diff --git a/src/Afterburner.cpp b/src/Afterburner.cpp
index bd83790..c7abbb3 100644
--- a/src/Afterburner.cpp
+++ b/src/Afterburner.cpp
@@ -458,11 +458,9 @@ void setup() {
 //  bCyclicEngaged = RTC_Store.getCyclicEngaged();
   DebugPort.printf("Previous cyclic active = %d\r\n", RTC_Store.getCyclicEngaged());   // state flag required for cyclic mode to persist properly after a WD reboot :-)
 
-  pHourMeter = new CHourMeter(persistentRunTime, persistentGlowTime);
-  if(bESP32PowerUpInit || RTC_Store.getBootInit()) {   // ensure we reset out persistent vars on power up, or OTA update
-    RTC_Store.setBootInit(false);
-    pHourMeter->powerOnInit();  // ensure persistent memory variable are reset after powerup
-  }
+  pHourMeter = new CHourMeter(persistentRunTime, persistentGlowTime); // persistent vars are only trustworthy with SW reboots
+  pHourMeter->init(bESP32PowerUpInit || RTC_Store.getBootInit());  // ensure persistent memory variable are reset after powerup, or OTA update
+  RTC_Store.setBootInit(false);
 
   delay(1000); // just to hold the splash screeen for while
 }
@@ -1250,6 +1248,16 @@ void checkDebugCommands()
       else if(rxVal == 'r') {
         ESP.restart();            // reset the esp
       }
+      else if(rxVal == ('h' & 0x1f)) {   // CTRL-H hourmeter reset
+        sHourMeter FLASHmem = NVstore.getHourMeter();
+        FLASHmem.RunTime = 0;
+        FLASHmem.GlowTime = 0;
+        NVstore.setHourMeter(FLASHmem);
+        RTC_Store.resetRunTime();
+        RTC_Store.resetGlowTime();
+        persistentRunTime = 0;
+        persistentGlowTime = 0;
+      }
     }
 #ifdef PROTOCOL_INVESTIGATION    
     if(bSendVal) {
diff --git a/src/RTC/RTCStore.cpp b/src/RTC/RTCStore.cpp
index 74769f9..03f19ee 100644
--- a/src/RTC/RTCStore.cpp
+++ b/src/RTC/RTCStore.cpp
@@ -154,6 +154,19 @@ CRTC_Store::getDesiredPump()
   return _demandPump;
 }
 
+void
+CRTC_Store::resetRunTime()
+{
+  _RunTime = 0;
+  _PackAndSaveByte6();
+}
+
+void
+CRTC_Store::resetGlowTime()
+{
+  _GlowTime = 0;
+  _PackAndSaveByte6();
+}
 
 bool
 CRTC_Store::incRunTime()
diff --git a/src/RTC/RTCStore.h b/src/RTC/RTCStore.h
index 7c16b96..6532cc9 100644
--- a/src/RTC/RTCStore.h
+++ b/src/RTC/RTCStore.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ public:
   void setFuelGauge(float val);
   void setDesiredTemp(uint8_t val);
   void setDesiredPump(uint8_t val);
+  void resetRunTime();
+  void resetGlowTime();
   bool incRunTime();
   bool incGlowTime();
   void setCyclicEngaged(bool _CyclicEngaged);
diff --git a/src/Utility/HourMeter.cpp b/src/Utility/HourMeter.cpp
index 81d0050..bd25870 100644
--- a/src/Utility/HourMeter.cpp
+++ b/src/Utility/HourMeter.cpp
@@ -30,10 +30,24 @@ const int baseSeconds = 60 * 15;  // 15 minutes
 
 
 void 
-CHourMeter::powerOnInit()
+CHourMeter::init(bool poweron)
 {
-  _RunTime = 0;
-  _GlowTime = 0;
+  if(poweron) {
+    _RunTime = 0;  // difinitely untrustworthy after power on or OTA updates
+    _GlowTime = 0;
+  }
+  int rt = RTC_Store.getRunTime();
+  int gt = RTC_Store.getGlowTime();
+  if(rt || gt) {
+    sHourMeter FLASHmem = NVstore.getHourMeter();
+    FLASHmem.RunTime += _RunTime + baseSeconds * rt;
+    FLASHmem.GlowTime += _GlowTime + baseSeconds * gt;
+    NVstore.setHourMeter(FLASHmem);
+    RTC_Store.resetRunTime();
+    RTC_Store.resetGlowTime();
+    _RunTime = 0;
+    _GlowTime = 0;
+  }
 }
 
