Editorial Policy
HeatPumps.wiki is designed to help readers make heat-pump decisions from traceable claims, current sources, explicit assumptions, and clear separation between factual information and commercial calls to action.
Source Priority
For technical and time-sensitive claims, our preferred source order is:
- U.S. government agencies and current program documentation
- standards organizations and recognized technical manuals
- manufacturer technical documents for manufacturer-specific claims
- current, transparent third-party datasets
- secondary explanatory sources
We prefer the original source over a page repeating it.
Manufacturer Claims
A manufacturer is the correct primary source for facts such as:
- model availability
- published efficiency
- published sound level
- published low-temperature capacity
- refrigerant
- warranty terms
That does not make manufacturer marketing an independent product test.
We attribute product-performance claims accordingly.
Cost Data
HVAC prices vary by market and project.
When we publish national planning benchmarks, we identify:
- source
- year/update date where available
- whether it is an average or range
- project type
We do not present one dataset as a guaranteed local quote.
Rebates and Incentives
Incentives are volatile.
Our rebate guide points readers toward official program resources. Any incentive record published on this site must include:
- source URL
- jurisdiction
- status
- amount/structure
- verification date
Any stale incentive record will carry a warning.
Users should confirm the official program before purchasing equipment.
Tax Information
Tax pages are general information, not individual tax advice.
We use current IRS/official sources where available and state relevant effective dates.
Product Rankings
"Best" pages are application-based comparisons, not universal product scores.
We compare factors such as:
- climate fit
- low-temperature performance
- efficiency
- system architecture
- serviceability
- controls
- current product availability
We do not claim hands-on testing unless the site actually conducted and documents that test.
AI-Assisted Production
AI tools are part of HeatPumps.wiki's current production workflow and assist with:
- research organization
- draft generation
- comparison structure
- data transformation
- editing
AI output is not treated as a source.
Source verification uses original government, standards, manufacturer, and publisher documents. AI-assisted summaries are not first-hand product research, laboratory tests, or evidence of staff credentials.
Our publication standard is to check claims requiring evidence against the cited source before publication.
Corrections
When a factual error is confirmed, we aim to correct the page rather than preserve an outdated claim for consistency.
Material time-sensitive pages carry a review/update date.
Commercial Relationships
Future lead-generation, referral, affiliate, or advertising relationships may fund the site if implemented.
Our next-step cards link to editorial guides and do not submit leads. Any implemented commercial relationship will be disclosed.
Commercial compensation will not change technical standards, source attribution, or the factual basis of a comparison.
Safety
Repair content is deliberately limited to homeowner-safe observations and basic checks.
We do not provide detailed instructions for:
- high-voltage HVAC electrical work
- refrigerant charging
- bypassing safety controls
- opening energized equipment
Contacting Us About an Editorial Issue
The site currently has no editorial submission channel. A proposed correction should identify:
- page URL
- claim in question
- proposed correction
- supporting source
See the Methodology for calculation assumptions and the publisher reference for citation guidance.