Chris Hefferman

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 27 May 2026

HeatWave is built privacy-first. This document explains exactly what the app does — and, more importantly, what it doesn't do — with information about you.

If anything below is unclear, please email hefferapps@outlook.com and we'll explain in plain English.

The short version

• No account, no sign-in, no profile. HeatWave doesn't ask you to register and doesn't keep one.

• No analytics, no tracking, no advertising. We don't include trackers, third-party SDKs, or telemetry of any kind.

• No servers we operate. HeatWave has no backend. All app data lives on your device.

• Location is used only to fetch a local weather forecast via Apple's WeatherKit. We never see, store, or share your location ourselves.

• Indoor temperature stays on your phone. Readings sent in by the Shortcut you set up are stored in an app-private container — not transmitted anywhere.

What HeatWave stores or transmits

On your device only (never leaves it)

• The indoor temperature reading written by the Record Indoor Temperature shortcut you set up during onboarding. Stored in an App Group container so the widget and the app can share it.

• Your preferences — temperature unit (°C / °F), notification sensitivity, onboarding completion.

• A small dashboard snapshot the widget reads, containing the most recent indoor and outdoor temperatures and the next predicted window-timing change.

Sent to Apple, never to us

• Your location is forwarded to Apple WeatherKit when the app needs a fresh forecast. Apple's WeatherKit privacy practices apply (see Apple's privacy policy below).

• In-app tips are processed entirely by Apple's StoreKit. Payment, identity, and billing details are handled by Apple — we receive no card data, no email, and no name.

Only if you write to us

• If you tap Feedback in Settings and send an email, your email client attaches your address and whatever message you write. That message arrives at hefferapps@outlook.com as a normal email and is used only to reply to you. We delete the conversation once it's resolved.

That is the entire list. There are no other channels through which information about you is collected.

What we don't do

We don't:

• Collect your name, email, phone number, or any identifier unless you choose to email us.

• Run any analytics, crash reporting, or A/B testing platform.

• Include any third-party advertising or attribution SDKs.

• Sell, rent, or share your information with anyone.

• Profile you, build an advertising audience, or share data with affiliates or "business partners".

• Operate any backend servers, databases, or user accounts.

Permissions HeatWave asks for

HeatWave asks iOS for three permissions, and only when it needs them:

• Location (when in use). Used the moment we fetch the outdoor forecast. We don't track location in the background. The coordinates go directly to Apple's WeatherKit.

• Notifications. So we can send the "open the windows" / "shut the windows" alerts you've configured. Notifications are scheduled locally on your device.

• Shortcuts. You create a Shortcut that runs HeatWave's Record Indoor Temperature action. That action writes the temperature you provided into the app's private storage. iOS manages this permission via the Shortcuts app.

You can revoke any of these at any time in iOS Settings → HeatWave.

Deleting your data

Because there's no server and no account, deleting HeatWave from your device removes everything HeatWave knows about you:

• The indoor temperature reading.

• Your preferences (units, sensitivity, onboarding state).

• The dashboard snapshot used by the widget.

Nothing is left behind for anyone to delete on your behalf. If you'd rather clear data without removing the app, use Reset everything in Settings (or delete and reinstall).

Children's privacy

HeatWave is not designed for, and is not directed at, children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13 — and in practice the app collects no personal information from anyone, of any age. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us via the feedback email, please contact hefferapps@outlook.com and we'll delete it immediately.

Security

Information stored locally on your iPhone is protected by iOS sandboxing and Apple's device encryption (active whenever you use a passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID). Information sent to Apple's WeatherKit or StoreKit travels over Apple's secure transport. We don't operate any server, so there is no server-side database to secure (or for anyone else to breach).

Third-party services

HeatWave uses these Apple services. We don't include any non-Apple third-party SDKs.

• Apple WeatherKit — outdoor forecast. See Apple's privacy policy.

• Apple StoreKit — in-app tips. Same Apple policy.

• Apple Shortcuts — the indoor temperature integration. Your shortcut runs inside Apple's Shortcuts app; the data only reaches HeatWave through the on-device App Intent you trigger.

Changes to this policy

If we ever change what HeatWave does with information about you, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top and explain the change in the app's release notes. We won't add data collection retroactively without telling you.

Contact

Questions, concerns, or "wait, are you sure you're not tracking me?" inquiries:

📧 hefferapps@outlook.com