MRCOOL and Mitsubishi Electric are two of the leading air conditioning manufacturers in the United States. Of their many products, mini splits offer the most affordable and convenient climate control solutions, making them the most popular choice for customers of both brands. If you are in the market for a mini split, but still aren't sure which brand to buy from, then this article is for you. Let's go over what each brand brings to the table so you can feel confident in your decision.
Comparing the Brands - MRCOOL vs Mitsubishi
The MRCOOL brand is a true American company based out of Kentucky, where its products are designed, created, and shipped from. Relative to Mitsubishi Electric, MRCOOL is a young company, founded in 2014. Despite the company's young age, MRCOOL has quickly become one of the leading mini split manufacturers in the United States, producing all of their air conditioners in top-tier factories.
Despite being a top-selling brand in the United States, Mitsubishi Electric is actually headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. They have been in business a long time, with their first mini split system, the Mr Slim mini split, launching in 1978. Since then, new iterations of this very same system have been released, and are still largely used today.
Features Offered - MRCOOL vs Mitsubishi
Because mini splits come in so many configurations, we'd like to analyze the overall differences in features between the MRCOOL mini splits and Mitsubishi mini splits.
Output Capacity
Both Mitsubishi and MRCOOL mini splits can be purchased as single-zone or multi-zone systems, which are available in various sizes going up to five zones.The main difference between them, however, is the total cooling and heating output for each system, measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units).The DOE (Department of Energy) approximates that heating and cooling each square foot of living space requires about 20 BTU.
When looking at single-zone systems, Mitsubishi's mini splits offer output capacities ranging between 6,000 BTU (300 square feet) and 36,000 BTU (1,500 square feet). The MRCOOL single-zone mini splits, on the other hand, can produce between 9,000 BTU (450 square feet) and 36,000 BTU (1,500 square feet)of cooling and heating output.
The Mitsubishi multi-zone systems also differ in output capacity compared to their MRCOOL counterparts. While Mitsubishi's multi-zone mini splits range between 20,000 BTU and 48,000 BTU, MRCOOL offers multi-zone mini splits with outputs ranging from 18,000 BTU (750 square feet) to 51,000 BTU (2,000 square feet).
With these ranges in mind, you can see that MRCOOL offers more options in terms of output capacity and can ultimately cover larger surface areas than the Mitsubishi mini splits.
Efficiency Rating
Mitsubishi and MRCOOL both offer some of the most energy efficient systems on the market. Many of the mini splits from both brands have been prized with the Energy Star Label, distinguishing them as eco-friendly and cost efficient options in the heating and cooling market. Although both companies offer energy efficient mini split systems, it is important to note that Mitsubishi's mini splits are not all capable of heating. MRCOOL's, on the other hand, are all heat pump mini splits, meaning that they have the ability to both cool and heat a space. Since the MRCOOL mini splits are as efficient, in general, as the Mitsubishi mini splits, while offering heating capabilities, we'd say that MRCOOL has a slight edge in this category.
User and Installation Experience
MRCOOL and Mitsubishi mini split systems both offer a simple user experience once the systems have been installed. Both brands have dedicated apps for their mini splits, allowing users to control their systems from their smartphones. One added feature that MRCOOL offers, however, is the Follow Me function in the remote control. This added feature allows the mini split system to read the temperature wherever the remote is located, letting the mini split know if it needs to cool/heat more, or less, to achieve the desired temperature in that particular spot. This is especially helpful for rooms that have hot spots from direct sunlight or drafts.
In regards to the installation experience, MRCOOL's DIY installation process definitely takes the cake. While Mitsubishi steers users away from installing units themselves, and suggests them to hire licensed HVAC professionals instead, MRCOOL embraces DIY installations. MRCOOL's DIY mini splits include the company's patented pre-charged Quick Connect line sets, along with a comprehensive installation manual, so that anyone can install them in a couple of hours. Having the option to install the system yourself not only saves you the headache of scheduling for an HVAC technician to come to your house, but it also saves you $1,200 to $6,000 in installation costs.
So What About Pricing?
Typically the biggest factor when making a purchasing decision is price. In terms of the Mitsubishi mini splits, the prices typically fall somewhere between $2,000 and $5,000 for the single-zone systems and $7,000 to $12,000 for the multi-zone systems. Keep in mind that the cheaper systems tend to be cooling-only units. For heat pump systems from this brand, you will likely need to move up in price.
In comparison, MRCOOL single zone systems fall within the $1,500 to $3,300 range. The MRCOOL multi-zone systems are also less expensive, ranging from $6,000 to $9,500. With the average prices being significantly lower, MRCOOL's mini splits definitely win in the pricing category.
In addition to having lower unit costs, it is important to remember that MRCOOL's DIY mini splits do no require you to spend additional money on hiring an HVAC technician. In the United States, installation costs will vary depending on size, complexity, type, quality, and brand, but typically range between $2,000 to $14,000.
A unit's SEER2 and EER2 ratings are another thing to consider. Mitsubishi does typically offer higher SEER2 and EER2 systems than MRCOOL, which is one of the reasons they are more expensive.
Find the Ideal Mini Split for You
Given the higher heating and cooling capacities, heat pump capabilities, advanced technology, DIY installation, and more affordable pricing, we would suggest the MRCOOL DIY mini splits for the majority of people. We believe in the brand and offer a wide range of their systems for your home. If you'd like to see our selection of MRCOOL systems, feel free to browse our store. If you have any questions, email or call us and we'll be sure to help you out.
