Abstract: A heater mechanism that includes a combustion chamber that is heated by open flames of a combustion gas generated from solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel, with heat being transferred from the combustion chamber to a heat-carrier that, for indirect or direct transfer of heat to a room that is to be heated, is conveyed via at least one flow-producing mechanism, which is driven by an electric motor that is supplied with power obtained from at least one thermoelectric generator directly from the heat generated by the flame in the combustion chamber. This generator is embodied as a plate-like semiconductor element having a cold side and a side that is to be heated. The cold side is disposed in the inlet region for still-cool heat-carrier, or in the vicinity of the ambient air. The side that is to be heated is disposed either in the convection range of the flame of the combustion chamber, or in the exhaust gas stream from the latter.