I looked at heaters for a while before settling on this one. It is not a true infrared heater because of the ceramic element but it also warms up faster and the air is hotter coming out than the infrareds. It is fairly quiet. The fan comes on to help the heater gauge room temperature every 5 minutes or so. Can't even hear it come on unless the room is quiet. Have had it for a month now and it is functioning well. Have had it in our great room. Heater is better suited to a smaller room - would be ideal in a room 1000 square feet or smaller.