Side by Side Comparison of: Honeywell vs First Alert

Easy to install, and program. I set the get up time/temp, leave time/temp, arrive home time/temp and go to bed time/temp. I set it once and it works every day!

honeywell mis-advertised this product, it is not 1 week programmable, it is one day, 4 periods per day. the next, (more expensive) one up is one week. however i do not need or want 5/2 days program. this has significantly reduced heating costs on a williams gravity room gas furnace. the thermostat they include is junk.so if you do not need sat sun programing, get this at best price, a lot of returns due to honeywell mis-advertising. they should fire exec in charge of advertising.

The setting you input will remain in effect all 7 days of the week. This wasn't very clear to me, and apparently if you want a thermostat that will adjust on the weekends, it needs to be a "7-day" or a "5-2 day" thermostat. Install was easy, going from an old analog mercury thermostat to this one. The "green" wire was actually blue, and "red" was a very faded pink, but my old thermostat's circuit had the appropriate letters on it, making identification easier. I took pictures of the dismantle each step of the way to help me backtrack if needed. As a thermostat, it functions well. However, the description, and even the packaging, confused me into believing it was a 7-day device.Update: increased rating to 5 starts (from my original 3). The thermostat works well and overriding the program on weekends is as easy as adjusting the temp one time each day, so it's really not a hassle.

We had an old mercury theromostat in the house that was off by about 15 degrees and would trip every time you walked past it.Summer is on the way and I wanted to cool the house better and was thinking of buying a floor fan.Looking at pricing, it made more sense to go with a new thermostat.It took about 10 minutes total to remove the old thermostat and install the new one.I left in on the pre-programmed weekly cooling schedule and it has done wonders already.The true test will be when the next utility bill comes in!

This thermostat works great for my needs. Since there are people in and out of the house all day long, I just wanted something that would simply turn the heat down at night, and turn it back up again in the morning without anyone having to think about it. It doesn't have any major features or frills, but it works as it's supposed to. You can actually set it to come on in the morning and heat the house before you get out of bed, then you can set it for a different temp when you leave for work, and then have it kick back on again before you get home from work, and then finally low again for nighttime (if you like to save energy). It will repeat the programming you set for 7 days a week. It does not allow for separate settings on different days or weekends. You can manually change the temperature and it can retain it temporarily (it'll go back to the temp settings at the next time setting) or you can press the hold button and it'll hold that temperature until you change it or press the run button.Very easy install. If you're like me and have been lazy about upgrading (I know I'm way behind...) then just do it already.

I wanted a simple to install thermostat to replace the aging, mercury switched Honeywell items that control our heat and cooling. After researching I decided that a simple weekly timer is good enough, and certainly better that what we had originally. The RTH221B shows the current temperature and can be set to adjust the temperature when you wake, leave, return and night. It is simple to use with 15 minute increments.Installation says "15 minutes or under" and I found this to be true.To install: Turn off power to furnace and thermostat (although it is a low voltage feed, you MUST still do this) Unscrew the original thermostat from the wall but leave wires attached Check the color of the wires and which terminals they attach to on the original (look for small letters W,R,Y,Rc etc) Mark the wires (if needed) with the stickers provided in the package Unhook wires from the original Remove backing plate from new thermostat, thread wires through hole and place against wall Attach backing plate using screws and wall plugs provided Put 2 x AAA batteries(NOT supplied)in the faceplate Attach previously marked wired to the matching terminals at the back of the faceplate Snap faceplate onto backing plate Read instructions for setting time and programs Turn power to furnace back onPros: cheap, easy to install, good instructionsCons: would have been nice to include 2 x AAA batteriesOverall a good buy. I fitted one as a test and then bought 3 more.

I was looking for something reliable and easy to use/install and these carbon dioxide detectors were exactly what I needed. I have one on each level to give time to evacuate if a leak occurs.

It's really quite difficult to review a product like this, due to the fact that you don't want the alarm to ever have to do its job. Thankfully, I haven't had any carbon monoxide issues in the nearly year that I've owned this alarm, but it gives me peace of mind that it is there and if something horrible were to happen, this at the very least provides an extra layer of safety. If the alarm ever goes off, I will update the review to reflect such.

Plugged this in down by our gas furnace and hot water tank in addition to our fire/CO alarms on the upper two floors.A MUST HAVE if not just for added piece of mind. Don't take a chance with the silent killer CO. Michael

I assume it's working, let's get that out of the way. And that assumption gives me security. If it didn't work I'm sure they wouldn't sell it because there would be too many lawsuits. The convenience of sticking it in a wall socket is even better... but the directions limit where you should place it which was pretty limiting in a house with an open floor plan. But I had just the right spot for it, so I was probably just lucky.

Our last alarms by First Alert lasted five and a half years before it was malfunctioning and required replacements. We ordered these as replacements, thinking the price was right for a five year product. This version does not require batteries and simply operates on your wall plug-in which I LOVE because the old ones required batteries. This way, I never get woken up at 3am to replace batteries in my CO detectors. It seems that's when batteries always run out so we are satisfied with this product!!

