The heater on a freestanding electric fireplace works much like any conventional space heater. A blower sucks air into the fireplace and forces it through a heating element, which in turn heats up the air as it’s blown into the room.

On my freestanding electric fireplace, the heater is located at the base of the unit.

The blower is located at the back of the heater, pulling in air from the back of the fireplace, and pushing out through the front.