Smoke Chamber Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 13, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how VinTEK Solutions ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects your information when you use the Smoke Chamber mobile application ("Smoke Chamber" or the "App").

Smoke Chamber is a brand-agnostic BBQ companion with a curated recipe library, a live cook timeline, AI-assisted ingredient substitutions, pantry tracking, and optional Bluetooth thermometer support. By using Smoke Chamber, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

1. Information We Collect

Account Information (optional)

Smoke Chamber can be used fully without an account. The curated recipe library, search, favorites, pantry tracking, and offline mode work for anonymous users. If you choose to create an account (required only for Pro features that back up to the cloud), we collect:

• Email address (used as your login identifier)
• Display name (optional)
• Authentication credentials managed by Firebase Authentication
• An anonymous user identifier (UID) — used to associate your saved data with your device or account

Your Personal Cook Data

The data you create while using Smoke Chamber is associated with your anonymous UID or signed-in account:

• Favorited recipes and pinned cuts/techniques
• Custom cooks and recipe variations you save
• Photos you optionally upload for your cook journal (Pro)
• Pantry inventory (rubs, sauces, woods, accessories)
• Cook session logs — timeline events, temperatures, notes
• Theme preference, units preference (°F/°C), and other in-app settings
• Pro subscription state

Bluetooth Thermometer Data (optional)

Smoke Chamber supports optional connection to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless meat thermometers. When you choose to pair a thermometer:

• The App requests Bluetooth and nearby-devices permission to scan for and connect to your thermometer
• Temperature readings are streamed from the thermometer directly to the App on your device
• Thermometer readings are stored locally with your cook session log and synced to your account only if you sign in
• We do not use Bluetooth permission to scan for or track other devices, your location, or nearby people

If you don't pair a thermometer, the App does not access Bluetooth at all.

Curated Recipes & Technique Library (Content You Don't Own)

The curated recipe library, technique guides, cut-by-method matrices, and reference content shipped with Smoke Chamber are created by VinTEK Solutions (and partially generated and curated using AI). You do not author this content and it is not private to you. Your interactions with it (favorites, cook logs, custom variations) are yours.

Camera, Microphone, Location, Contacts

Smoke Chamber does not access your device location, microphone, or contacts. The app may request access to your photo library or camera only if you explicitly choose to upload a photo for one of your cook sessions or custom cooks (a Pro feature). Photos are uploaded only when you tap the upload action — never automatically.

Usage & Crash Data

We may collect anonymous, aggregated usage data (app opens, feature usage, crash reports) via Firebase Analytics to improve the app. This data cannot be used to identify you personally, and no advertising identifier is collected.

Payment Information

Subscriptions and one-time purchases are processed by Google Play Billing (Android) and the Apple App Store (iOS), with subscription state managed via RevenueCat. We do not collect, store, or have access to your credit card numbers or payment account details.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide the recipe library, search, favorites, and technique features
• Power the live cook timeline and thermometer-driven alerts
• Generate AI-assisted ingredient substitutions and custom-cook suggestions
• Sync your cooks, pantry, and journal across devices when you sign in
• Process and validate your Pro subscription or lifetime purchase
• Improve and debug the app via crash reports and anonymized usage data
• Respond to support requests you send us

3. AI Features

Smoke Chamber's AI-assisted features (ingredient substitutions, custom-cook generator) use Google's Gemini AI. When you invoke an AI feature, we send only the minimum input needed to generate a useful result:

• Substitutions: the recipe name and the ingredient you want to substitute
• Custom-cook generator: the description and constraints you typed (e.g., cut, wood, method, target finish)

We do not send your identity, your full pantry (unless you explicitly include items in the prompt), your favorites, or any other personal data to the AI provider. Generated suggestions are shown to you for review and saved only if you explicitly save them. Google's handling of AI requests is governed by Google Cloud's Privacy Notice.

AI features are gated to Pro and subject to per-user quotas; see smokechamber.html for current limits.

4. Third-Party Services

Smoke Chamber integrates with the following third-party services, each with its own privacy policy:

• Firebase Authentication (Google) — Account sign-in. Privacy
• Cloud Firestore (Google) — Encrypted cloud storage for your custom cooks, journal, pantry, and cook logs.
• Firebase Storage (Google) — Encrypted storage for recipe images and your optional cook photos.
• Firebase Analytics (Google) — Anonymized usage analytics. No advertising ID is collected. Privacy
• Google Identity Services / Sign in with Apple — Powers "Continue with Google" and "Continue with Apple" sign-in. We receive your name and email only.
• Google Gemini AI — AI-assisted substitutions and custom-cook generation. Privacy
• RevenueCat — Subscription management. Privacy
• Google Play Billing / Apple App Store — In-app purchases and subscriptions.

Bluetooth thermometer manufacturers are independent third parties — we do not transmit your thermometer data to them, and the App does not require any thermometer-vendor account.

5. Data Storage & Security

Your data is stored on Firebase (Google Cloud) servers using encrypted connections (TLS/SSL). We use:

• Firestore security rules scoped to your user ID — no other user can read or write your data
• Authentication-based access controls on all requests
• Encrypted data transmission between your device and our servers
• Local device storage (SQLDelight) for offline recipe access, accessible only to Smoke Chamber on your device

While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure.

6. Data Retention & Deletion

Your data is retained as long as your account is active. You can delete your data at any time:

• Delete individual custom cooks, journal entries, favorites, or pantry items in-app
• Reset your pantry or cook journal from the Profile screen
• Delete your entire account and all associated cloud data by contacting us at vintek615@gmail.com

Upon account deletion, all your Smoke Chamber data is permanently removed from our cloud services within 30 days. RevenueCat subscription records may be retained separately by RevenueCat per their policy.

7. Children's Privacy

Smoke Chamber is intended for general audiences. It does not contain age-restricted content. The App is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Export your custom cooks and journal in a portable format
• Withdraw consent for data processing

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at vintek615@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days.

9. What We Don't Do

• We do not sell your personal information to third parties — ever
• We do not serve advertisements in Smoke Chamber
• We do not track you across other apps or websites
• We do not share your data with data brokers
• We do not use your custom cooks, journal entries, or photos to train AI models
• We do not share your cook data with grill manufacturers or food brands
• We do not use Bluetooth permission for any purpose other than connecting to your thermometer

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Significant changes will be announced in the app. Continued use of Smoke Chamber after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your Smoke Chamber data, contact us at:

VinTEK Solutions
Email: vintek615@gmail.com
Website: vinteksolutions.com

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