Privacy Policy

This policy explains what Heat Pump Guides collects when you visit the site, listen to the podcast, or ask us to connect you with a contractor — and what we do with it.

Who we are

Heat Pump Guides publishes a podcast and written guides about heat pumps, and helps homeowners find contractors to install and service them. When this policy says “we”, “us”, or “our”, it means Heat Pump Guides. When it says “you”, it means anyone using the site, listening to the show, or contacting us.

What we collect

Information you give us

You can read the site and listen to episodes without telling us anything. We only collect personal information when you choose to send it, which typically means:

• Contractor requests. When you ask to be connected with an installer, we collect what you tell us about your home and how to reach you — name, email address, phone number, town or ZIP code, and details about your heating system, home size, or project.
• Email and correspondence. If you email us, subscribe to updates, or send a question for the show, we keep your message and contact details so we can reply.
• Interview participation. If you appear as a guest, we collect what you share with us for that purpose, and we agree separately with you how it will be used.

Information collected automatically

Like most websites, our host records basic technical information when you load a page: IP address, browser and device type, referring page, and the pages you viewed. We use this to keep the site working and to understand which guides people find useful.

Podcast listening data

Our episodes are distributed through a podcast host and through apps such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Those services measure downloads and plays, and give us aggregate statistics — roughly how many people listened, and broadly where. We do not receive the names or email addresses of individual listeners from them. Your use of those apps is governed by their own privacy policies, not this one.

How we use it

• To connect you with contractors when you have asked us to.
• To answer your questions and follow up on a project.
• To send updates or new episodes, if you asked for them.
• To understand which content is useful and improve the site and the show.
• To keep the site secure and to meet legal obligations.

Sharing your details with contractors

This is the most important disclosure in this policy, so we will be plain about it.

When you ask us to connect you with an installer, we pass the details you gave us to one or more independent contractors so they can contact you about your project. That is the entire point of the request, and we cannot fulfil it without sharing.

Those contractors are separate businesses. They are not owned or employed by us. Once your information reaches them, their own privacy practices apply, and we do not control how they store or use it. If you want to know what a particular contractor does with your details, ask them directly before you engage.

If you would rather not be contacted by a contractor, do not submit a request — or email us and we will remove you from any pending referral.

Other sharing

Beyond contractor referrals, we share personal information only in these situations:

• Service providers. Companies that host the site, deliver our email, or measure traffic, acting on our instructions.
• Legal reasons. Where we are required to by law, or to protect our rights or someone's safety.
• Business transfer. If the business is sold or merged, information may transfer as part of that transaction.

We do not sell your personal information to unrelated third parties for their own advertising. Note that some state privacy laws define “sale” and “sharing” broadly enough to cover referral arrangements like ours; the contractor sharing described above is disclosed here so you can make an informed choice.

Cookies and analytics

We use a small number of cookies and similar technologies to keep the site working and to measure traffic in aggregate. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings; the site will still work, though some preferences may not be remembered. We do not run third-party advertising trackers.

Your choices and rights

Depending on where you live — including under California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia and similar state laws — you may have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct or delete it, or opt out of certain sharing. You can exercise any of these rights by emailing us, whether or not the law where you live requires it. We will not treat you differently for asking.

You can unsubscribe from any email we send using the link in that email.

How long we keep it

We keep contractor request details for as long as needed to complete the referral and handle any follow-up, and correspondence for as long as it is useful to answer you. When information is no longer needed, we delete it or strip out anything identifying.

Security

We take reasonable steps to protect the information we hold. No website or transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please do not send sensitive information such as financial account numbers through the site.

Children

This site is meant for adults making decisions about their homes. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the business changes or the law does. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. Material changes will be noted on this page.

Contact us

Questions about this policy, or want us to delete your information? Email info@heatpumpguides.com.