In Minnesota’s cold winters, space heaters can be great at warming up those chilly or drafty spots around the house. Of course, you’ll want one that not only heats well, but also does it safely. That’s where Consumer Reports comes in, with recommendations on the best heater, plus tips to keep your family safe when using them.

Paul Hope, a Consumer Reports Home Editor, says a series of safety tests are done to identify heaters that may pose a burn risk.

“The safest space heaters shut off automatically if they become too hot or if they’re knocked over,” said Hope.

The safety test also assigns a Poor rating if the heater ignites cotton fabrics on its hottest setting.

Ultimately, choosing the right space heater for your home comes down to what you want the space heater to do.

“You need to consider whether you’re just trying to warm yourself up or whether you’re trying to heat an entire room. Our tests show that not all models can do both,” said Hope.

In a test, Consumer Reports equipped a mannequin with four temperature sensors to record and measure how well a heater can spot heat. In that test chambers, an assessment was done on how well a heater can warm up a standard sized room.

The Vornado scored excellent for spot heating and also passed the safety tests with flying colors.

However, if you want to heat a whole room and yourself, a Comfort Zone space heater delivers, earning an excellent rating in Consumer Report’s fire safety test. However, it is hotter to the touch compared to other models.

Still, it ranks as a Consumer Reports Best Buy at $50.

If you have kids or pets, and are concerned about hotter surfaces, Consumer Reports says a Lasko Bladeless Tower is a good alternative, and costs $100. It also does well at safely heating a whole room, as well as spot heating.

A few other safety tips: Never use extension cords with portable space heaters and keep your heater on the floor at least three feet away from anything that can burn.

CLICK HERE for a space heater buying guide from Consumer Reports.