It seems that once a company (this one being Fridge Electric) gets a "Don't Buy!" rating from Consumer Reports (for their Cool Surge evaporative cooler) they just figure they have to wait a summer and release it under a new name: Mira-Cool.  The Consumer Reports article on the air cooling unit opens with:

The Cool Surge might sound appealing when you consider the roughly 500 watts needed to run even a small air conditioner. Ohio-based Fridge Electric LLC, which markets the Cool Surge, has even offered a two-for-one deal in full-page ads in The New York Times and other newspapers. But our tests show that when it comes to cooling a room, the Cool Surge is likely to disappoint you at any price.

I first started researching the Mira-Cool product when I saw their full-page ad in USA Today.  I guess they decided to change the name of the unit after Consumer Reports suggested that nobody buy it.  From what I can tell, there is no difference between the Cool Surge and the Mira-Cool.

Their ad in USA Today starts off incredibly misleading with the title, "Public set to get free air cooling units" and goes on to say, "A new miracle air cooler is actually being given away free to the first 11,337 readers.."  Well, after further reading I discovered that it was really a buy 1 (at $298) get 1 free, but you still had to pay for shipping on both units!  But why who cares if you get both of them free if they don't work as advertised?

Any company that says this in their FAQ has to be joking:

Q: Can I leave it on when I'm not home?

A: It's recommended that you don't because when you get home, the MIRA-COOL can quickly blast out ice cooled air.

Unfortunately I don't think Mira-Cool and Fridge Electric is kidding even though their claims are a joke.  Whenever you read something that seems too good to be true...it probably is.  There are hundreds of companies out there trying to take advantage of the public's ignorance on energy issues.  Keep reading Mapawatt Blog (and keep your eyes peeled for other energy scams) and don't get taken advantage of!

P.S. : If you want to see the Mira-Cool product for yourself (and at your own risk) go to www.mira-cool.com and enter claim code MC1008.

Tags: 
air conditioner scam
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fridge electric
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Comments

Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/25/2011 - 20:03
Elizabeth, Don't mind Ginny. She's associated with the company in some way and knows you aren't going to get it fixed. It probably isn't broken anyway. It's just a piece of crap that doesn't work. However the following from their website might help: "The products you purchase from Fridge Electric, LLC are satisfaction guaranteed. If any product fails to meet your reasonable expectations, it may be returned for replacement or refund less shipping. The product must be returned in the original packaging or in preapproved packaging within the 30-day period." You won't find a "service" phone number, but try this one: 1-888-448-2469. You'll get an answering machine or have to wait while they transfer you and then you'll get cut off, but it's worth a try. If you are beyond the 30 day from purchase, you are on your own. Of course, if you happen to get through, they'll delay you until you are, but let us know how your try turned out anyway.
Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/21/2011 - 16:29
Bonnie JulioC, when no one has complained about your response and you want to assure everyone that you don't work for the company - BS! These same ArcticPro, so called air conditioners, are being advertised in Louisiana for $398 plus shipping. You say you paid $266. That ought to tell you just how crappy the company is. .....And where does the water go that is taken out of the air by dehumidifyng the air as "all" true air conditioners do? As far as "US based" in their ads goes, having a set up office in the US to sell cheap, junk foreign made products, doesn't set the scammers above the foreign money scammers or any other low life. It is even more disgusting.
Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 07/08/2011 - 21:37
I bought these (yes at buy 1 get 1 free) for $217 so far I have had NO problem with either of the units. People read. It't an AIR-COOLER NOT an air-conditioner . As an air cooler they are fine. I even take mine camping for the heater in early fall. No problems here :)
Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/27/2011 - 04:24
I bought one of the MRCACL Models about 6 months ago and the Heater and fan worked well. When the heat set in, I began filling the cooler reservoir every 2-3 hours and notice a small drop in temp., but tonight, the cooler pump or whatever went out and I can't reach Mira-Cool for help. It is 103F in my studio apt. Help if you know some means to fix it. Tom Marrs
Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 07/09/2011 - 03:15
Tom. Your claim is bogus. The heating,needs NO water to run. (try again?)
Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/30/2011 - 02:42
Really, Tom? Have you read the comments? Fixed or brand new, you're screwed!
Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/13/2011 - 13:03
BS! A 16'x 13' room - how cool for how long? Where do you live - Alaska? You ought to be ashamed to promote that crap! If you need to buy CHEAP, you should buy a large fan. It's cheaper and it works a whole lot better. The whole reason I'm even on this website is to discourage people who can "least" afford to waste money to waste it on crap from Fridge Electric. They would be better off sticking their heads under a water faucet than trying to cool off with this company's crappy products. They are scammers....legal scammers....but still scammers! Maybe you don't work for the company....maybe you're an owner. They surely are staying silent under all this negative publicity.
Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 07/16/2011 - 15:12
There is a full page ad in today's Dallas paper touting these units. Here's the simple answer to your concerns: it is impossible for any electronic or electromechanical device to operate at 100% efficiency. To illustrate, if you leave the refrigerator door open for anything more than a few minutes, the room will warm up. That's because the cooling unit gives off more heat than it absorbs, which is the same for any air conditioner. Air just in front of one of these scam units can feel cooler, but the room itself will warm up. It's just basic science that any ninth grader should be able to explain.
Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/25/2011 - 19:02
Wrong!
Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/25/2011 - 19:08
People read. Its an AIR-COOLER NOT an air-conditioner !

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