Fujitsu Vs. Mitsubishi

If you have been looking into which Heat Pump system to buy, you have undoubtedly come across these two brands. Both of these brands have been around and producing Heat Pumps basically since their invention, and have been leaders in the industry that entire time. While other brands make equally good products, these are two giants which is why this post will be focusing on them.

History and Manufacturing

First, this is the same Mitsubishi that makes cars. However a different sub-company makes their electronics but it is the same parent company. Mitsubishi Electric was founded in 1921 and their first big hit product was an electric fan. Mitsubishi Electric now has sixteen main locations across the United States, including one in Boston, Massachusetts, and a headquarters based in Georgia. A few years ago, Mitsubishi teamed up with Trane to increase production in the U.S.

Fujitsu was founded in 1936 and started by making radios and speakers. Over time they changed names and the products they produced. In 1985, after a merger with another company, the name was changed to Fujitsu General and the main products they made were wireless information systems for things like taxis and fire and emergency departments. 1991 is when Fujitsu really entered the air conditioning industry. Fujitsu's U.S. headquarters is based in New Jersey. Fujitsu is currently partnered with ETA-Ascon for domestic production and manufacturing.

Price

Both companies are similar in price, with the difference being a few hundred dollars on systems that can cost thousands. Fujitsu tends to be the cheaper one by about 5% when you compare similar models. The price can also change depending on where exactly the system is bought. Both companies also offer add-ons to their systems, such as the ability to connect the system to Wi-Fi to allow you to check on the system from your phone. These features do cost extra and are optional from both companies.

Performance

Mitsubishi’s claim to fame in the Heat Pump industry is that they were the first company to make a Heat Pump that can work efficiently with outdoor temperatures below zero. Because Heat Pumps use refrigerant to move temperature around, getting them to work below freezing was a problem for a long time. Once Mitsubishi figured out how, many companies quickly followed suit. Fujitsu has continued pushing that boundary and has gotten the minimum outdoor operating temperature even lower. Each model will have a temperature where, if below that, the system will work sub-optimally. For Mitsubishi, the low-temp units go down to -13 degrees Fahrenheit, while Fujitsu boasts minimum operating temperatures of -15.

Noise

Both companies have very quiet systems, with almost all being quieter than the standard volume of breathing. However, Mitsubishi is consistently quieter when compared to similar Fujitsu models. Normal breathing is 25 decibels, while the quietest heat pumps for Mitsubishi and Fujitsu are 19 and 21 decibels, respectively.

Warranty

Mitsubishi and Fujitsu both offer very good warranties for the industry but the exact warranty policies depend on which model you get from either company, but overall:

• Fujitsu offers warranties from 2-12 years with exclusions for certain models and certain parts.
• Mitsubishi offers 5-12 year warranties without the same exclusions.
• Both have different warranties for parts and compressors, with the compressor warranty generally being longer.
• Both have certified contractors and if you use a certified contractor you get additional warranties. They are called Fujitsu Elite contactors and Mitsubishi Diamond Contractors. Modern Energy holds this distinction with both companies, allowing our customers access to maximum warranties for both products.

Customer Support

Customer support before you buy the system is similar for both companies. Both have certified contractors and installers who can assist you in getting the system you want. However, Mitsubishi does have a slightly larger network, making it more likely that the average person can find an installer.

After the system is installed, you will continue to keep working through the contractor and will probably not talk to the manufacturer directly. So, for customer service it is more important to find a contractor or installation company that can be trusted, as compared to the customer service of the manufacturer. However, Mitsubishi is generally considered to have a more robust customer service arm than Fujitsu.

How Do I Buy a System?

This post is designed to be a starting point, from here you need to start doing research into contractors and models that would be good for your home and family. Both of these companies make good products and are very trusted, there isn’t one that is clearly better. If that research sounds daunting, feel free to reach out to Modern Energy and we can help you find the right system and put you in contact with a certified contractor. Let us use our expertise to help you and your family.