A:Answer Hi Mitch,
The face of the unit does not get hot since the flames are fake. The heat blows out of the top of the unit which can get warm, but not enough to burn. It also has an auto-shut off feature if it's overheating. It's a simple plug-in unit so installation is pretty easy, and it can heat an area up to about 400 sq. feet. We hope this helps with your decision!