Transparency · partner links

Recommendations should be useful before they are commercial.

Softener Scout may eventually use affiliate or referral links for compatible parts, replacement equipment, testing products, or professional help. This page explains how those links will be handled.

The short version

At launch, the diagnosis comes first.

The current site does not require an account and does not put a product link inside the repair triage. If a future link earns a commission, it will be labeled near the link so you can recognize it before clicking.

A commission will not change the symptom guidance, the safety stop points, or the decision to repair instead of replace. We will not describe a product as compatible without a model, specification, or installation boundary to support that claim.

How links will work

Labeled clearly

Paid links will not be hidden.

A nearby disclosure will identify affiliate, referral, or lead links. We will not disguise a commercial link as a neutral diagnostic instruction.

Matched to evidence

Compatibility comes before commission.

Product suggestions should follow the model, symptom, water source, capacity, or repair boundary collected by the guide.

No pay-to-rank

Commercial placement is not a diagnosis.

A paid relationship will not make a product the default answer or change the order of a safety-first checklist.

Before you buy

Start with the symptom and the model label.

A good product comparison begins with evidence. Use the repair triage, then open the focused guide for the symptom you actually see.

Open repair triage ↗

Page checked 2026-08-29. If the site adds analytics, advertising, or partner services, the relevant disclosures will be updated before those services are used.