Reasonable lifetime of a Mitsubishi Heatpump

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#2733946 24-Jun-2021 17:07

mattwnz:

Installing a new unit isn't cheap either, I would expect it to be a good magnitude higher than that for a top brand. Plus it is such a waste, when we should be reducing the amount to waste we are creating. Also may depend on how it has been installed.

No, it isn't cheap, but if you aren't happy with the $900 pcb fee it's an option to renew - installation for like-for-like wouldn't be as much as a new installation, yes it is a waste, just like everything else, but if it isn't working and you don't want to pay $900 for the part and they won't fix it for you, where are you left? I guess you could always just live without it

"Installation" warranties don't go past 6 years from the major brands, and some are 5 years depending on the installer's standing with the manufacturer

Basil12

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#2733959 24-Jun-2021 17:36

I got Fijitsu to replace the PCB board gratis for a 7 1/2 year old heat pump a few years back. It came with a six year guarantee but there was some suggestion it wasn't worth the paper it was written because I was so close to the beach. According to the local installer the manufacturer's local head office were a nightmare to deal with. I went through the process of finding the CEO's email and asking direct. I then happily paid the local installer the $180 to install it when they received it. The heatpump's still going strong four years later even with the outer body slowly rusting away.

So it's worth trying and if you feel it is a fault of the manufacturer then chase them up and go straight to the top. For the cost of a little leg work it can save you a fair bit (assuming they come ot the party).

MadEngineer

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#2733971 24-Jun-2021 18:31

Did they say what the cause of the fault was? Eg was it water or insect damaged?

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

timmmay

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#2733973 24-Jun-2021 18:40

I had a Daikin repaired within warranty no issues.

Handle9

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#2733988 24-Jun-2021 19:35

7 years, bad luck. You got a unit on the bottom end of the bell curve but that has functioned a reasonable period of time before needing repair. You'd hope it would last longer but it would be hard to demonstrate that it was not reasonably durable.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2733994 24-Jun-2021 20:06

It's worth noting that the PCB that's failed probably isn't a dinky little automation/comms board with a couple of relays. If it's the inverter board, it's full of high-power transistors and large electrolytic capacitors, and has 350VDC on it. If anything happens to the conformal coating and it gets wet or insects decide they want to eat it, things tend to got pop. I've seen a handful of Mitsi ones go, though that could just be market share. Likewise, the cost to replace it isn't in line with say the sequence timer in your dishwasher.

networkn

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#2733997 24-Jun-2021 20:19

Handle9: 7 years, bad luck. You got a unit on the bottom end of the bell curve but that has functioned a reasonable period of time before needing repair. You'd hope it would last longer but it would be hard to demonstrate that it was not reasonably durable.

I'd argue that literally any other appliance in my home costing 3K would be expected to last 10 Years.

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networkn

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#2733999 24-Jun-2021 20:20

SomeoneSomewhere:

It's worth noting that the PCB that's failed probably isn't a dinky little automation/comms board with a couple of relays. If it's the inverter board, it's full of high-power transistors and large electrolytic capacitors, and has 350VDC on it. If anything happens to the conformal coating and it gets wet or insects decide they want to eat it, things tend to got pop. I've seen a handful of Mitsi ones go, though that could just be market share. Likewise, the cost to replace it isn't in line with say the sequence timer in your dishwasher.

I believe it's the PCB from the outside unit. We will wait and see what Mitsubishi have to say about it when they call back, hopefully, tomorrow.

Handle9

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#2734002 24-Jun-2021 20:22

networkn:
Handle9: 7 years, bad luck. You got a unit on the bottom end of the bell curve but that has functioned a reasonable period of time before needing repair. You'd hope it would last longer but it would be hard to demonstrate that it was not reasonably durable.

I'd argue that literally any other appliance in my home costing 3K would be expected to last 10 Years.

You can argue whatever you like. You need to demonstrate how it is not reasonably durable.

dafman

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#2734023 24-Jun-2021 21:58

“We had a board go in our Mitsubishi after 7-8 years. We tossed up replacing or repairing. We went with repair. Called the installer/repairer who diagnosed the fault and it cost us $888 to repair. Hope to get a few more years out of it - fingers crossed. Friends have heat pumps that are over 10 years old and still running with no problems. An installer will also do repairs.”

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=141&topicid=250992&page_no=1#2251591

mattwnz

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#2734049 24-Jun-2021 23:38

A house I was looking at buying had a heat pump that was 15 years old, but still working, and used as the only heating and cooling. . The sales agent disagreed that the heat pump maybe near the end of it's life and likely needed replacing in the next few years. So some people can get a lot of life out of them.

MrAmerica

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#2734079 25-Jun-2021 08:51

networkn:
SomeoneSomewhere:

It's worth noting that the PCB that's failed probably isn't a dinky little automation/comms board with a couple of relays. If it's the inverter board, it's full of high-power transistors and large electrolytic capacitors, and has 350VDC on it. If anything happens to the conformal coating and it gets wet or insects decide they want to eat it, things tend to got pop. I've seen a handful of Mitsi ones go, though that could just be market share. Likewise, the cost to replace it isn't in line with say the sequence timer in your dishwasher.

I believe it's the PCB from the outside unit. We will wait and see what Mitsubishi have to say about it when they call back, hopefully, tomorrow.

As Someonesomewhere says, its probably the 3 phase inverter board. We used to have Mitsi heatpumps at home and at work, plus a mate also had the same model. They all died at around 7-8 years, and for my 2 at home it was the inverter board. I managed to get a couple of used outdoor units and replace the boards at home myself, but they died again a couple years later. Both mine were sheltered so never got wet, I think its just the boards are running on the limit.

Replaced them all with Toshibas and currently about 6 years ago, and so far so good.

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#2734081 25-Jun-2021 08:55

Mitsubishi indicated yesterday they had something they could do for us, but wanted to clarify with management. We had our Fujitsu for 9 years before we replaced it with this, and it was working 'fine'. I can see a number of people reporting this component failing after 7-8 years, so perhaps it's a known issue.

Hopefully, they will come to the party in some way.

JayADee

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#2735219 27-Jun-2021 07:45

Let us know what happens!

BlinkyBill

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#2735223 27-Jun-2021 07:59

mattwnz:

A house I was looking at buying had a heat pump that was 15 years old, but still working, and used as the only heating and cooling. . The sales agent disagreed that the heat pump maybe near the end of it's life and likely needed replacing in the next few years. So some people can get a lot of life out of them.

Finally … I had a feeling that real estate agents must have expertise in something … who knew it was heat pumps? Next time I have a heat pump issue I’ll go straight to the experts - real estate agents.

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