When it comes to mini split cooling and heating systems, you may be wondering which brand is right for you. There is Daikin Industries Ltd, a well established brand with consumers worldwide, who offer an efficient and reliable solution. Then you have Mitsubishi Electric Corporation,
While both are reputable, sought after brands, here are a few key factors when choosing each one. With Daikin Industries Ltd, you are getting the consumers choice, a USA manufactured system with a fantastic warranty and high quality, long-lasting aluminum quality parts. The main difference between the two is the cost, with Mitsubishi being the pricier option. With both you will have a quiet, smartphone enabled model that guarantees energy saving. Their setbacks are very limited in general, so you’ll want to look at the specifics to find the ideal fit for you.
Let’s dive into the specifics of each system to help you decide what is the best solution for your cooling and heating needs. This article will reveal all the perks and disadvantages of each brand's mini split system, aiding you in your decision to which brand will benefit you the most. By the end of this article, you will have a great idea of what these companies have to offer you.
A Quick Look At The Brands
Daikin Industries, Ltd.
This Japanese originating brand was first established in 1924 by Akira Yamada. Known for being the world's largest and most well known HVAC brand, this company is leading the market with their efficient cooling and heating systems.
They have longevity and a large consumer base, installing systems for both commercial and residential properties worldwide among multiple continents. They use innovative technology to offer the most efficient, money saving systems for the consumer.
Their consistency is undeniable and they offer numerous models, guaranteeing there is a solution to your heating and cooling needs. Daikin Industries, Ltd. products offer the most modern, quiet and efficient models on the market, hence why they are the go-to for many contractors in the world.
Pros of Daikin Industries Unit
- World’s largest HVAC manufacturer
- Plentiful customer support
- USA manufactured systems
- Best warranties in the market
- Aluminum coils
- Energy saving technology
- Smartphone enabled
- Quiet mode
The Cons
- Zone Boards manufactured outside of the company
- Insulation issues arise from time to time
- Must be professionally installed
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation was founded in the same decade as Daikin, in 1921, also in Japan. This company is known for creating some of the market's best elevators, air conditioning units, factory pumps, train systems, electric motors and more. This multi-faceted company has much to offer consumers, in addition to the various HVAC units.
This long-standing company holds a fantastic reputation with their consumers and longevity in the business. With a wide variety of electric items to peruse for your home or commercial needs, their convenience factor is a huge plus. Here are some pros and cons about the company that stand true when you purchase heating and cooling products from them.
Pros
- Energy saving technology
- Wi-Fi integration
- Whisper mode10 year warranty
- Smartphone enabled
- High end models
- Sleek and compact designs
Cons
- High price ticket
- Must be professionally installed
Efficiency
One great thing about both of these brands is that they offer an efficient set of systems, guaranteeing you save money on your electric bill each and every month. It not only helps you save money, but it ensures you that no wasted energy has been used and your system isn’t working overtime because of a fault in the system.
What exactly is a SEER rating? The SEER rating is a measurement used to indicate just how energy efficient a product is. It stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is the ratio of cooling energy that is output divided by the energy used in watt-hours. Daikin stands at a solid 19 while Mitsubishi has been known to reach twenty. As shown below in the table, both brands average a score of 19 which is still considered a fantastic number.
| Brand | SEER Efficiency Rating |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | 18-20 |
| Daikin | 19 |
Temperature Range
If you live in a place where temperatures can be extreme, it's important to know the ranges in your system can still function comfortably while providing you with the cooling power you need.
When it comes to the Daikin systems, heating and cooling are never a feat. Whether you’re dealing with temperatures in the negatives or extreme heat, your Daikin mini-split has got you covered. Whether it is 122 degrees or -4 degrees outside, Daikin units have the ability to function at high efficiency.
Mitsubishi is a fantastic system but struggles to heat when temperatures become lower than five degrees, which is understandable. Some efficiency may be lost in translation due to its necessary process of working longer and harder to keep up with extremely cold temperatures. Cooling is never an issue and can still work efficiently up to 115 degrees.
