Thermophore MaxHeat Arthritis Pad Moist Heating Pad Size Large 14" x 27" - Model 155

UPDATE: PLEASE READ -- After the old rep refused to be helpful, a new rep took her place. She was extremel helpfy and replaced every one of the broken pads. After those broke too -- she reported it to the company. She then told me that they found the cause of the problem -- but for proprietary reasons, could not tell me what it was. She said the problem and been fixed -- sent me replacements again & 1 1/2 years later they are all working.!!Good, old Thermaphore is back!! These are by far the best pads ever. Soent one ot my 92 year old (extremely physically active) mom and she absolutely loves it.The new rep has posted comments on a number of negative reviews with how ot get in touch with her. Just check them out.I leave the below original post so readers can see the history.********************************************I had a 14 x 14 Thermophore with the manual handle for 7 years. Though the heating pad element was still working, the switch broke. It was the most wonderful moist heating pad.I have recurring back problems and cannot do without a heating pad.So I purchased a new one in November 8th, 2010 from Amazon directly 14 x 14 with manual switch. It worked fantastically and then started to heat up less and less. The pad stopped heating altogether on April 29 2011 -- ***6 months later***!On April 29, 2011, I purchased a 2nd replacement unit from an Amazon market place seller, Trend Marketing, 14 x 14, this time with the autoswitch. The pad stopped heating November 29 2011 - ****6 months later****.November 29, 2011 I purchased a 3rd replacement unit from a different Amazon Market Place Seller, Set 4 Baby, 14 x 14 with manual switch -- stopped heating May 22, 2012 -- ****6 months later****.Because my latest back problem is a facet disorder, I felt a larger unit would work better -- so I purchased the one here, my **4th** replacement unit in 18 months on May 22, 2012 - 14 x17 from the same Amazon Market Place Seller, Set 4 Baby, with the autoswitch -- the heating element in this one died in ****7 weeks!****After the first replacement unit broke, **I called Battle Creek** because the item was well within the warranty period. The customer service rep said I had to send in the item at my expense, they would examine it and if they deemed it broken due a defect on their part, they would replace it but not reimburse my shipping expense which would be about 25% of the purchase price. Plus it would take 4-6 weeks for this whole process to conclude.I then read similar complaints on Amazon -- and noted that, for those who incurred the expense to send the unit in -- the company seemed to find one or another excuse as to why the company was not at fault: even though the purchaser had the item for much less than the warranty year, the purchaser was sold an item that was over three years old, another purchaser "misused" it (without explanations as to how), etc.I couldn't be without the pad -- so I decided this particular pad was a fluke because my last one lasted 7 years. That's why I bought a 3rd unit.So on May 22, 2012 I purchased a 3rd unit from the Amazon Market Place Seller Set 4 Baby, this time the 14 x 27 with autoswitch.I then noticed that very recently, on a lot of the complaints, a Customer Service rep would post saying they were sorry for the customer's bad experience and to call.So I called -- the Customer Service rep said she was new and taking over the customer service division. I went through my history of purchases -- she said that was just too awful and sent me 2 14 x 14 pads for free as replacements.A few weeks later, when I contacted her to purchase a replacement cover for the 14 x 17 that my assistant had inadvertently shrunk in the wash, she also offered to send me that for free as well.********Customer Service at Battle Creek has definitely improved************ But----And then I couldn't believe it but this new 14 x 17 pad stopped heating this evening July 7 -- only 7 weeks! after purchase.I have spent over $200 on heating pads form this company in 18 months -- all of which broke very soon after purchase. My original one lasted 7 years. I haven't used any of them in any different manner.I've written the service rep about this with a complete detailed summary as I have here. I begged her to take this to the head of manufacturing so they could see the problem. Clearly this company has changed the quality of their goods. Hopefully, they will see the error of their ways and figure out how to return to the earlier means of manufacturing.

Best one of all I have tried. it heats very well. Glad to have found it. This is the 3rd one in over 5 years.

