Affiliate Disclaimer
Full transparency about how AC Units Guide is funded and why our affiliate relationships do not affect the price you pay.
TL;DR — What You Need to Know
- We earn commissions when you purchase through links on our site — this is how we fund the website.
- Your price never increases — you pay the same whether you use our link or go directly to the retailer.
- We do not control prices — all pricing is set by retailers and can change at any time.
- Commissions do not influence recommendations — we recommend products based on quality and value, not payout rates.
- Every affiliate page is clearly labeled — you always know when affiliate links are present.
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a common and legitimate business model used by websites, bloggers, and content creators worldwide. In simple terms, it works like this: when a website publisher (like us) includes links to products on a retailer's website, and a visitor clicks those links and makes a purchase, the retailer pays the publisher a small commission as a thank-you for referring the customer.
This is the same model used by major review sites, comparison shopping platforms, and educational resources across virtually every industry. It allows content creators to provide free, valuable information while earning income to cover the costs of research, writing, hosting, and website maintenance.
How Affiliate Links Work
A simple walkthrough of the affiliate process from your perspective
You Read Our Guide
You find helpful AC information on our site
You Click a Link
You click a product link to learn more
You Purchase
You buy on the retailer's website at normal price
We Earn Commission
Retailer pays us — your cost is unchanged
Amazon Associates Program Disclosure
What this means for you:
- When you click on links to Amazon products on our site and make a qualifying purchase, Amazon pays us a commission — typically between 1% and 4% of the product price, depending on the product category.
- Your price on Amazon is exactly the same whether you use our affiliate link or go directly to Amazon.com. The commission is deducted from Amazon's margin, not added to your cost.
- We do not have access to your Amazon account, payment information, order history, or any personal data. All transactions occur directly on Amazon's secure platform.
- Amazon's affiliate program terms require us to disclose our participation — which we do prominently on every page containing affiliate links.
For more information about the Amazon Associates Program, you can visit Amazon's official Associates page.
Other Affiliate Relationships
In addition to Amazon, AC Units Guide may participate in other affiliate programs with retailers and service providers in the HVAC and home improvement industry. These may include (but are not limited to):
Home Improvement Retailers
Major retailers like The Home Depot, Lowe's, and similar stores that sell air conditioning equipment and supplies.
HVAC Direct Sellers
Online retailers specializing in HVAC equipment, parts, and accessories sold directly to consumers and contractors.
Service Marketplaces
Platforms that connect homeowners with local HVAC contractors for installation, repair, and maintenance services.
All affiliate relationships follow the same principles outlined on this page: your cost is never affected, and we clearly disclose when affiliate links are present.
How This Affects You (And How It Doesn't)
We want to be completely clear about what affiliate marketing means for your experience on our website — both the things that change and, more importantly, the things that stay exactly the same.
What Stays the Same
Your purchase price is identical. You access the same products, same sales, same warranties, and same return policies as any other customer.
What Stays the Same
Your personal information is handled entirely by the retailer. We never see your payment details, shipping address, or order history.
What Stays the Same
Your rights as a consumer are fully preserved. You deal directly with the retailer for all customer service, returns, and warranty claims.
What Stays the Same
The quality of our content. We create the same thorough, unbiased guides regardless of whether a page contains affiliate links.
Our Editorial Independence
We understand that affiliate relationships can create a perceived conflict of interest. Readers might wonder: "Are they recommending this product because it's good, or because it pays a higher commission?" This is a fair question, and here is our answer:
Recommendations Based on Merit
We evaluate products based on specifications, efficiency ratings, customer feedback, and value — not on commission rates. A product that pays zero commission can still be our top pick.
No Pay-for-Placement
Brands cannot pay to appear in our recommendations. We never accept payment in exchange for favorable reviews, rankings, or product placements.
Honest Limitations
If we have not tested a product personally, we say so. Our analysis is based on specifications, data, and aggregated user feedback — not fabricated hands-on claims.
Consistent Methodology
We apply the same evaluation criteria across all products in a category. A $200 window AC is judged by the same standards as an $800 unit from a different brand.
We recognize that trust is earned, not assumed. If you ever feel our content is biased or misleading, we encourage you to contact us directly. Reader feedback helps us improve and maintain the standards we set for ourselves.
About Pricing on Our Site
Here is how pricing works on our site:
- We attempt to display accurate pricing based on information available at the time of content creation or last update. However, we cannot guarantee real-time price accuracy.
- Always verify the price on the retailer's website before making a purchase. The price you see on Amazon, Home Depot, or any other retailer's site is the actual price you will pay.
- Sales and promotions happen. A product listed at $500 on our site might be on sale for $400 on the retailer's site — or vice versa if a sale has ended.
- We are not responsible for pricing errors. If you notice a significant discrepancy between our listed price and the retailer's price, please let us know so we can update our content.
How We Use Affiliate Income
Affiliate commissions fund the ongoing operation and improvement of AC Units Guide. Running a comprehensive educational website involves significant costs, and affiliate income allows us to keep our content free for everyone.
Affiliate income is used for:
- Website hosting and infrastructure: Server costs, domain registration, SSL certificates, CDN services, and other technical requirements to keep the site fast and reliable.
- Content research and creation: Time spent researching AC specifications, efficiency standards, market trends, and writing comprehensive guides.
- Tools and subscriptions: SEO research tools, analytics platforms, image licensing, and other resources that improve content quality.
- Content updates and maintenance: Regularly reviewing and updating existing content to reflect changes in efficiency standards, refrigerant regulations, and market conditions.
- Website improvements: Enhancing site speed, mobile responsiveness, accessibility, and user experience based on visitor feedback and analytics data.
Your Choices as a Visitor
You always have options when interacting with affiliate content on our site. We respect your autonomy and want you to feel comfortable, never pressured.
Use Our Links
If you find our content helpful and decide to purchase a product we recommended, using our affiliate link supports us at no cost to you.
Go Direct to Retailer
You can always open a new browser tab, search for the product yourself, and purchase directly from the retailer. Your price will be identical.
Use Ad Blockers
We do not restrict the use of ad blockers or privacy extensions. Our content remains fully accessible regardless of your browser configuration.
Don't Purchase at All
Our primary goal is education. If you use our guides to make an informed decision — even if you buy nothing — we have succeeded in our mission.
FTC Compliance and Legal Requirements
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that websites disclose material connections with advertisers and affiliate partners. This disclosure must be clear, conspicuous, and made before the consumer makes a purchasing decision.
AC Units Guide complies with these requirements by:
- Displaying prominent disclosure notices on every page that contains affiliate product links, not just in a buried footer.
- Using clear, plain language that the average consumer can understand — no confusing legal jargon.
- Placing disclosures near the relevant content rather than requiring users to scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Maintaining this dedicated disclaimer page where visitors can learn about our affiliate relationships in detail.
This disclaimer page is part of our compliance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials in advertising (16 CFR Part 255). For more information about FTC disclosure requirements, you can visit the FTC's Endorsement Guides FAQ.
Additional Disclosures
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions about our affiliate relationships, notice any pricing discrepancies, or have feedback about how we present affiliate content, we want to hear from you.
Contact Us About Affiliate Matters
We take transparency seriously and respond to all inquiries about our business practices.
CONTACT USYou may also find these related pages helpful:
About Us
Learn more about who we are, our mission, and our content creation process.
Privacy Policy
Understand how we handle data, cookies, and your personal information.
General Disclaimer
Important limitations on the use of information provided on this site.
FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions about air conditioners and our website.