The two-for-one offer had apparently ended.
Furthermore, the testing revealed the air conditioner did not quite perform as expected. When Consumer Reports tested these claims listed above, they found that the Cool Surge cooled an average room, even in an environment most suited for success, by only two degrees.
Here is the video from Consumer Reports.
Negligible cooling nets Cool Surge portable air cooler a Consumer Reports Don’t Buy judgment, Consumer Reports, June 2009
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Ahhh… the ol’ snake oil… you have to love it whenever snake oil makes its reappearance… Reminds you of olden times… :-)
I’m starting to think that ANYTHING with an “As Seen on TV” sticker is a “do not buy” item.
As CR noted, this scam item does provide some MINOR cooling from evaporation as well, but not enough to cool a room a most cases you’d what to. However CR missed a point–the process of freezing the packs in your frig actually creates more heat in your house! See also http://greenhomesamerica.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/another-scam%e2%80%94the-cool-surge-portable-air-cooler/
Thanks,
Mike
ANYTIME YOU SEE OR HEAR “BUT WAIT IF U ORDER RITE NOW WE’LL INCLUDE A 2ND.
UNIT FOR FREE, JUST PAY THE S/H FEE…RIGHT THERE & THEN, STOP * MOVE ON ITS
A SCAM………..
What do I do with the 2 horrible Cool Surge units? I am sick that I lost $400.00 on them…they do nothing and i can’t afford to be out all the money. Will you suggest my best course of action, please?
Would it be best to call the company and ask how to return? I guess i can expect to be out $100 in shipping or what do you suggest?? Thank you kindly.
Once again, NO one seems to be able to answer my question. Does this mean that NONE of these personal cooling systems are any ‘good’? How about persons like my brother who have a room with NO windows, but need to keep cool? We’ve tried the ceiling fan route but all that’s circulated is ‘hot air’. Can NO one prove that at least one or even two of these units work and are any good? It’s good to let us know what ‘doesn’t’ work but how about giving us a ‘heads-up’ to what does in situations like this, or even ‘other’ alternatives besides ceiling fans? Thanks.
There are portable air conditioners that are air conditioners in the truest sense. However, they require that a hose be routed to a window or other exhaust facility to vent the collected heat. It might be possible to vent the device through a duct as one would do for a clothes dryer. One problem is the cost. Portable air conditioners are, BTU for BTU, 2 to 3 times more expensive than window air conditioners.
I did purchase these when they had their 2 for 1 deal this past summer. I was very disappointed in the “A/C” cooling feature, as what it really did was make the room more humid, therefore less comfortable. BUT, I don’t feel as though I wasted my money b/c the unit has several other features that I use on a daily basis. We live at high altitude and the climate is very dry here. We use the humidifier every night in our room and our daughter’s room. It also functions as a space heater which has been great for us this winter AND you can use the humidifier function simultaneously with the heater mode. Just thought I would add my 2 cents.