Methodology & Corrections Policy

How homeowner guides are researched

• We start with official program, safety, regulatory, and manufacturer sources where available.
• We translate rules into homeowner decisions such as permit scope, paperwork, quote comparison, and deposit risk.
• When official rules change, we update summaries and treat the official source as authoritative.

How directory pages are reviewed

• Listing quality signals such as contact consistency, service detail clarity, and homeowner usability.
• The directory defaults to Google rating, then review count and business name. Visitors can choose review count or name instead. In Featured first sorting, paid Featured listings appear before Promotion and standard listings; paid cards carry Sponsored labels.
• Verification review triggers for identity mismatches, homeowner complaints, or misleading rebate claims.

Verification on this site records a business information review, not a government licence or a guarantee of workmanship. Homeowners should still confirm permit responsibility, trade scope, model numbers, and written warranty terms before signing.

Customer ratings and helpful votes

Customer reviews submitted here have their own rating average and count, calculated from published reviews only. They are separate from Google ratings and do not change the directory’s Google-based ranking. Reviews are labelled Customer-reported experience. Confirmed email accounts are required to review or vote; email confirmation and helpful votes do not prove a completed installation. No customer document uploads are requested.

Positive and negative reviews follow the same moderation rules. Paid listings cannot buy favourable reviews or removal of criticism. Each account has one review per installer and one removable helpful vote per review. Review edits return to moderation and reset their helpful votes. Read the review guidelines for conflicts of interest, moderation and concerns.

Website verification badges

A website badge is issued after a recorded manual review is approved and the business has a published listing. We review business identity and contact consistency, insurance and WCB details when supplied, and partner listings when applicable. Each badge links to a public page showing the current status and the recorded approval date.

Payment covers the review and does not guarantee approval. The badge is issued by Heat Pumps Nova Scotia; it does not imply government, manufacturer, or rebate-program certification. It does not guarantee workmanship, ongoing insurance coverage, leads, or sales.

We may withdraw verification when information is inaccurate or supporting evidence needs review. The website embed checks current status when loaded. Downloaded artwork is a dated snapshot; businesses must remove it if verification is withdrawn and keep it linked to their current status page.

Revenue and disclosure

The site may earn revenue from installer subscriptions and limited advertising on selected content pages. Revenue does not determine article conclusions. Payment affects order in Featured first sorting and sponsored presentation, rather than the default rating order. Regional rating lists use rating, review count and business name. Ratings and review excerpts reflect their source and may be incomplete or change. We do not sell homeowner leads or receive contractor referral commissions.

Website sponsorships appear in a separate strip after the homepage tools or directory results, with at most one sponsor per page. These placements are labelled “Paid advertisement” with the business name. A sponsorship does not change installer ratings, rankings, verification, or editorial recommendations.

Corrections and updates

If you believe a guide or listing is inaccurate, email hello@heatpumpsnovascotia.ca. We review credible correction requests, update material errors, and may revise guide timestamps when source-backed changes are published.

Related pages

Read our About page, Privacy & advertising policy, and Homeowner guides.