I bought this after I disconnected my whole house system. I just built a house about 5 years ago and it has a wired whole house carbon-monoxide, smoke detector and heat detector system. This system would go off all the time for no apparent reason and usually at two or three AM. After the 10th time of it going off randomly I disconnected it.One of my good friends is an electrician and he noticed that I had disconnected my wired system and he told me that's fine, but get a CO alarm, so I did. If you don't have one get one, you can't smell Carbon Monoxide and it can kill you.

Very handy, simple to install and a perfect replacement for the old thermostat. So far, so good.

Very good alternative to the box stores. Has all the basic functions and comes with everything to make it a plug and play application.

It works. It didn't take me long to figure out, and I'm kind of a moron when it comes to stuff that require me to read instructions, because I don't like to read instructions. Simple and straightforward to install. Takes about 7 minutes. Why spend more?

My house was built in 1974, and the thermostat we had was original. It was hard to get an accurate temperature reading from it and I wanted something cheap and programmable, so I bought this Honeywell unit. I'm mostly satisfied with it - the install was a breeze, the instructions were clear, and the unit functions perfectly. The only gripes I have with it are that the screen is not backlit and there was no option to hardwire it, meaning you have to use batteries for it. However, at this price, I can live with those complaints.

I have been using Honeywell thermostats for some time, all with good results.I purchased this one to replace a non-programmable version and it is performing as expected.The only negative that I found with this model was the labeling of the terminals inside: the red wire label is shifted such that the unused terminal can be mistaken with the one intended for the red wire, especially since the correct one has a wire bridge to the adjacent terminal; two wires go into the red terminal: the red itself and the factory equipped bridge.Other than the above, it is a good product and simple to use.

Being retired, and having an old failed Honeywell 5/2 day thermostat, we replaced it with this 7-day model for heating only. It was simple enough to replace. The twin wiring was identical and so were the wall mounting hole centers. The directions for set-up were fairly clear. My one beef is that the new thermostat lacks back lighting which the old one had. The letters are small enough where one needs a flashlight during setup, requiring three hands at times, and is awkward for those of us with just two hands. Omitting the back light is inexcusable since the 5/2 twin RTH2300 DOES have back lighting. Another caution is that you need a tiny screwdriver to turn the wire set screws. I happen to have one but I would guess few people do.

Works fine but my only mistake was I thought it was battery and plug-in. That was my fault for not reading better. They do make a plug in with battery backup too.

Replaced an older unit that started chirping after I think 7 years. No complaints. Didn't know that the chirping was a warning that the unit was no longer working properly, but eventually figured that out. No batteries to replace, which is my preference. It would have been nice if the model has two lights. Green for things are good and red that there's trouble. But the number of these detectors without batteries is very limited so I got this one again.

Con: my central gas furnace is circa 1966.Pro: the carbon monoxide detector plugged in, in seconds.Con: it wont work if the power goes out.Pro: havent had a long power failure for decades.

All you have to do is plug it in. This is a carbon monoxide detector, no battery back up, Does not detect smoke. Plugged into a regular outlet, it has a dim light to let you know that it works and you can test the monitor at any time, looks nice 7 year life, only time will tell how well it really holds up. Quick shipping

As a canned response to a requested review, I state this:This is one of the items that a review is silly to do as I am happy with this product and would have no reason to not reorder in the same mannerIt is a sundry or something I use in everyday life like light bulbs, toilet paper, cereal etcthe only way I would give a bad review is if it arrived busted and if it did that, as a Prime member I get mainly from Amazon and they take care of all issues like that so I'm sure it does not fit this caseExcellent product it works very good

I bought this alarm for travel purposes, after seeing a TV news story about hotel guests perishing from carbon monoxide poisoning. It is small, lightweight, and easy to plug in. I love that it draws its power from the wall outlet, so you don't have to worry about changing any batteries. Unfortunately, this unit is so compact and unobtrusive that I left mine plugged in at the hotel room after heading home -- so if you use yours for travel, remember to pack it before checking out! (I also see no reason why this wouldn't be a fabulous product for home use, as well.)

Its a good stat. I wanted to use this in my RV as other Honeywell ones did but they said it wont work and it did not.

Simple to install and it worked great, but I ordered another one because I frequently wander downstairs in the dark and prefer not to turn on the lights.

Works fine but it's really annoying that the display doesn't light up. Didn't know that when I bought it and after having used it I can't recommend buying one without the light function.

Price was right. As previous reviews have pointed out, no back-light and only one week programming vs week days and week ends. This actually is fine for us since we're retired and every day is a weekend. Issues I had with the design included it was difficult to easily separate the back and front plate, without also separating the circuit board from the back plate. If no-one else had this issue, perhaps it was just this particular unit. We have moved a lot, so this is one of many Honeywell digital programmable thermostats that I have installed with this issue. The batteries also had the tendency to 'pop out'...had to clear tape them into complete installation. That said...price and base functionality was what I was looking for, and that's exactly what I got.Ps also like the much smaller 'footprint' this model takes up on the wall vs some other company equivalent versions.

