Before you read
A general template, not legal advice
This page is a general privacy policy template for Heat & Cedar. It is written to explain, in plain language, how a site like ours typically handles personal data. It is not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney who knows your situation.
Privacy rules differ by state and by circumstance. If you run a website or a business and need a policy of your own, have a licensed professional review it before you publish.
Heat & Cedar is an independent publisher. We are not a manufacturer, retailer or sauna builder, and we have no affiliation with Harvia, Huum, Almost Heaven, Sunlighten, Finnleo, Clearlight or any other brand. That independence shapes how we handle your data: we collect only what we need to run the site and answer your questions.
This policy explains which data we collect, why we collect it, the legal basis we rely on, how long we keep it, what rights you have and how we use cookies. Where a concrete detail such as a specific processor or retention period would apply, we describe the practice in general terms rather than inventing specifics.
What we collect
Which data we collect
Contact details you give us. When you email us or fill in a contact form, we receive your name, your email address and whatever you write in your message.
Usage data. Like most websites, we receive technical information when you visit: your IP address, browser type, device type, pages viewed, time on page and the site you came from. This is collected through standard server logs and analytics tools.
Cookie data. If you accept cookies, small text files on your device remember your preferences and help us understand how the site is used. Details are in the cookies section below.
We do not ask for payment details, health information or government identifiers, and we do not knowingly collect data from children.
Why we collect it
Purposes of processing
To answer you. When you write to us, we use your contact details to reply. That is the whole purpose.
To run and improve the site. Usage data tells us which guides on sauna sizing, heater power in kW, wiring or running costs are actually read, and where readers drop off. That helps us write better pages.
To keep the site secure. Server logs help us spot abuse, block attacks and diagnose technical problems.
We do not sell your personal data, and we do not use it to build advertising profiles.
The legal ground
Legal basis for processing
Depending on the situation, we rely on one of the following bases recognized under applicable US privacy law and, where it applies to visiting readers, the GDPR:
Your consent, for example when you accept non-essential cookies or sign up for a newsletter.
A legitimate interest, such as keeping the site secure, measuring readership in aggregate and improving our content, balanced against your privacy.
Performance of a request you made, such as replying to your message.
Where the GDPR or a state law such as the CCPA applies to you, you may have additional rights described below.
How long we keep it
Retention period
We keep personal data only as long as needed for the purpose it was collected for, and we do not state fixed periods here because they depend on the system involved.
As a general rule: correspondence is kept while the conversation is active and for a reasonable period afterward, usage data is aggregated or anonymized on a rolling basis, and server logs rotate out automatically. When data is no longer needed, it is deleted or anonymized.
If you ask us to delete your data, we do so unless a legal obligation requires us to keep it.
Your rights
Rights of data subjects
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to know what data we hold about you, to receive a copy of it, to correct inaccurate data, to request deletion, to restrict or object to certain processing and to withdraw consent you previously gave.
California residents have rights under the CCPA, including the right to know, delete and opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell personal information. Readers in the EU or EEA have the rights granted by the GDPR, including the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
To exercise any of these rights, email us at [email protected]. We will respond within the period required by the law that applies to you.
Cookies
How we use cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We group them in three categories.
Essential cookies keep the site working, for example remembering your cookie choice. The site does not function properly without them.
Analytics cookies tell us, in aggregate, which pages are read and for how long. They help us decide what to write next, nothing more.
Preference cookies remember settings such as unit display. You can refuse or withdraw non-essential cookies at any time through the cookie settings or your browser. Blocking some cookies may affect how the site behaves.
Get in touch
Contact
Questions about this policy, or a request to access, correct or delete your data? Email us at [email protected].
We aim to answer privacy requests promptly and within any deadline the applicable law sets. If your question touches on your legal obligations rather than ours, we will tell you honestly that an attorney is the right next step, not a website.