Honeywell RTH7600D Touchscreen 7-Day Programmable Thermostat Review. Keep your home comfortable and cash in on energy savings with the RTH7600D 7-Day Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat from Honeywell (formerly packaged as as model number RTH7600B). Designed for easy use and quick installation and packed with convenient features, this thermostat gives you programmable, customizable control over your home's temperature without having to make constant manual adjustments. The RTH7600D 7-Day Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat offers: Customized temperature setting for four periods per day Effective energy expense savings Backlit display and easy-to-use touchscreen Intuitive adjustment for precise comfort control Compatibility with a range of heating and cooling systems Convenient and Efficient for At-Home Comfort You know that turning down your heat at night saves you money, but you hate waking up and making breakfast in a freezing cold kitchen. Or you don't want to run your AC all day while you're at work, but you want your h...
"Honeywell programmables are the Cadillac of tstats" 2009-01-12
By SirWired (Raleigh, NC United States)
Honeywell makes a very large line of programmable electronic thermostats. At first glance, this particular thermostat has nothing to distinguish it from any other programmable tstat from your local hardware store. (7-day programming, +/- 1 degree accuracy, etc.) However, this thermostat has some functions that make it quite a bit better. I've had RiteTemp's and Lux tstats, and this one is much better.
Most electronic thermostats kick on the system when you are one degree under, and then run it until you are one degree over. This (and all Honeywell electronic tstats) instead target a certain number of cycles per hour (based on system type), and try and hold the temperature as constant as possible. Since I installed this a few days ago, it has not budged off of the setpoint.
Another cool feature is the recovery feature. Basically, it measures how quickly your house is losing heat (or warming up, in the summer), and kicks on the system at the correct time so it is at your setpoint right at the time you program. This eliminates guessing how long it will take your house to heat so it will be toasty when you get home at 6PM. Instead, you just set the tstat for 6PM and let it figure out the rest.
The install guide is clear and presented me with no problems. Admittedly, I don't have a complicated system (1-stage heat/cool.) It tells you how to properly wire it, and is fairly straightforward on when you need to call for help. Most folks shouldn't have any problems.
IMPORTANT: Use the included wire stickers! Some installers do not attach, say, the white wire to the "W" terminal. Depending on whim, they can completely attach the wires at random. Bad things happen if you plug the wrong wire onto the wrong terminal. If a wire was on the "W" terminal before, it needs to go on the new W terminal, even if it is bright yellow.
I didn't have any trouble at all programming this one... in a few easy steps:
1) Hit the "Schedule" button.
2) Use the arrow keys and the "select" button to select which day(s) you want to program. Hit "Next Step".
3) Use the arrow keys and "Next Step" to go through the setpoints and times.
4) Hit "Done" when finished.
If you need to set any advanced options (like changing to a two-stage furnace or A/C, setting heat pump options, etc.): Hit "System", then hold down "Fan" for five seconds. Use the table in the manual and "Next Step" to pull up the option you need to change and use the arrow keys to change it. I set up the Filter Change Reminder that way. The fact you have to refer to the manual isn't that bad since they are options you won't have to change more than once.
"This was SO easy to install and setup" 2009-04-14
By Beej Powers (Burke, VA United States)
I have a heat pump system whose thermostat was original (early 80s). I changed out the old thermostat for this one in about 10 minutes. The little labels this one comes with are awesome. And the "alternative wiring" chart is really helpful since some of the wire names have changed but their function hasn't. The only thing that was a SLIGHT problem was my fault, not the products (in the advanced menu where you setup the heatpump type, I input a wrong setting. I realized it the same day and fixed what I had done) Everything works flawlessly and my system seems to be running less yet keeping the house comfortable.
"Much more efficient than prevous programmable" 2009-07-25
By Steven Campbell (Maple Grove, MN USA)
I bought this thermostat mostly for its modern appearance, as a replacement for my dated looking programmable thermostat. I also hoped that it would be able to regulate the temperature better than the old one, which struggled to keep the temperature correct on the schedule I programmed.
