you dont need to have your thermostat plugged into a timer, it will self regulate the temp you set it too, also i live in ontario, you don't have to have an "accurite" thermometer, there are ones that do the exact same thing at canadian tire,walmart,home depot, etc they are usually called weather stations you can get em anywhere from 8-15 bucks, are you sure you don't have a rheostat? not a thermostat? if the room gets warmer with a rheostat it keeps heating stuff up worse, that's why i tossed mine hope this helps