diff --git a/src/HotWaterController.cpp b/src/HotWaterController.cpp
index 5c6b444..3350a8b 100644
--- a/src/HotWaterController.cpp
+++ b/src/HotWaterController.cpp
@@ -81,12 +81,11 @@ unsigned long pumpstart_tc = 0;
 unsigned long pumpstop_tc = 0;
 
 
-boolean flow = false;
+boolean flowChanged = false;
 boolean flowOn = false;
-boolean pump = false;
+boolean pumpChanged = false;
 boolean pumpOn = false;
-boolean pumpRan = false;
-boolean pumpEnabled = true;
+boolean pumpEnabled = true; // controls pump duty cycle
 
 // FSM
 enum FSM {S0,S1,S2,S3};
@@ -124,7 +123,7 @@ void hotwater_loop () {
 
     switch (state){
     case S0:
-      if (flow && pumpEnabled) {
+      if (flowChanged && pumpEnabled) {
         state = S1;
         if (DEBUG) DEBUGSTATE(state)
         DPRINT("pump start @ ");
@@ -141,7 +140,7 @@ void hotwater_loop () {
       }
       break;
     case S2:
-      if (!flow) {  // wait for flow to stop; don't need to keep pumping!
+      if (!flowChanged) {  // wait for flow to stop; don't need to keep pumping!
         state = S3;
         if (DEBUG) DEBUGSTATE(state)
         //totalflow = Tflow;
@@ -168,9 +167,9 @@ void hotwater_loop () {
   if (intflag1_FLOW) {
     if (ticktime > flowstart_tc + FLOW_THLD) { // delay to avoid bounces generating more interrupts
       if (FLOWING) {
-        flow = true;  // set flow state 2000mS after interrupt IF still flowing
+        flowChanged = true;  // set flow state 2000mS after interrupt IF still flowing
       } else {  // flow didn't last longer than the threshold!
-        flow = false;
+        flowChanged = false;
         flowstart_tc = 0; // reset
       }
       intflag1_FLOW = false;  // clear interrupt. 
@@ -181,15 +180,15 @@ void hotwater_loop () {
 
 
   // record flowstop time
-  if ((flow == true) && (NOTFLOWING) && (flowstop_tc == 0)) {
+  if ((flowChanged == true) && (NOTFLOWING) && (flowstop_tc == 0)) {
     flowstop_tc = ticktime; // only set flowstopped time once!
     DPRINTLN("flow stop");
   }
 
   // flow stop 
-  if ((flow == true) && (flowstop_tc > 0)){
+  if ((flowChanged == true) && (flowstop_tc > 0)){
     if (ticktime > flowstop_tc + 20){ // flow state changes 2 sec after flowstopped
-      flow = false;
+      flowChanged = false;
       flowstop_tc = 0;
     }
   }
@@ -231,7 +230,7 @@ void hotwater_loop () {
       Serial.print(state);
       Serial.print(" ");
       Serial.print(intflag1_FLOW);
-      Serial.print(flow);
+      Serial.print(flowChanged);
       Serial.print("\t");
       Serial.print(flowstart_tc);
       Serial.print("\t");
diff --git a/src/MQTTClientPump.cpp b/src/MQTTClientPump.cpp
index 9439868..db89a3c 100644
--- a/src/MQTTClientPump.cpp
+++ b/src/MQTTClientPump.cpp
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ const char subtopic[] = "arduino/state";
 volatile extern unsigned long ticktime; // timer interrupt
 volatile extern unsigned int ticknum; // wifi checked when this is > wifiTick
 
-extern boolean flow;
+extern boolean flowChanged;
 extern boolean flowOn;
-extern boolean pump;
+extern boolean pumpChanged;
 extern boolean pumpOn;
 
 // these are wifi timestamps
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ void mqtt_loop() {
 */
 
   // record flow
-  if (flow) {
+  if (flowChanged) {
     mqtt_connect();
-    if (flowOn) {  // pin is LOW
+    if (flowOn) { 
       flowstarted = WiFi.getTime();
       mqttClient.beginMessage(topic);
       mqttClient.print("start flow event@: ");
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ void mqtt_loop() {
       DPRINTLN();
       mqttClient.print(flowstarted);
       mqttClient.endMessage();
-      flow = false; // once is enough
-    } else {        // pin is HIGH
+      flowChanged = false; // once is enough
+    } else { 
       flowstopped = WiFi.getTime();
       mqttClient.beginMessage(topic);
       mqttClient.print("stop flow event@: ");
@@ -179,9 +179,9 @@ void mqtt_loop() {
 
 
   // record pump activity
-  if (pump) {
+  if (pumpChanged) {
     mqtt_connect();
-    if (pumpOn) {  // pin is LOW
+    if (pumpOn) { 
       pumpstarted = WiFi.getTime();
       mqttClient.beginMessage(topic);
       mqttClient.print("start pump event@: ");
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void mqtt_loop() {
       DPRINTLN();
       mqttClient.print(pumpstarted);
       mqttClient.endMessage();
-    } else {        // pin is HIGH
+    } else { 
       pumpstopped = WiFi.getTime();
       mqttClient.beginMessage(topic);
       mqttClient.print("stop pump event@: ");
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 4a0e0f4..adbbb32 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ void setup() {
 }
 
 void loop() {
-    mqtt_loop();
     hotwater_loop();
+    mqtt_loop();
 }