I'm not technically inclined, but installation was a breeze. The hardest part was separating the thermostat from its backplate, which there is no obvious way to do other than just pulling and hoping nothing breaks. That seemed to be the correct approach though, for both my old and new thermostats!
There is a helpful quick installation guide, which walks through the wiring in a very clear and simple way, from the point that I removed the wires from the old thermostat to when I placed them in the new. The whole installation took less than 15 minutes, including drilling one new hole in the drywall.
The width of the new thermostat is less than that of the old, resulting in some exposed wall painted in the previous color that the wall had. I will have to touch up some time soon.
Programming the thermostat was a little more challenging. It is not that it is hard, just not intuitive enough to do without reading over the manual. Once I got the hang of it, it took a few minutes to actually program. I was able to choose groups of days of the week, and specify typical settings for them. I have a schedule for Mon-Fri, and for Sat-Sun.
It is worth mentioning that there are default programming settings, based on Energy Star recommendations. I'm sure the summer settings would save energy, but they would not make for the house being very livable for us, as we prefer a summer temperature in the 70s, not 80s. I'll try the heating settings come winter, as they may be more realistic.
Once installed and working, the thermostat has a feature that ensures it reaches the right temperatures *at* the times I specified. It got it wrong the first day (it was a little warm when we came home), but by the second day it had adjusted itself to the conditions of our house, and now the temperature is very reliable, and very constant (does not swing at all). The thermostat does an EXCELLENT job of regulating temperature.
"Nice unit, easy to install, easy to use" 2009-03-09
By Paul Havemann (NY metro)
My house only have a one-stage furnace, so installing it was as easy as swapping two wires. (If your setup is complicated, and you're not confident about installing it, by all means get someone to do it for you.)
I haven't had a programmable thermostat since my Honeywell Chronotherm III gave up the ghost a decade ago; it was one of the first with Smart Response Technology. Basically, it learns how far in advance it needs to kick the heat on to bring it to your desired temperature at the time you select. That's a nice feature and makes this unit worth the extra cost.
I'm also unforgiving about the ease-of-use aspect; if I need to crack the user manual to make an electronic device go, that's a design flaw. No worries on that score - I had it going straightaway. (The manual is useful for learning about its various features, of course.)
The touchscreen is crisp and responsive. I agree with other reviewers that the backlight needs to be activated by a touch anywhere on the screen, and not just on a button. (Doing so requires you to undo whatever your touch did.) Still, there really isn't much need to play with it once you've got it programmed.
On the whole it's a good unit. Honeywell's been in this business for a long time.
"Definitely Worth the Purchase" 2010-08-30
By Gadget Man (Ridgeland, SC)
Great purchase at a reduced price. I previously priced this product at over $119 retail price, and then at $100 after receiving a HVAC Technician's discount before finding it on Amazon for $85.
A programmable thermostat is great for homes when it is necessary for your A/C system to run while you're not home or asleep. Personally I have a pet, so I need for my home to remain cool while I'm at work or else I would just turn the system off until I come home. This product is great because I can set the temperature at a reasonable level without it constantly running, skyrocketing my electric bill, and having the house nice and cool right before I return home from work. The touch screen is a nice "touch", which lights up appropriately, even in the dark. The programming features allow you to set the temperature for several hours of the day and even raise or lower the temperature when you sleep, for everyday of the week.
Installation is not difficult, although it is very important to note and document the location of all wires on your old t-stat before removing them, so you can place them correspondingly on the new one. It is also important to know what type of system you have (heat pump, "straight cool", gas furnace, 1 stage, 2 stage...etc.) so you can program the t-stat to work with your system. Even as a HVAC Technician, I forgot to program the Honeywell to work with my heat pump system, so if you decide to do it yourself, remember that little piece of advice to save you some confusion as to why your system is running in heat instead of air conditioning.
