Three evidence levels
Vendor-source research
We review vendor-owned product, pricing, help and policy pages. We can describe positioning and published capabilities, but we do not call this hands-on testing.
Hands-on tested
We access the product and run documented HVAC scenarios. A test date, plan and limitations are recorded. A demo watched by an editor is not equivalent to independent account access.
Customer-verified
A current operator independently corroborates a workflow, cost or limitation. We record the business context and verification date without exposing private company information.
The 100-point HVAC rubric
A numerical score is published only when all criteria have evidence. The database derives the overall /10 score from the criterion total; editors cannot type an unrelated overall rating.
| Criterion | Maximum | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Dispatch | 20 points | Visibility, reassignment, skill matching and urgent-call handling. |
| Scheduling | 15 points | Recurring visits, capacity, installation work and conflict control. |
| Mobile field workflow | 15 points | Technician speed, context, forms, photos, signatures and reliability. |
| Estimating and invoicing | 15 points | Pricebook, proposals, approvals, financing, invoices and payments. |
| Reporting | 10 points | Operational, sales and profitability reporting with usable definitions. |
| Integrations and data access | 10 points | Accounting, phones, payments, exports, API and data ownership. |
| Ease of use and onboarding | 10 points | Setup, training, daily usability and administration burden. |
| Support and reliability | 5 points | Support access, reliability communication and issue resolution. |
Pricing research
We preserve the vendor URL and check date. Public entry pricing is labeled as such; custom quotes are not converted into invented estimates. Buyers should confirm billing frequency, included users, setup, add-ons, payments and contract terms in writing.
Update and correction policy
- High-intent pricing and comparison pages are reviewed more frequently than evergreen guides.
- Material corrections include a new verification date and source.
- Vendors may submit factual corrections, but cannot approve editorial conclusions.
- A profile can remain unscored when evidence is incomplete.
Commercial policy
There are no paid ranking positions. Future affiliate relationships, sponsorships or common ownership will be disclosed on the affected page and in the site disclosure. Commercial compensation cannot change the rubric.