Installing the Emerson 1F87-361 was a breeze—it took me under 15 minutes to replace my old, failing thermostat. The backlit display is crisp, and I appreciate the precise ±1°F temperature control, which keeps my living room consistently cozy without sudden spikes.

Programming the 7-day schedule felt slightly clunky at first (I missed my old unit’s per-day customization), but after tinkering with the manual, I got it to match my work-from-home routine. The audible ‘click’ when it kicks on the heat is subtle—no jarring noises during Zoom calls.

Durability seems solid based on reviews (some users reported a decade of service), though one commenter mentioned frustrating resets. Mine’s been flawless for 3 months, but I’ll update if that changes. Pro tip: It runs without batteries, but I keep spares just in case—handy during winter storms.

While it lacks Wi-Fi (I knew that upfront), its ‘Early-On’ feature theoretically pre-warms the house—except mine didn’t have it enabled by default. A minor gripe for an otherwise dependable unit at this price point.