A water heater guide is only useful if it is correct for your house, your code jurisdiction and this year’s prices. These standards describe how we try to meet that bar on every page, and what you can do when we miss it. They apply to service pages, type pages, library guides, glossary entries and the answers in our tools.
Originality
Every page on this site is written by Ohio Water Heater Authority. We do not copy, paraphrase or lightly rewrite manufacturer marketing, competitor pages or content from other trades. When we describe how a unit works, the description comes from the manufacturer’s installation manual and our own field experience, in our own words. Where a manual is the right thing to read, we link to it as a source rather than reproducing it.
Sources
Technical claims trace to one of a small set of authorities, and the sources used on a page are listed at the bottom of it.
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver, for efficiency, sizing method and operating cost concepts.
- ENERGY STAR for certification criteria on heat pump and gas water heaters.
- The 2024 Ohio Plumbing Code, the Residential Code of Ohio and the Ohio fuel gas provisions for installation requirements, and the permitting pages of the City of Columbus and county building departments for fees and procedures.
- Manufacturer installation and service manuals for the specific units we carry, for clearances, venting, gas sizing and electrical requirements.
- Where a claim is our own practice rather than a code rule, the page says so. A recommendation is labeled as a recommendation.
We do not cite forums, aggregator sites or other contractors. If we cannot source a number, we do not publish it.
Pricing accuracy
Prices on this site come from one place: the live price book that our dispatch team quotes from. Starting-at prices and accessory prices are pulled from it when a page renders, and every price is shown with the date the price book was last updated. Prices are always described as starting at or as an estimated installed price, never as fixed, because the final figure depends on conditions the technician verifies on site. Permit fees are quoted at the jurisdiction’s cost and updated when a jurisdiction changes its schedule. We never promise the lowest price, and we do not publish prices we would not honor.
Review
Every page carries a byline that shows the reviewer, OWHA Technical Review, the date the page was written and the date it was last reviewed. A licensed tradesperson checks each page against current codes and manuals before publication and at least every 12 months afterward. Pages are also reviewed out of cycle when a code edition, permit fee, manufacturer specification or price changes. The editorial team page describes the roles in detail.
AI assistance
We use AI tools in two places, and we say so. First, an AI tool may help produce a first draft or a summary that a human editor then rewrites and a human reviewer then checks; no page is published without both. Second, our find-my-heater tool uses image recognition to suggest a likely make, model and heater type from your photo. That identification is always presented as likely, not certain, and the technician confirms the actual unit on site before anything is ordered or installed. AI tools do not set prices, do not approve work and do not write the safety instructions on this site without human review.
Corrections
When we get something wrong, we fix it and say so. A correction that changes the meaning of a page, a price or a safety instruction is noted at the bottom of that page with the date and a short description of what changed. Minor edits such as typos and link updates are made without a note. To report an error, call 844-792-8374 and ask for the editorial team, or write to Ohio Water Heater Authority, Editorial, 10 N. High St., Suite 217, Columbus, OH 43215. Reports are checked within five business days and you receive a reply either way.
Reviews and projects
We do not fabricate reviews, ratings, star counts, testimonials, project photos or customer names, and we do not publish any we cannot verify. At launch we have no published reviews, and the reviews page says so rather than filling the space. Reviews are collected through Google after a completed job and only from verified customers. Project write-ups, when they appear, describe real jobs with the customer’s permission and without identifying the address.
Advertising
This site carries no third-party advertising, no affiliate links and no sponsored content. No manufacturer, retailer, utility or agency pays for placement or endorses us. When we name a brand or a product, it is because we install it or because the comparison is useful to you. Our revenue comes from the work we do in your home, and that is the only commercial interest on these pages.
Accessibility
We are committed to a site that works for everyone, including people who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, magnification or reduced motion settings. Our target is WCAG 2.2 Level AA, and every online flow on this site has a phone alternative at 844-792-8374. The accessibility page describes what we have done, what we know is still imperfect and how to report a barrier.
What these standards do not cover
These standards describe how we write. They are not a warranty, a contract or a substitute for the estimate you sign. Pricing, warranty and cancellation terms live on the terms of service page. Personal data handling lives on the privacy policy page. If a page on this site ever conflicts with the signed estimate, the signed estimate governs.
Questions about a page?
Call 844-792-8374 and ask for the editorial team, or start with the guide that brought you here.
