How We Make Money

Last updated: March 17, 2026

ZipCheckup Is Free to Use

Every report on ZipCheckup -- water quality, product recalls, energy rebates, emergency alerts -- is available at no cost. We believe everyone deserves access to clear, actionable information about their home and community.

How We Earn Revenue

We earn revenue in two ways:

1. Pay-Per-Call Partnerships

When you see a phone number on ZipCheckup (labeled "Paid Partner"), it connects you with a licensed, independent service provider -- such as a plumber, water treatment specialist, or HVAC technician. We receive a fee when you call that number, regardless of whether you hire the provider. There is no cost to you for making the call.

2. Affiliate Links (Coming Soon)

In the future, we may earn commissions when you purchase recommended products (such as water filters or radon test kits) through links on our site. These will always be clearly labeled.

What This Does NOT Affect

Our revenue model has no influence on:

  • Data accuracy -- All water quality data, violation counts, contaminant levels, and safety scores come directly from federal government databases (EPA SDWIS, EPA LCR, CPSC, DOE, NWS, and others).
  • Safety scores and rankings -- Our Home Safety Score is calculated using a transparent, formula-based methodology applied equally to every ZIP code.
  • Editorial content -- We do not accept payment to alter, suppress, or prioritize any data or report.

Phone numbers and partner links are clearly labeled and separated from editorial content. The presence or absence of a partner in a given area does not change the data we display.

Our Data Sources

All data on ZipCheckup comes from official government databases. We do not generate, modify, or editorialize the underlying data. Sources include:

  • EPA SDWIS -- Safe Drinking Water Information System
  • EPA LCR -- Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
  • EPA Radon Zones -- County-level radon risk classification
  • CPSC -- Consumer Product Safety Commission recall database
  • DOE / Rewiring America -- Federal and state energy rebate programs
  • NWS -- National Weather Service alerts and advisories
  • EIA -- Energy Information Administration utility data
  • U.S. Census Bureau -- Housing age and demographic data

Questions?

If you have questions about our business model or data independence, contact us at [email protected].