UPDATED: Air Source Heat Pumps/Air Con - Full Info & Guide, is it cheaper to run than mains gas?

Swipe

I'm still unsure which brand to go for. I've had quotes in for 2x 3.5kw mitsi electric, mitsi HI and Daikin. There's not too much difference between Daikin and MHI (Mitsi Electric was very expensive) and my AC is telling me that it probably makes sense to go with Daikin for a number of reasons. He is also a Daikin certified installer so will come with a 5 yr warranty. Would you go with Daikin over MHI?

http://www.orionairsales.co.uk/daikin-air-conditioning-ftxs35g-wall-mounted-35-kw--12000-btu-heat-pump-899-p.asp

http://www.orionairsales.co.uk/mitsubishi-heavy-industrial-srk35zgx-s-39-kw--13000-btu-hyper-inverter-air-conditioning-19-p.asp

richardc1983

Straight away I would go for the MHI, stevehead on here has gone for the MHI the exact system you have gone for, he is very happy with it.

Theres a video of his setup here,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79UAPRI6p-M&feature=related

Straight away you can see that the MHI has a higher COP (C.o.P 4.2) than the Daikin (C.o.P 3.42), which means you get 4.2kws of heat for every 1kw consumed with the MHI and 3.42kw with the Daikin. MHI is good equipment, in my opinion Daikin is overrated.

Watch the video of the same units they are great.

Also read the following post starting at number 8:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1310449&highlight=

Swipe

My mistake, the daikin on the orion website is not the version I have been quoted for. The one I am looking at has a COP of 4.17. It is the FTXS35G2V1B

richardc1983

Still go for the MHI it is just that slightly better!

Swipe

So it's not worth paying just over £100 extra and get a 5 year warranty with Daikin? I've phoned around lots of AC firms in the last 24 hours and I'm being told the same info i.e. that Daikin, Mitsi Electric are by far the best. All say MHI is ok but not as good and it would be well worth paying slightly extra for Daikin or Mitsi Electric. Many mentioned being able to go direct to the companies for parts with these brands and support was much better whereas with MHI they had to go through third parties. Anyone else care to comment?

richardc1983

You are correct, MHI is built to different spec to Mitsi but I would say still very good quality.

You wont go wrong if you go with daikin or MHI, its whichever you like best and which gives you the best features that will suit yourself.

Swipe wrote: »

So it's not worth paying just over £100 extra and get a 5 year warranty with Daikin? I've phoned around lots of AC firms in the last 24 hours and I'm being told the same info i.e. that Daikin, Mitsi Electric are by far the best. All say MHI is ok but not as good and it would be well worth paying slightly extra for Daikin or Mitsi Electric. Many mentioned being able to go direct to the companies for parts with these brands and support was much better whereas with MHI they had to go through third parties. Anyone else care to comment?

paceinternet

Whilst I would agree that Daikin and Mitsubishi have very good reputations, they do have their problems, and they can involve some very expensive repairs. Some of that reputation is created by engineers who make their living looking after them.
Examples here:
http://www.refrigeration-engineer.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14
where an inverter failed and needed replacing, so the compressor was routinely replaced as well. The inverter alone is indicated to cost £440 and the compressor more, so you can imagine the bill being well over £1000. This taking place a few months after the warranty expired. I am not familiar with the models, but the poster goes on to say he had other failures at the customer site.

The point is that any energy saving having a COP of 0.1 better could soon be lost in high repair costs. The cost of spares is rarely considered when choosing your equipment.

richardc1983

yes but mitsi carries 5yr warranty. If it dont fail within warranty then its will likely last ages. Cant find the exact post your mentioning there.

paceinternet

http://www.refrigeration-engineer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18386

http://www.refrigeration-engineer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18540

richardc1983

Hi Pace

I am also on that forum as back2space. THe posts do seem to be reffering to Daikin and not Mitsi.

Im sure it is not often that these faults happen, the same as could happen with a boiler where the part costs more than the new boiler! Particulary an inverter board which is basically the PCB and runs the system. The compressor is expensive as it is the heart of the system and pumps the refrigerant.

For a split system it actually works out cheaper to replace the whole outdoor unit than just the compressor.

Crazy eh but thats life!