I must have read reviews about a least a dozen manufactures and sellers before we purchased this. The design is simple and attractive. The flames are nice and the logs themselves are extremely realistic. We purchased this for a corner fireplace unit we had built. I really don't think it would give out enough heat to heat a whole room. Having said that the room we have it in has extremely high cathedral ceilings and this is just enough heat to take the edge off so we don't have to heat the whole house just to keep this room comfortable. We can't hear the fan at all when its running. We couldn't be happier with the purchase or the service.