Aprilaire 8444 Non-Programmable Thermostat

I wanted a thermostat that you could program a differential into. Having a bit longer differential cuts down on the number of heating or cooling cycles per time period. The Honeywell I had would cycle every 20 mins due to the factory setting of 1/2 a degree. Meaning of course that when the 'stat recognized a 1/2 degree increase in ambient temp the A/C would start. Start up is where most of the energy and electricity is used to start the motor turning. The fewer the start ups helps to increase the life of the unit. You give up comfort for economy which I don't mind doing. The model 8444 worked great for 3 months. It would visually indicate that it was "cooling" but no signal was sent to the A/C unit. I thought it was a problem with the unit and had the installers out twice who couldn't figure it out. They thought it was a drainage or return plenum issue. When I replaced the Aprilaire with the old cheap Honeywell it now works fine. Except of course that it now cycles on every time the temp drops .5 degs. Very inefficient. I will attempt to return it but not expecting any satisfaction in that regard