Every technical claim names its source
A page cannot state what a code means, what a component does, or what a manufacturer requires without a source that says so. Sources are listed at the foot of every technical page with the publisher and the document named, and links go to the original wherever it is publicly available.
We prefer manufacturer service manuals, then installation and operation manuals, then official manufacturer support articles, then government and standards-body guidance. Forum posts, retailer blog content, and video walkthroughs are not treated as sources.
Scope is stated, never implied
Codes are defined per product family. A definition that applies to one series is published as applying to that series, with the models listed, and not generalised across a brand.
Where a manufacturer publishes different meanings for the same code across generations, the page says so. Where documentation does not exist, the page says that too, and does not fill the gap with a plausible guess.
The safety boundary is part of the content
Each technical page separates checks that an owner can carry out safely from work that requires isolation, instruments, or certification. That line is drawn conservatively.
Anything involving opening electrical compartments, working on a refrigerant circuit, testing under load, or handling combustion components is technician work, and the page says so instead of describing how to do it.
Uncertainty survives editing
If a source is ambiguous, the page reports the ambiguity. If two manufacturer documents disagree, the page shows both and says which applies to which equipment.
Writing that reads as more certain than the evidence supports is treated as an error and corrected like any other.
Review status is visible
Pages carry one of two states. Source verified means the technical claims have been checked against the cited documentation. Editorial review means the page has been written and edited but is awaiting that verification.
Where a qualified technician or engineer has reviewed a page, they are named on it with their credentials. We do not invent bylines, and we do not describe experience the desk does not have.
Independence from manufacturers and advertisers
HVAC Bench is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any manufacturer named on the site. Brand names and model numbers appear for identification only, and remain the property of their owners.
No manufacturer, retailer, contractor, or advertiser reviews content before publication or has any influence over what a page says. Affiliate links, where used, are disclosed and never change a technical conclusion.
How AI tooling is used
AI tools assist with drafting, structuring, and editing, in the same way a word processor or a research assistant would. They do not decide what is true.
Every technical claim is checked against the cited manufacturer documentation by a person before publication, and no page is published because a model produced a fluent-sounding answer. Where verification is not possible, the page does not publish.
Updating and dating
Every technical page shows when it was last reviewed. A review means the sources were re-checked and the content still matches them, not simply that a date was changed.
Pages are revisited when a manufacturer updates its documentation, when a reader reports a problem, and on a rolling schedule as the library grows. Substantive changes are logged on the corrections page.