- Product Specs: Dakin, Mitsubishi
| Brand | Temperature Range for Cooling | Temperature Range for Heating |
| Daikin | -4° - 122° F | -4° - 57° F |
| Mitsubishi | 14°- 115° F | 5° - 75° F |
Refrigerant
One great similarity between these two cooling systems is that they use the same exact refrigerant. R-410A is a common refrigerant, also known as Puron and is used in most cooling systems manufactured after 2010. The most popular refrigerant, prior to today’s go-to, was known as HCFC R-22 but was banned due to the high level of chlorine it contained. Whether you're looking to cool a commercial or residential property, chances are, you’re using R-410A.
Here are a few fun facts about this refrigerant and why it typically used in cooling and heating systems today:
- It is the most efficient at absorbing heat on the market.
- It is also used in industrial refrigeration such as freezer and centrifugal compressors.
- Save a little bit of money thanks to its high efficiency in eradicating heat and creating cool air.
With both brands, you are looking at the same refrigerant so you can count on efficient cooling and high quality chemicals that are safe and effective.
| Brand | Refrigerant |
| Daikin | R410A |
| Mitsubishi | R410A |
Quality of Air
One amazing thing about mini-split cooling and heating systems is that they have a built in air purifier and humidifier. This ensures that your air quality is new and improved, taking out the daily toxins and moisture that can pose a threat to your home.
Black mold and allergens are two harmful particles found in poor air quality. Luckily, these modern hvac systems can prevent those from affecting your everyday life.
Manage your humidity without any effort or need for a water supply. Filters inside the units offer a purifying effect effortlessly. You may need to clean out the reusable filter manually but it’s a small price to pay for clean, toxin-free air.
Warranty
When making a big purchase for your home such as a cooling system, you want to guarantee that you have coverage for comfort over the course of several years.
A warranty allows you to reach out to your installer or manufacturer for a variety of technical and accidental issues you may face over a period of time. One great thing about these brands is that they offer a manufacturer warranty on their products.
Depending on the exact model, Daikin offers both 10 and 12 year limited parts warranties. For parts that are defective, they will happily replace if the product has been successfully registered on their website. Accidental warranties must be purchased from the installer directly.
Mitsubishi offers a 5 year warranty for any faulty or defective parts problem that arise and a 7 year warranty on their compressor parts. Any accidental coverage must be purchased from your tech as well.
While both offer great coverage for any parts that may become defective within the first few years of use, Daikin clearly has the upperhand with warranties.
| Model | Warranty |
| Daikin 12,000 BTU Mini-split System | 10-12 years |
| Mitsubishi 20,000 BTU Mini-split System | 5-7 years |
Ease of Installation
Let’s go over everything involved in installation. While both must be installed professionally, it’s important to know what you're up against. How long will it take? What are the costs associated with installation? One common perk is that installation for mini-split systems is straightforward and relatively easy for local techs so you shouldn’t run into a whole slew of issues like you might with ductwork.
The installation process will overall take approximately one to two days but it is dependent on a number of factors. These factors include: square footage of the home, how many units are being installed, insulation needed and the age/electrical sources available in the home.
Once the tech has figured out the above necessities, they will have a better understanding of the timeline and costs. On average, you can expect to spend a cool $1,600-3,500 depending on those factors mentioned.
After an agreement of materials and costs have been reached, they can start mounting your indoor units.
This is the first step in the process. Once all the units have been installed, your tech will start to scope out the passage ways for the tubing that lets the air through each unit. When they have figured out the wiring and electrical portion, they can secure all the mounted units in place permanently.
Lastly, they will install your outdoor condenser which is the necessary unit that sends all the air through your indoor units. As previously mentioned, this is a tedious process and could take up to two days to thoroughly and accurately complete.
Size
Regarding the size of these systems’ indoor units, they are both very comparable in measurements. While the Mitsubishi stands a bit more compact with an approximately thirty one inch length, the Daikin model is a bit longer at 39 inches.
