This policy sets out how Yard & Grid decides what to publish, how our articles are researched and checked, and how we keep affiliate income separate from editorial judgment. It applies to every guide, comparison, and explainer on the site.
Independence
- Editorial decisions are made by the Yard & Grid editorial team. Manufacturers, retailers, and affiliate networks have no say in what we cover, how we rank products, or what we write about them.
- We do not sell rankings, placements, reviews, or links, and we do not publish sponsored articles.
- We do not accept free products in exchange for coverage. If that ever changes for a specific article, the article will say so at the top.
- Affiliate relationships are disclosed on every page that contains affiliate links and on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Research, not product trials
Yard & Grid does not put products through its own trials. Our guides are based on manufacturer spec sheets and manuals, guidance from public agencies such as the CPSC, FEMA, NOAA, USDA, DOE, and NFPA, university extension publications, independent measurements that other publications have released, and patterns in public buyer feedback.
We write accordingly. Specifications are credited to the manufacturer. Real-world impressions, such as noise or long-term reliability, are credited to owners or to the reviewer who published the measurement. We do not write as though we have handled a product, and we do not describe personal experiences with products we have not owned.
Numbers and calculations
- Every figure in an article should trace back to a source: a spec sheet, a manual, an agency publication, a named independent measurement, or a calculation shown on the page.
- When we calculate runtime, sizing, soil volume, or anything similar, we show the formula and name each assumption, such as an inverter efficiency factor or a solar derate.
- We round honestly, usually down when the figure is one you would rely on in an outage, and we use “about” for estimates.
- If a specification is unpublished or the published figures conflict, we say so and avoid inventing a number.
- We do not write product prices into article text, because prices change often.
Selection and ranking
Each buying guide starts by defining the job the products must do and the household it is written for. Rankings are our editorial judgment of fit for that job, based on specifications and documented limits. The Yard & Grid Score shown on product cards is a separate, formula-based conversion of verified buyer ratings, and the two can disagree. Both are explained on our How We Choose Products page.
Every product we recommend gets a “Best for” and an “Avoid if” note, and the “Avoid if” note names a real reason not to buy.
Bylines
Our articles are published under three editorial pen names, one for each section of the site: Glen Haskins for Power, Diane Carver for Prepare, and Ruth Ellison for Garden. The pen names give each topic a consistent voice and set of standards. We do not attach credentials, degrees, years of experience, or awards to them, and the bios on our About page describe only what each byline covers and how those articles are researched.
Safety boundaries
- We explain electrical concepts such as transfer switches and interlock kits, but we do not give wiring or installation instructions. Any work on a home’s electrical panel should be done by a licensed electrician under local codes and permits.
- Any article that discusses fuel-powered generators includes a carbon monoxide warning: run them outdoors only, at least 20 ft from the home, far from windows, doors, and vents, with the exhaust pointed away from the home, and with working CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, following the manufacturer’s instructions and CPSC guidance.
- We do not make health claims for products, and we do not describe any product or practice as free of risk.
- Our content does not replace the manufacturer’s instructions or local codes. See our Safety Notice.
Writing standards
We write in plain American English with U.S. units. The first sentence of an article answers the question it was written for. Specifications appear in real tables instead of being hidden in long paragraphs. We avoid hype words and empty superlatives, and we use “best” only with a stated condition, such as the best fit for a refrigerator-and-lights outage plan.
Fact-checking before publication
We use software tools, including AI assistance, for research organization, drafting, and structure. Every published article is reviewed, fact checked against sources, and edited by a person who is accountable for it. Nothing is published without that review.
Before an article is published, its figures, model names, and claims are checked against the sources it relies on. Model names must match what the manufacturer uses. Calculations are rerun. Safety statements are compared with current agency guidance.
Updates and corrections
Every article shows its publication date and its most recent update date. Buying guides are reviewed periodically, and when products are discontinued, specifications change, or guidance is revised, we update the article and record the change in its changelog.
If we get something wrong, we correct it. Substantive corrections are noted in the article’s changelog. To report an error, email [email protected] with the page address and what you believe is incorrect.