 void 
@@ -58,37 +72,55 @@ CHourMeter::monitor(const CProtocol& frame)
     _lastRunTime = now;
     sHourMeter FLASHmem = NVstore.getHourMeter();
     if(_RunTime > baseSeconds) {
-      if(RTC_Store.incRunTime())
-        FLASHmem.RunTime++;
+      if(RTC_Store.incRunTime()) {
+        // rolled RTC intermediate store - push into FLASH
+        FLASHmem.RunTime += baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getMaxRunTime();
+      }
       _RunTime -= baseSeconds;
     }
     if(_GlowTime > baseSeconds) {
-      if(RTC_Store.incGlowTime())
-        FLASHmem.GlowTime++;
+      if(RTC_Store.incGlowTime()) {
+        // rolled RTC intermediate store - push into FLASH
+        FLASHmem.GlowTime += baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getMaxGlowTime();  // store whole seconds to flash memory
+      }
       _GlowTime -= baseSeconds;
     }
     NVstore.setHourMeter(FLASHmem);
   }
   else {
+    // heater has been stopped - save remant times to flash
+    if(_lastRunTime) {
+      sHourMeter FLASHmem = NVstore.getHourMeter();
+      FLASHmem.RunTime += _RunTime + baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getRunTime();
+      FLASHmem.GlowTime += _GlowTime + baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getGlowTime();
+      NVstore.setHourMeter(FLASHmem);
+      _RunTime = 0;
+      _GlowTime = 0;
+      RTC_Store.resetRunTime();
+      RTC_Store.resetGlowTime();
+    }
     _lastRunTime = 0;
     _lastGlowTime = 0;
   }
-    DebugPort.printf("CHourMeter %f %f\r\n", _RunTime, _GlowTime);
+//    DebugPort.printf("CHourMeter %f %f\r\n", _RunTime, _GlowTime);
 }
 
 uint32_t 
 CHourMeter::getRunTime()
 {
   uint32_t rt = (uint32_t)_RunTime;
-  DebugPort.printf("HrMtr: %d %d %d\r\n", rt, RTC_Store.getRunTime(), NVstore.getHourMeter().RunTime);
+  DebugPort.printf("HrMtr Run: %d %d %d\r\n", rt, RTC_Store.getRunTime(), NVstore.getHourMeter().RunTime);
 
-  return  rt + baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getRunTime() + baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getMaxRunTime() * NVstore.getHourMeter().RunTime;
+//  return  rt + baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getRunTime() + baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getMaxRunTime() * NVstore.getHourMeter().RunTime;
+  return  rt + baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getRunTime() + NVstore.getHourMeter().RunTime;
 }
 
 uint32_t 
 CHourMeter::getGlowTime()
 {
   uint32_t gt = (uint32_t)_GlowTime;
-  return gt +  baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getGlowTime()  +  baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getMaxGlowTime() * NVstore.getHourMeter().GlowTime;
+//  return gt +  baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getGlowTime()  +  baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getMaxGlowTime() * NVstore.getHourMeter().GlowTime;
+  DebugPort.printf("HrMtr Glow: %d %d %d\r\n", gt, RTC_Store.getGlowTime(), NVstore.getHourMeter().GlowTime);
+  return gt +  baseSeconds * RTC_Store.getGlowTime()  +  NVstore.getHourMeter().GlowTime;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Utility/HourMeter.h b/src/Utility/HourMeter.h
index 0ab8e2d..c28bb94 100644
--- a/src/Utility/HourMeter.h
+++ b/src/Utility/HourMeter.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
     _RunTime = runtime; 
     _GlowTime = glowtime; 
   };
-  void powerOnInit();
+  void init(bool poweron);
   void monitor(const CProtocol& frame);
   uint32_t getRunTime();
   uint32_t getGlowTime();
diff --git a/src/Utility/NVStorage.cpp b/src/Utility/NVStorage.cpp
index cd9d4ca..5eb16d3 100644
--- a/src/Utility/NVStorage.cpp
+++ b/src/Utility/NVStorage.cpp
@@ -464,6 +464,7 @@ sHourMeter::save()
   preferences.putULong("RunTime", RunTime);
   preferences.putULong("GlowTime", GlowTime);
   preferences.end();    
+  DebugPort.printf("Hourmeter NV save: Run=%d, Glow=%d\r\n", RunTime, GlowTime);
 }
 
 void 
@@ -474,4 +475,5 @@ sHourMeter::load()
   validatedLoad("RunTime", RunTime, 0, 0, 0xffffffffL);
   validatedLoad("GlowTime", GlowTime, 0, 0, 0xffffffffL);
   preferences.end();    
+  DebugPort.printf("Hourmeter NV read: Run=%d, Glow=%d\r\n", RunTime, GlowTime);
 }
\ No newline at end of file