They are both roughly 9-10 inches in depth and just over 11 inches in height. While the overall sizes are extremely similar, those who are looking for a more sleek, compact approach may opt for the slimmer Mitsubishi system available.
Below you can find the exact specs for measurements so you can get a true vision of each one’s size. Keep in mind the measurements show are for the indoor units that are visible in each room they are used.
| Model | Measurements |
| Daikin 12,000 BTU Mini-split System | 39”L x 10.37”W x 11.62”H |
| Mitsubishi 20,000 BTU Mini-split System | 31-7/16"L x 9-1/8"W x 11-5/8"H |
Product Weight Comparison
One big difference in the main outdoor unit is their weight. The Daikin outdoor condenser weighs a modest 78 pounds, while the Mitsubishi system is nearly double at 130 pounds. While this may not be a huge factor in your decision, it is still important to know what you are handling. The chart below shows the most popular models and their weights.
The chart below shows the most popular models and their weights. Note that the size difference ratio has much to do with the BTU’s that they can cover in each home. The Mitsubishi model is a larger system, covering more square footage, therefore it is a heavier, larger outdoor condenser.
| Model | Weight |
| Daikin 12,000 BTU Mini-split System | 78 pounds |
| Mitsubishi 20,000 BTU Mini-split System | 130 pounds |
Price
Let’s touch on one really important factor when it comes to deciding which brand suits you best- cost! While you will likely want to stay within a budget, this chart will help you to see what your upcoming costs will include.Keep in mind that exact costs may vary by state and this doesn’t include the installation, which also vary depending on the tech. Installation costs can be found later in this article.
Daikin models will likely cost you around a modest fourteen hundred dollars while Mitsubishi models could run you upwards of three thousand dollars. Now that you know what to roughly expect for ticket prices of each, you can take the price into account when making your final decision.
| Price Estimates | |
| Daikin | $1399.98 |
| Mitsubishi | $2,827.20 |
Review Comparison
Another important factor when choosing a brand that best benefits your home is consumer reviews.
Below, here are some of the reviews, both good and bad, that highlight pros and cons of each system. These customers have purchased and tested the products so the reviews will be helpful when deciding the right mini-split system for you.
“Saved a LOT of money doing it myself. My Mitsubishi cost $3500 to have a professional install it 9 years ago. This unit only cost me $1500.”“LOUD!! The Mitsubishi was a silent little fella. The Daikin, on the LOW/QUIET setting is louder than my Mitsubishi at nearly full speed.”“I never leave reviews but this mini split is awesome! If you're looking for something quiet and dependable this is for you.”“It's working! My 300 sq. ft. workshop is down to 72 degrees (finally).”
Daikin Customer
The Mitsubishi is top of its class.”“Honestly the unit is fantastic. The only problem is this is not something you do at home, you need to be a professional to install one of these units. After installation, the big test was a series of very sunny days well over 90°F or so. The system easily kept the area very comfortable.
Mitsubishi Customer
Conclusion
Overall, there are plenty of perks to both brands, including their longevity in the market. The biggest difference that consumers look at is the cost, with Mitsubishi being the more expensive approach.
Both of these mini-split systems offer benefits such as energy efficiency, heating and cooling options, smartphone enabled access and a whisper mode for a nice, quiet experience. However Daikin does manufacture their systems in the USA and use high quality aluminum coils that provide a durable system for years to come.
They also offer a longer warranty and better temperature ranges in the case of extreme weather. These are notable factors to consider when making your final decision.
Ready to elevate your home's comfort and efficiency with a top-tier mini-split system? Contact Rich's Heating And Cooling LLC today at (732) 433-0068 to explore our selection of Daikin and Mitsubishi mini-split systems. Our experienced technicians will guide you through the process, helping you choose the perfect solution to meet your cooling and heating needs. With our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, you can trust Rich's Heating And Cooling LLC to deliver superior performance and lasting comfort for years to come.
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