I ordered 3 RTH221B units but was disappointed that all 3 units shipped were different models. They all work pretty well but instruction documents did not match the product. Had to guess how to wire up one of them. The programming procedure is different on each of them as well. One unit was clearly was not new.

I didn't know they still made thermostats without a backlit display! Very easy to install, but if you want to change the temp any time other than high noon, better have a flashlight.

Purchased two of these five years ago. After that time, they both went bad beeping all the time even with new batteries. Clean air in the home. Buy them and expect five years out of them.

These are a convenient and inexpensive way to satisfy the nanny state of California.

More complex than necessary. Lots of instructions to read, stickers to place here and there with a place for an "emergency number." Really? is anyone's emergency number not 911 anymore?

I installed a ventless gas heater in the basement and need a carbon monoxide detector order this one without reading the description wish I had this has no battery backup if the power goes out it is useless. Other than that it is well made so I will kept it put this one in the garage and put the one in the garage that does have a battery backup in the basement.

It's hard to "love" a carbon monoxide alarm, and frankly I really don't know if the darn thing works . . . after all, the only time it has gone off is when I've pressed the button on it, just like my doorbell only not as melodious. Having said that, I am told no well-equipped home should be without one of these devices, and who am I to argue?

It's an affordable "plug in" version without any unnecessary display. I just ordered two more of them. However, you should note they crap out less than 1/2 dozen years.

No backlight which make it useless if it's not in a brightly lit area.

Wouldn't here a schedule and wasn't backlit. Didn't realize how important that feature was. Returned and ordered a different unit.

Wish I could set separate schedules for weekday and weekend. The picture even shows a "Th" for Thursday on the display - this isn't even a function of this model. I misunderstood the description and thought I was purchasing the same model I had before. Doesn't really help at all unless you have the same schedule on weekdays and weekends.

Didn't work for mine outlet. Couldn't figure out which wires in the wall goes to where on the control.The slots in the thermostat are too small to fit my thick wires from the wall.

Don't know.. I am struggling with mine.. I have it set to lower the heat at night but seems that it doesn't. I verified settings several times and still am always manually adjusting..Not too happy but since already installed and mounted, will not return them.

It was very hard to program and when I set the sleep time and temperature at 11:00 PM and temperature at 10 degrees lower than day time heater came on at 11:45 I was already in bed and had to get up to shut it off. I figured you get what you pay for.

We bought this on January 30, 2015. It died in early December 2015. It started emitting three chirps per minute which, per the instructions on the back of the device, means that it's time to replace the unit.

No battery back-up on an important alarm like this?? I didn't even realize a model existed with no battery back-up or I would have looked before I bought it.

We thought we were getting a good reliable carbon monoxide alarm...We've only had it 8 months and it went off, and had to call the fire department to have them come check the levels in the home, only to find out that our alarm isn't working. There were no levels of carbon monoxide in our home. We were told that it needed to be replace and that it's flawed. Supposedly these alarms are intended to work 7-8 years, not months!

Drains batteries quickly. They last about a week. Other wise, it seems to function properly.

This was supposedly new when I purchased it, but the package was opened and obviously wasn't new. Not happy with that!

This over-priced pain in "the sitting area" has an always-on, glaring RED light.*Red lights are commonly used to warn of an immediate danger that requires attention NOW.*NO-I don't have a carbon Monoxide problem. The red light also stayed on for a week when I plugged it in to an outside plug.

The screen is incredibly small and no option to set/see day. This is not what I ordered but I also paid for installation so I have no choice but to keep it

No backlight - Honeywell customerless service lived down to minimum (a useless phone number

Purchased on 07/19/17,after 2 months the display is blank.Contacted Honeywell and they will send me a replacement. Just hope this one last me more than 2 months!!!

This thermostat has settings throughout the day to auto set the temperature, so you can coordinate usage of cheap time electricity vs exensive time, when you are not home. It seems to have a mind of its own, however. Does not work according to time settings. Didn't notice until too late to return.

This does not turn on automatically when it reaches the temperature I set. When our handyman put back the old one, it worked fine. I called the honeywell but they keep saying I need to have contractor look at the wiring.. do not buy this

Very poor. Works some of the time and not some of the time. Sometimes when it come on it forgets to turn off and your freezing. So you have to turn the thermostat up and next your hot. Not good

Did not go off when house had carbon monoxide almost died junk

Description is very misleading. I ordered what was described as 2 "case of 5", expecting to receive 10 units. Instead, I received two units and not two cases.

We purchase for a new house purchase. Had to have in place for inspection. Really was only like working for up to 4 days no longer works. Because of the processing time for closing I can't return. Very disappointing!!!

Lasted less than a year, not happy. I bought four of these in January and one of them keeps chirping even with a fresh battery change. If expect it to function longer than 10 months.

Did not work and had to return it

this item did not work at all. When plugged in all it did was beep. No matter where I put it. I would not buy another one and not from this seller again.