Cookie Policy

Last updated: June 2024

This Cookie Policy explains how HearthCircuit («we», «us», «our»), the smart home gadgets review site at hearthcircuit.com, uses cookies, localStorage, and similar technologies when you visit our website. It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and what choices you have.

What Are Cookies and Local Storage?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. Local storage (specifically, browser localStorage) is a similar technology that allows a website to store small amounts of data directly in your browser, without an expiry date, until it is manually cleared. HearthCircuit uses a combination of both, kept to a strict minimum.

How HearthCircuit Uses These Technologies

1. Consent Banner Preference (localStorage)

When you first visit hearthcircuit.com, a cookie consent banner appears asking whether you accept or decline non-essential cookies. Your choice is saved in your browser's localStorage under a key that records whether you clicked «Accept» or «Decline». This entry does not expire automatically and remains until you clear your browser data or change your preference.

• Purpose: to remember your consent choice so the banner does not reappear on every page load.
• Type: strictly necessary for site functionality; not used for tracking or advertising.
• Third-party access: none. This data stays in your browser and is not transmitted to our servers.

2. Analytics Cookies (only if you accept)

If you click «Accept» on the consent banner, HearthCircuit loads analytics cookies to help us understand how visitors use our reviews, guides, and buying advice, so we can improve site content and performance. If you click «Decline» or take no action, these analytics cookies are never set, and no analytics scripts are loaded.

• Purpose: to measure page views, session duration, popular articles, and general traffic patterns.
• Data collected: anonymized or pseudonymized usage statistics, approximate location (country/region level), device and browser type.
• Retention: typically between 14 and 26 months, depending on the analytics provider's default settings.
• Provider: our analytics functionality is powered by a third-party analytics service (such as Google Analytics or a comparable provider). These providers set their own cookies once analytics is enabled and process data according to their own privacy and cookie policies.

3. Strictly Necessary Cookies

Some cookies may be set automatically to ensure basic website functions work correctly, such as maintaining page security, load balancing, or remembering that you have interacted with the consent banner. These do not require separate consent because they are essential to delivering the site to you and do not track you for advertising purposes.

Third-Party Cookies

Aside from the analytics cookies described above, HearthCircuit does not knowingly permit third parties to set advertising or cross-site tracking cookies through our pages. If we ever embed third-party content (for example, an embedded video player or a widget from a manufacturer's site) that content provider may set its own cookies according to its own policy; we do not control these and recommend reviewing the relevant third party's cookie policy if you interact with such embedded content.

Managing and Withdrawing Your Consent

You are always in control of whether analytics cookies are set on your device. You can withdraw or change your consent at any time using the following methods:

• Clear your browser storage: Deleting cookies and site data (including localStorage) for hearthcircuit.com through your browser's settings will remove your saved consent choice and any analytics cookies that were set. The consent banner will then reappear the next time you visit, allowing you to make a new choice.
• Browser cookie controls: Most browsers let you block or delete cookies, and clear localStorage, through their privacy or security settings. Refer to your browser's help documentation for step-by-step instructions, as the exact menu names vary between Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and other browsers.
• Private/incognito browsing: Using a private browsing window will prevent cookies and localStorage entries from persisting after you close the window, though you will be asked to make a consent choice again on your next regular visit.

Please note that declining or clearing analytics cookies does not affect strictly necessary cookies required for basic site operation, since these are essential for the website to function.

Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the technologies we use or for legal and regulatory reasons. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised «Last updated» date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or how HearthCircuit handles cookies and localStorage data, please reach out through the contact page on hearthcircuit.com.