diff --git a/custom_components/programmable_thermostat/helpers.py b/custom_components/programmable_thermostat/helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ec1f7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/custom_components/programmable_thermostat/helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import logging
+import re
+from .const import REGEX_STRING
+from datetime import timedelta, datetime
+
+_LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+def are_entities_valid(self, entities_list) -> bool:
+    """ To validate the existence of the entities list """
+    entities = string_to_list(entities_list)
+    for entity in entities:
+        try:
+            self.hass.states.get(entity).state
+        except:
+            return False
+    return True
+
+def string_to_list(string):
+    """ To convert a string of entities diveded by commas into a list. """
+    if string is None or string == "":
+        return []
+    return list(map(lambda x: x.strip(), string.split(",")))
+
+def string_to_timedelta(string):
+    """ to convert a string with format hh:mm:ss or mm:ss into a timedelta data. """
+    string = re.match(REGEX_STRING, string)
+    if string is None or string == "":
+        return []
+    string = string.groupdict()
+    return string
+
+def dict_to_string(time_delta: dict = {}) -> str:
+    """ to convert a dict like {'hours': hh, 'minutes': mm, 'seconds': ss} into a string hh:mm:ss.
+        dict is expected sorted as hours-minutes-seconds """
+    result = ''
+    for key in time_delta.keys():
+        if time_delta[key] == None:
+            result = result + '00:'
+        else:
+            result = result + str(time_delta[key]) + ':'
+    return result[0:len(result)-1:]
+
+def dict_to_timedelta(string):
+    """ to convert dict (mappingproxy) like {'hours': hh, 'minutes': mm, 'seconds': ss} into a timedelta's class element. """
+    time_params = {}
+    for name in string.keys():
+        if string[name]:
+            time_params[name] = int(string[name])
+    return timedelta(**time_params)
+
+def null_data_cleaner(original_data: dict, data: dict) -> dict:
+    """ this is to remove all null parameters from data that are added during option flow """
+    for key in data.keys():
+        if data[key] == "null":
+            original_data[key] = ""
+        else:
+            original_data[key]=data[key]
+    return original_data