diff --git a/lib/shoppertrak_api_client.py b/lib/shoppertrak_api_client.py
index eaa8cfc..c2f9b5c 100644
--- a/lib/shoppertrak_api_client.py
+++ b/lib/shoppertrak_api_client.py
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ def __init__(self, username, password):
         self.today_str = datetime.now(pytz.timezone("US/Eastern")).date().isoformat()
 
     def query(self, endpoint, date_str, query_count=1):
+        """
+        Sends query to ShopperTrak API and returns the result as an XML root if
+        possible. If the API returns that it's busy, this method waits and recursively
+        calls itself.
+        """
         full_url = self.base_url + endpoint
 
         self.logger.info(f"Querying {endpoint} for {date_str} data")
@@ -56,61 +61,71 @@ def query(self, endpoint, date_str, query_count=1):
             )
 
     def parse_response(self, xml_root, input_date_str, is_recovery_mode=False):
+        """
+        Takes API response as an XML root and returns a list of dictionaries containing
+        result records
+        """
         rows = []
         for site_xml in xml_root.findall("site"):
-            site_str = self._get_xml_str(site_xml, "siteID")
+            site_val = self._get_xml_str(site_xml, "siteID")
             for date_xml in site_xml.findall("date"):
-                date_str = self._get_xml_str(date_xml, "dateValue")
-                if date_str != input_date_str:
+                date_val = self._get_xml_str(date_xml, "dateValue")
+                if date_val != input_date_str:
                     self.logger.error(
                         f"Request date does not match response date.\nRequest date: "
-                        f"{input_date_str}\nResponse date: {date_str}"
+                        f"{input_date_str}\nResponse date: {date_val}"
                     )
                     raise ShopperTrakApiClientError(
                         f"Request date does not match response date.\nRequest date: "
-                        f"{input_date_str}\nResponse date: {date_str}"
+                        f"{input_date_str}\nResponse date: {date_val}"
                     )
                 for entrance_xml in date_xml.findall("entrance"):
                     entrance_val = self._get_xml_str(entrance_xml, "name")
                     if entrance_val:
                         entrance_val = self._cast_str_to_int(entrance_val.lstrip("EP"))
                     for traffic_xml in entrance_xml.findall("traffic"):
-                        enters = self._cast_str_to_int(
-                            self._get_xml_str(traffic_xml, "enters")
+                        result_row = self._form_row(
+                            traffic_xml,
+                            site_val,
+                            date_val,
+                            entrance_val,
+                            is_recovery_mode,
                         )
-                        exits = self._cast_str_to_int(
-                            self._get_xml_str(traffic_xml, "exits")
-                        )
-
-                        start_time_str = self._get_xml_str(traffic_xml, "startTime")
-                        start_dt_str = datetime.strptime(
-                            date_str + " " + start_time_str, "%Y%m%d %H%M%S"
-                        ).isoformat()
-
-                        code = self._get_xml_str(traffic_xml, "code")
-                        is_healthy_orbit = code == "01"
-                        if code != "01" and code != "02":
-                            self.logger.warning(
-                                f"Unknown code: '{code}'. Setting is_healthy_orbit to "
-                                f"False"
-                            )
-
-                        if is_healthy_orbit or not is_recovery_mode:
-                            rows.append(
-                                {
-                                    "shoppertrak_site_id": site_str,
-                                    "orbit": entrance_val,
-                                    "increment_start": start_dt_str,
-                                    "enters": enters,
-                                    "exits": exits,
-                                    "is_healthy_orbit": is_healthy_orbit,
-                                    "is_recovery_data": is_recovery_mode,
-                                    "poll_date": self.today_str,
-                                }
-                            )
+                        if result_row["is_healthy_orbit"] or not is_recovery_mode:
+                            rows.append(result_row)
         return rows
 
+    def _form_row(
+        self, traffic_xml, site_val, date_val, entrance_val, is_recovery_mode
+    ):
+        """Forms one result row out of various XML elements and values"""
+        start_time_str = self._get_xml_str(traffic_xml, "startTime")
+        start_dt_str = datetime.strptime(
+            date_val + " " + start_time_str, "%Y%m%d %H%M%S"
+        ).isoformat()
+
+        status_code = self._get_xml_str(traffic_xml, "code")
+        if status_code != "01" and status_code != "02":
+            self.logger.warning(
+                f"Unknown code: '{status_code}'. Setting is_healthy_orbit to False"
+            )
+
+        return {
+            "shoppertrak_site_id": site_val,
+            "orbit": entrance_val,
+            "increment_start": start_dt_str,
+            "enters": self._cast_str_to_int(self._get_xml_str(traffic_xml, "enters")),
+            "exits": self._cast_str_to_int(self._get_xml_str(traffic_xml, "exits")),
+            "is_healthy_orbit": status_code == "01",
+            "is_recovery_data": is_recovery_mode,
+            "poll_date": self.today_str,
+        }
+
     def _check_response(self, response_text):
+        """
+        If API response is XML, does not contain an error, and contains at least one
+        traffic attribute, returns response as an XML root. Otherwise, throws an error.
+        """
         try:
             root = ET.fromstring(response_text)
             error = root.find("error")
@@ -139,13 +154,19 @@ def _check_response(self, response_text):
             return root
 
     def _get_xml_str(self, xml, attribute):
-        if not xml.get(attribute):
+        """
+        Returns XML attribute as string and logs a warning if the attribute does not
+        exist or is empty
+        """
+        attribute_str = (xml.get(attribute) or "").strip()
+        if not attribute_str:
             self.logger.warning(f"Found blank '{attribute}'")
             return None
         else:
-            return xml.get(attribute).strip()
+            return attribute_str
 
     def _cast_str_to_int(self, input_str):
+        """Casts string to int and logs a warning if the string cannot be cast"""
         if not input_str:
             return None