Methodology
How we research
Exactly how a Pick A Keeper guide is made, and what it is not.
1. Choose categories worth the homework
We focus on purchases where a wrong choice is costly or annoying: products with real price tags, long lifespans or confusing specs. We look at year-round demand in Canada and the US.
2. Gather primary sources
- Manufacturer specification sheets, user manuals and support articles
- Warranty terms and published cycle-life or filter-life ratings
- Independent certifications and standards where they exist (for example AHAM Verifide, ENERGY STAR and UL/CSA listings)
- Country-specific availability, rebates and regulatory notes
3. Normalise and compare
We put specs in the same units and on the same terms (for example watt-hours and continuous versus surge watts) so the comparison is fair. Where a brand doesn't publish a figure, we say so rather than guess.
4. Decide who each product is for
A "best" pick only means something with a use case. Each pick names who it suits, its trade-offs, and when to choose something else.
5. Keep it current
Every guide shows when it was last reviewed. Specs and models change, and we update guides when they do. If you spot an error, email hello@pickakeeper.com and we'll correct it.
What we don't do
We don't fabricate hands-on test results, star ratings, customer reviews or prices.
We don't accept payment for rankings. Commissions never decide which product is the keeper.
We don't publish prices that will go stale. We link you to check the current price instead.
If a future guide includes our own hands-on testing, it will say so clearly and describe how we tested.