If you are on the fence, I would encourage you to give it a try!
NOTE: If you decide installing the thermostat is too difficult for you, I would suggest NOT calling a A/C company unless you want to pay an exaggerated price because you did not buy it from them. For this type of thermostat companies may charge up to $400 or more for purchase and installation. Try talking to an individual A/C Technician that you feel comfortable with and explaining your problem and see if he or she would be interested in installing it on their own time, since it only takes about fifteen minutes to install. You would definitely come out spending less money working with an individual technician opposed to the A/C company itself should you require the assistance.
By SirWired (Raleigh, NC United States)
Honeywell makes a very large line of programmable electronic thermostats. At first glance, this particular thermostat has nothing to distinguish it from any other programmable tstat from your local hardware store. (7-day programming, +/- 1 degree accuracy, etc.) However, this thermostat has some functions that make it quite a bit better. I've had RiteTemp's and Lux tstats, and this one is much better.
Most electronic thermostats kick on the system when you are one degree under, and then run it until you are one degree over. This (and all Honeywell electronic tstats) instead target a certain number of cycles per hour (based on system type), and try and hold the temperature as constant as possible. Since I installed this a few days ago, it has not budged off of the setpoint.
Another cool feature is the recovery feature. Basically, it measures how quickly your house is losing heat (or warming up, in the summer), and kicks on the system at the correct time so it is at your setpoint right at the time you program. This eliminates guessing how long it will take your house to heat so it will be toasty when you get home at 6PM. Instead, you just set the tstat for 6PM and let it figure out the rest.
The install guide is clear and presented me with no problems. Admittedly, I don't have a complicated system (1-stage heat/cool.) It tells you how to properly wire it, and is fairly straightforward on when you need to call for help. Most folks shouldn't have any problems.
IMPORTANT: Use the included wire stickers! Some installers do not attach, say, the white wire to the "W" terminal. Depending on whim, they can completely attach the wires at random. Bad things happen if you plug the wrong wire onto the wrong terminal. If a wire was on the "W" terminal before, it needs to go on the new W terminal, even if it is bright yellow.
I didn't have any trouble at all programming this one... in a few easy steps:
1) Hit the "Schedule" button.
2) Use the arrow keys and the "select" button to select which day(s) you want to program. Hit "Next Step".
3) Use the arrow keys and "Next Step" to go through the setpoints and times.
4) Hit "Done" when finished.
If you need to set any advanced options (like changing to a two-stage furnace or A/C, setting heat pump options, etc.): Hit "System", then hold down "Fan" for five seconds. Use the table in the manual and "Next Step" to pull up the option you need to change and use the arrow keys to change it. I set up the Filter Change Reminder that way. The fact you have to refer to the manual isn't that bad since they are options you won't have to change more than once.
By Beej Powers (Burke, VA United States)
I have a heat pump system whose thermostat was original (early 80s). I changed out the old thermostat for this one in about 10 minutes. The little labels this one comes with are awesome. And the "alternative wiring" chart is really helpful since some of the wire names have changed but their function hasn't. The only thing that was a SLIGHT problem was my fault, not the products (in the advanced menu where you setup the heatpump type, I input a wrong setting. I realized it the same day and fixed what I had done) Everything works flawlessly and my system seems to be running less yet keeping the house comfortable.
By Steven Campbell (Maple Grove, MN USA)
I bought this thermostat mostly for its modern appearance, as a replacement for my dated looking programmable thermostat. I also hoped that it would be able to regulate the temperature better than the old one, which struggled to keep the temperature correct on the schedule I programmed.
I'm not technically inclined, but installation was a breeze. The hardest part was separating the thermostat from its backplate, which there is no obvious way to do other than just pulling and hoping nothing breaks. That seemed to be the correct approach though, for both my old and new thermostats!
