After installing this thermostat in 11 rental properties across Florida, I can confidently say it’s the no-nonsense solution for basic HVAC systems. The backlit display shows both current and set temperatures side-by-side—no squinting at tiny numbers like some fancy models.

Why it works for rentals: Tenants kept fumbling with programmable thermostats (who reads manuals anyway?). This one eliminates confusion with slide switches for heat/cool modes and a fan control that even my least-handy renter can operate. Pro tip: Wire the C terminal to skip batteries entirely—no more midnight calls about dead thermostats!

Heat pump warning: If your system has backup/emergency heat (like most do), steer clear. But for single-stage electric/gas systems? Perfect. The 1°F accuracy keeps my units comfortable without overworking older ACs—critical in Florida’s swampy summers.

Installation hack: Used my iPhone’s compass level app instead of digging out a physical level. Just match terminal letters (not wire colors!) during setup. The two-piece click-together design took 15 minutes start-to-finish.

The only quirk? Celsius/Fahrenheit switching isn’t intuitive—Google the manual for that one step. But when you just need reliable temperature control without smart-home headaches, this Honeywell delivers year after year.