Hunter Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat Review

After watching Al Gore's excellent and eye-opening documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, my interest was renewed in purchasing a programmable thermostat to replace the stock mechanical unit that came with our house some 5 years ago.  I had wanted to purchase and install a programmable thermostat for quite some time, but I never quite got around to the deed.  But now I have a larger reason to make it happen, so while I was on vacation I happened into the nearest Lowes and shifted through the myriad of choices.  After about ten minutes of reading and comparing (features, size and prices), I choose the Hunter Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat for $39.00.

The Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat is and easy to install unit that is compatible with most 24 volt furnaces & cooling systems, including Single Stage Heat Pump units.  The Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat is a 5+1+1 unit meaning that it can be program for Monday - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday separately.  Within those parameters the unit can be programmed for (4) different time periods during the day. 

The Energy Star compliant Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat features an INDIGLO backlit display (a must), a Soft touch key pad, up opening cover for easy access to buttons.  Programmable features include, Temperature & Vacation Overrides, Filter Monitor, and 2-Stage Low Battery warning. Speaking of which, power is supplied by 2 AA, front-loading batteries.

Installation

Installation of the Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat was simple, though I admit I was a bit worried about the wires falling back into the wall; I need not have worried because the wires were bundled.  First step is to cut the main power to the furnace.  Next I dismounted the old thermostat from the wall and noted the wire layout; the wires were attached to lettered posts.  Inside the packaging of the Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat, Hunter provided labels to wrap around the wires for easy reconnection.  Getting the wiring right is very important for proper operation of the new unit.

Next I installed the back-plate of the Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat using the mount screws from the old unit, careful to pull the wiring through the opening. 

Note: the unit does ship with mounting hardware.  Once I mounted the back-plate, I attached the wires using the excellent wiring diagram(s) provided with the instructions.  Once this was accomplished I installed the batteries, restored main power, programmed the thermostat, and turned the unit to heat.  All together is took me less than ten minutes.    

My Viewpoint

So far I am loving the Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat.  The unit is easy to program is easy to program and once set does what it is supposed to do; control the temperature in the house.  Like I stated above, the unit ships preprogrammed for different temperature setting for (4) times during the day; e.g. early in the morning (6:00am), mid-morning (9:00am), late afternoon (4:00pm), and evening (10:00pm).  Once set these setting can be temporarily over-ridden via the soft keys.  This comes in handy when you want to make minute adjustments to the thermostat.  

The feature I appreciate the most however, is the INDIGLO backlit display.  No more turning on a light just to check the temperature; now all I have to do I touch one of the soft keys and the display lights up.  Along with the current (inside), the display will relate the time, day, zone setting, and thermostat function; i.e. heat or cooling.    

The Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat can be set to Heat, Cool, and off.  In addition, the unit has a setting just for Fan operation.  You can check the status of the air filter by pushing the Filter Key; after 400 hours of operation the Filter Change indicator will flash to remind you to either change the filter or clean it.  So too with the batteries, once they reach end of life, a low battery indicator will flash on the display.

Note: do not use rechargeable batteries with this thermostat; they will not last long.  My fully charged batteries only last a week on average.  In my experience regular alkaline batteries last much, much longer.     

Concluding Viewpoint

Now that it is installed I wonder why I waited so long to do it, and I also wonder why a programmable thermostat was not put in the house to begin with, after all our home is only five years old-or at least offered as an option.  Be that as it may, I am very happy with my Set & Save 5+1+1 Programmable Thermostat, by Hunter.