There is a helpful quick installation guide, which walks through the wiring in a very clear and simple way, from the point that I removed the wires from the old thermostat to when I placed them in the new. The whole installation took less than 15 minutes, including drilling one new hole in the drywall.
The width of the new thermostat is less than that of the old, resulting in some exposed wall painted in the previous color that the wall had. I will have to touch up some time soon.
Programming the thermostat was a little more challenging. It is not that it is hard, just not intuitive enough to do without reading over the manual. Once I got the hang of it, it took a few minutes to actually program. I was able to choose groups of days of the week, and specify typical settings for them. I have a schedule for Mon-Fri, and for Sat-Sun.
It is worth mentioning that there are default programming settings, based on Energy Star recommendations. I'm sure the summer settings would save energy, but they would not make for the house being very livable for us, as we prefer a summer temperature in the 70s, not 80s. I'll try the heating settings come winter, as they may be more realistic.
Once installed and working, the thermostat has a feature that ensures it reaches the right temperatures *at* the times I specified. It got it wrong the first day (it was a little warm when we came home), but by the second day it had adjusted itself to the conditions of our house, and now the temperature is very reliable, and very constant (does not swing at all). The thermostat does an EXCELLENT job of regulating temperature.
By Paul Havemann (NY metro)
My house only have a one-stage furnace, so installing it was as easy as swapping two wires. (If your setup is complicated, and you're not confident about installing it, by all means get someone to do it for you.)
I haven't had a programmable thermostat since my Honeywell Chronotherm III gave up the ghost a decade ago; it was one of the first with Smart Response Technology. Basically, it learns how far in advance it needs to kick the heat on to bring it to your desired temperature at the time you select. That's a nice feature and makes this unit worth the extra cost.
I'm also unforgiving about the ease-of-use aspect; if I need to crack the user manual to make an electronic device go, that's a design flaw. No worries on that score - I had it going straightaway. (The manual is useful for learning about its various features, of course.)
The touchscreen is crisp and responsive. I agree with other reviewers that the backlight needs to be activated by a touch anywhere on the screen, and not just on a button. (Doing so requires you to undo whatever your touch did.) Still, there really isn't much need to play with it once you've got it programmed.
On the whole it's a good unit. Honeywell's been in this business for a long time.
By Gadget Man (Ridgeland, SC)
Great purchase at a reduced price. I previously priced this product at over $119 retail price, and then at $100 after receiving a HVAC Technician's discount before finding it on Amazon for $85.
A programmable thermostat is great for homes when it is necessary for your A/C system to run while you're not home or asleep. Personally I have a pet, so I need for my home to remain cool while I'm at work or else I would just turn the system off until I come home. This product is great because I can set the temperature at a reasonable level without it constantly running, skyrocketing my electric bill, and having the house nice and cool right before I return home from work. The touch screen is a nice "touch", which lights up appropriately, even in the dark. The programming features allow you to set the temperature for several hours of the day and even raise or lower the temperature when you sleep, for everyday of the week.
Installation is not difficult, although it is very important to note and document the location of all wires on your old t-stat before removing them, so you can place them correspondingly on the new one. It is also important to know what type of system you have (heat pump, "straight cool", gas furnace, 1 stage, 2 stage...etc.) so you can program the t-stat to work with your system. Even as a HVAC Technician, I forgot to program the Honeywell to work with my heat pump system, so if you decide to do it yourself, remember that little piece of advice to save you some confusion as to why your system is running in heat instead of air conditioning.
If you are on the fence, I would encourage you to give it a try!
NOTE: If you decide installing the thermostat is too difficult for you, I would suggest NOT calling a A/C company unless you want to pay an exaggerated price because you did not buy it from them. For this type of thermostat companies may charge up to $400 or more for purchase and installation. Try talking to an individual A/C Technician that you feel comfortable with and explaining your problem and see if he or she would be interested in installing it on their own time, since it only takes about fifteen minutes to install. You would definitely come out spending less money working with an individual technician opposed to the A/C company itself should you require the assistance.