Awesome

The pad is gently warm in one minute, and reaches maximum heat within 3 to 5 minutes.With the pad laying on top the body it gets very warm, the pause and/or off button turns off heat at any point.The instructions say to not lay on the pad. When I tried laying my leg on top the pad, the captured heat was intensely uncomfortable.Curious how hot?> 1. I laid a candy thermometer between pad & body = 123 degrees.> 2. Pad wrapped around thermometer = 140 degrees.(Customer service says it can get up to 160 degrees if trapping heat by laying on it)> 3. Pad wrapped around thermometer, with blanket on top = 162 degrees.The pads moist heat penetrates tissue and joints which is very effective in giving remarkable relief.I purchased this to help with a knee injury and experienced improved mobility and less aches and painstarting from the first time of use. (Two 20 minute sessions)I felt the treatments alleviated soreness and jump started a healing process,because the area was still dramatically more limber the next day.OVERVIEW OF PRODUCT ~> 1. The 100% cotton cover is specifically designed to absorb moisture from the atmosphere between usesand release the moisture during heat activation. The moisture is obviously present because skin or clothing becomes slightly damp.> 2. Auto Switch ~ Small red light stays continually on to show it's plugged in properly ~ Aids finding switch in the dark.Switch has a bar of four blinking lights ~ one bar per 5 minutes. A light becomes solid with each 5 minutes used.Automatically turns off in 20 minutes. (Much nicer to use then Thermophore's 'Classic switch' (in their red boxes)which must be continually held down to heat)There's no control of heat settings, such as high - med - low. And no way to have it stay on continually.I phoned customer service to ask them why the product is designed this way, they said ~ safety reasons.Because it gets very warm/hot to provide good therapy, as hot as 160 degrees if covered or laid on top of,it can be harmful to a person ~ burns. And dangerous ~ electric shock and/or fire.> 3. Large pad (14" x 27") is weighted construction so it drapes better over the body. Pad with cover weights 2.12 lb.> 4. Latex free ~ On the box it says "contains no chemicals". Instructions booklet under warnings says"This product contains chemicals which are known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm".> 5. Made in U.S.A. Two year warranty from date of purchase, but if don't have receipt, 3 year warranty from date of manufacturing.Costumer service says they don't use reconditioned products, all replacements are new.A sticker on the end of the box contains the 3 digit model #, the middle 4 numbers are the manufacturing date.The first two # stand for which of 52 weeks of the year ~ the last two stand for the year. So 5113 = Dec 2013.This is an outstanding product in both high end quality and effectiveness.Suggested ~ effective uses for this moist heat, heating pad ~ arthritis pain ~ back pain ~ fibromyalgia ~ TMJ ~muscle spasms ~ chronic pain ~ and speeding the recovery of injury's.I found this #155 at out local medical supply store for $102.95 plus tax.I was delighted to purchase it on Amazon for less ($63.88 & free S&H)

About 30 years ago a physical therapist told me to get one of these, so I did. I have FMS and use mine daily, both morning and night. I usually have to replace every 2 or 3 years, and I do. The last time i replaced it, I noticed a difference in its size and even a change in the wiring, and its cover. It takes much longer to get heat on the low setting and when it does get hot, it’s too much on high. Then there’s the moisture deep heat, which is just not like it used to be. Now, granted pricing hasn’t gone up all that much, but instead the quality just isn’t quite the same. Is it better than what I’m going to find at my local drugstore or mart? Yes, it is. But Battle Creek should remember their long time customers NEED HEAT THERAPY that’s as good as the PT Office. So, Please give us the better quality back; and i’ll gladly pay you for it. Your long time customers NOTICE these changes and they’re just not a good thing. Why mess with perfection? I’d also like to see an add’l cover included, so when one is air drying, there’s a replacement. Also too much shrinkage, so pls make them 1” wider and longer! and i know you also shrunk the Large heating pad.

We have been buying these heating pads for years. They are the best product of its kind on the market!