Watts & Fixes

Editorial Policy

This page explains how guides on Watts & Fixes are made and what you can expect from them.

Sources come first

Each guide is based on sources you can check, listed at the bottom of the page. In order of preference:

  1. Manufacturer documentation: owner’s manuals, installation guides, and official support pages.
  2. Government and safety agencies: the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
  3. Other reputable references when the first two do not cover a point.

Manufacturer wording is summarized in our own words, not copied.

Illustrations and diagrams

  • Illustrations (the drawn scenes at the top of guides and some step-by-step drawings) are created with AI image tools and reviewed before use. They are there to make a guide easier to follow. They show typical appliances, not any specific brand or model, so always follow your own manual.
  • Diagrams and animated explanations are drawn for the site from the sources cited in each guide. Animations can be paused, and they stay still if your device is set to reduce motion.

How AI tools are used

Guides are researched and drafted with the help of AI tools. AI is useful for collecting and organizing information from long manuals and data tables. It is not treated as a source. Before a guide is published:

  • every factual claim is matched to a cited source;
  • every calculation is run again from the source data;
  • model numbers, error codes, and part locations are checked against the manufacturer’s documents;
  • the safety rules below are applied.

jimi reviews and is responsible for everything published on the site.

Safety rules

  • Guides start with basic safety steps, such as unplugging the appliance or turning off the breaker and water supply.
  • Guides do not give instructions for gas line or gas valve work, refrigerant handling, microwave internals, or electrical panel work. They explain the likely cause and when to call a licensed professional.
  • If a product has an active recall, the guide points you to it first.
  • Every troubleshooting guide includes a “Call a pro if” section.

Numbers and data

Electricity cost figures use the EIA’s latest published average residential price for each state. The month and release date are shown next to every table, and the tables are recalculated when the EIA publishes new data. Your own bill may differ because of your plan’s rates and fees, so the calculators let you enter your own price per kWh.

Updates and corrections

  • Each guide shows when it was published and, if it has changed in a meaningful way, when it was last updated. Dates are not changed unless the content changes.
  • If you find an error, please contact us. Confirmed errors are corrected promptly.

Independence and advertising

The site is supported by display advertising. Advertisers do not choose topics or influence what guides say. If the site ever uses affiliate links, they will be clearly disclosed on the page where they appear.