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HearthDry
Transparency Policy

How We Rank, Refer, and Get Paid

HearthDry is an independent resource. We have no financial relationship with any restoration contractor that influences how we present information or make referrals. Here is exactly how we operate.

What HearthDry Is

HearthDry is an independent educational and referral resource for U.S. homeowners dealing with water damage emergencies. We are NOT a restoration company. We do NOT perform any restoration work. We educate homeowners and connect them to licensed, IICRC-certified restoration professionals.

How We Make Money

HearthDry earns revenue from four sources. All are disclosed here and on the relevant pages. None of these relationships influence our editorial content, guide accuracy, or ranking recommendations.

Revenue SourceHow It WorksWhere Disclosed
Pay-Per-Call (Lead Gen)We earn a fee when a homeowner calls our tracking number and connects with a certified pro (typically 90–120 sec min)Site footer, city pages, service pages
Lead Form ReferralsWe earn a referral fee when homeowners submit quote requests and are matched with a verified IICRC contractorSite footer, city pages
Amazon AssociatesWe earn a commission when readers purchase products via Amazon links in our equipment guides and review pagesAmazonProductStrip footer, review pages
Sylvane (via CJ Affiliate)We earn a commission on professional restoration equipment sold through Sylvane.com via Commission JunctionGuide pages with Sylvane CTAs, review pages
Choice Home Warranty (via CJ)We earn a commission when homeowners purchase a CHW home warranty plan via our affiliate linkCity pages and guide pages — labeled 'Sponsored'

We Do

  • Label all affiliate and sponsored placements clearly on the page
  • Use rel="sponsored" on all affiliate links per FTC and Google guidelines
  • Base editorial rankings solely on performance, IICRC compliance, and homeowner value — never on commission rate
  • Verify all referred contractors for IICRC certification, state licensing, and insurance before referral
  • Update product links whenever we find a product is discontinued or unavailable

We Don't

  • Accept payment from contractors to rank higher in our city listings or service pages
  • Promote contractors on editorial pages without labeling it as sponsored content
  • Charge homeowners anything — our referral service is free
  • Rank products higher in reviews because of higher affiliate commissions
  • Share homeowner information beyond what's needed for the referral connection

How We Select Contractors to Refer

Every contractor we refer must meet minimum standards at the time of referral. We use a combination of manual verification and ongoing monitoring to ensure quality.

  1. 1IICRC firm certification verified at iicrc.org (current, not expired)
  2. 2State contractor license verified with state licensing board (TX TDLR, FL DBPR, AZ ROC)
  3. 3Active general liability insurance (minimum $1M per occurrence)
  4. 4Active workers' compensation coverage
  5. 5Physical local business address (not a national call center serving an area remotely)
  6. 6At least 12 months of verifiable operating history
  7. 7No active complaints with BBB or state contractor licensing board in past 24 months

Editorial Independence

All guides, cost estimates, and educational content on HearthDry are written by our editorial team and reviewed by restoration industry professionals. No contractor pays to be mentioned in editorial content. Cost estimates are based on regional data analysis, not contractor-provided figures. Insurance information is reviewed for accuracy against state department of insurance publications. We update content when regulations, standards, or market conditions change.

Questions or Concerns?

If you believe a contractor we referred did not meet our standards, or if you have questions about our business practices, please contact us at our contact page. We investigate every complaint and remove contractors who fail to maintain standards.