Honeywell RTHL2310B review: Have $25? This simple thermostat works just fine

The Honeywell RTHL2310B thermostat isn't anything like the high-end Wi-Fi enabled models we've reviewed so far. It isn't fancy or innovative and it isn't trying to be...and I like that.

7.0

Honeywell RTHL2310B

$100 at Amazon

The Good

The $25 Honeywell RTHL2310B thermostat reliably switches among preprogrammed temperature settings and it looks fairly nice for the price.

The Bad

I had to grab the user manual to figure out how to program it.

The Bottom Line

Get the Honeywell RTHL2310B if you want a basic, affordable thermostat that you can program to suit your schedule.

Available at chain retailers like Lowe's for just $25, the RTHL2310B keeps things simple. This temperature controller can also autoadjust four times throughout the day to manage your Wake, Leave, Return and Sleep schedules for you.

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As with other 5-2 thermostats, you can create two different schedules -- one for weekdays and one for weekends. One obvious limitation here is that a lot of schedules don't conform to the predictable 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday work week. And some, myself included, may not keep to the same schedule on Saturday and Sunday. But if your life is at least fairly predictable, the RTHL2310B is worth consideration because the preprogrammed settings work.

But you'll want to plan for minor frustration at the outset. It isn't all that easy to figure out how to create the custom programs. That's mainly because the Set, Hold and Run buttons aren't very clear. Give your user manual a quick glance, though, and you'll be on your way to a simple preprogrammed 5-2 schedule in no time.

Honeywell's RTHL2310B is about as basic as it gets for a programmable thermostat. Still, its customizable 5-2 program gives you a degree of HVAC automation and for some folks, that's more than enough.

Note: This thermostat is compatible with basic heating and cooling systems; click here for more details. If you have questions about installation, consult a professional.