diff --git a/server/loomengine_server/api/models/tasks.py b/server/loomengine_server/api/models/tasks.py
index 1cc293d6..646ac296 100644
--- a/server/loomengine_server/api/models/tasks.py
+++ b/server/loomengine_server/api/models/tasks.py
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ def _process_error(self, detail, max_retries,
                        exponential_delay=False):
         if self.has_terminal_status():
             return
+        self._kill_children(detail=detail)  # Do this before attempting retry
         failure_count = int(getattr(self, failure_count_attribute)) + 1
         if failure_count <= max_retries:
             self.setattrs_and_save_with_retries(
@@ -166,9 +167,8 @@ def _process_error(self, detail, max_retries,
                 'Retries exceeded for %s' % failure_text.lower(),
                 detail=detail,
                 is_error=True)
-            self._kill_children(detail=detail)
             self.run.fail(detail='Task %s failed' % self.uuid)
-    
+
     def system_error(self, detail=''):
         self._process_error(
             detail,
@@ -325,8 +325,6 @@ def create_unsaved_task_from_input_set(cls, input_set, run, run_outputs):
 
     def create_and_activate_task_attempt(self):
         try:
-            self._kill_children(
-                detail="TaskAttempt errored or timed out and was restarted.")
             task_attempt = TaskAttempt.create_from_task(self)
             self.activate_task_attempt(task_attempt)
             return task_attempt
diff --git a/server/loomengine_server/core/settings.py b/server/loomengine_server/core/settings.py
index 9fbfb3df..c2a145aa 100644
--- a/server/loomengine_server/core/settings.py
+++ b/server/loomengine_server/core/settings.py
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@ def _add_url_prefix(path):
 DISABLE_DELETE = to_boolean(os.getenv('LOOM_DISABLE_DELETE', 'False'))
 FORCE_RERUN = to_boolean(os.getenv('LOOM_FORCE_RERUN', 'False'))
 
-TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SECONDS = int(os.getenv('LOOM_TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SECONDS', '60'))
-TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = int(os.getenv('LOOM_TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS', TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SECONDS*2.5))
-SYSTEM_CHECK_INTERVAL_MINUTES = int(os.getenv('LOOM_SYSTEM_CHECK_INTERVAL_MINUTES', '15'))
+TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SECONDS = float(os.getenv('LOOM_TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SECONDS', '60'))
+TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = float(os.getenv('LOOM_TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS', TASKRUNNER_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_SECONDS*2.5))
+SYSTEM_CHECK_INTERVAL_MINUTES = float(os.getenv('LOOM_SYSTEM_CHECK_INTERVAL_MINUTES', '15'))
 PRESERVE_ON_FAILURE = to_boolean(os.getenv('LOOM_PRESERVE_ON_FAILURE', 'False'))
 PRESERVE_ALL = to_boolean(os.getenv('LOOM_PRESERVE_ALL', 'False'))
 TASK_TIMEOUT_HOURS = float(os.getenv(