Choosing a heat pump in the UK is only half the decision — picking the right refrigerant, cylinder configuration and control platform is the other half. Mitsubishi Electric's Ecodan range now spans two refrigerants (R32 and R290), several cylinder options (packaged, pre-plumbed and third-party), coastal-hardened variants for salt-air sites, and a mature FTC7 control platform backed by the free MELCloud app. This guide walks through the whole picture so you can specify a system that fits the building, the location and the long-term F-gas horizon.
R32 vs R290: which refrigerant, and when?
Every modern Ecodan uses one of two refrigerants. Both are far lower-impact than legacy R410A, but they suit different jobs. R32 is the current mainstream choice for standard retrofits and new builds; R290 (propane) is Mitsubishi's next-generation platform, designed for higher flow temperatures and future-proofing against tightening F-gas regulations.
| Property | R32 | R290 (propane) |
|---|---|---|
| Global Warming Potential (GWP) | 675 | 3 (near-natural) |
| Safety class | A2L — mildly flammable | A3 — flammable, stricter clearances |
| Typical max flow temperature | Up to 60–65°C | Up to 75°C |
| Best-fit applications | Well-insulated homes, underfloor heating, sized-for-purpose radiators | Retrofits keeping older radiators; higher-temperature DHW; future-proof specs |
| Cold-weather performance | Very good; Zubadan variants excel | Very good; benefits from propane thermodynamics at low ambients |
| UK Ecodan platform | PUZ-WM, PUZ-HWM (Zubadan) ranges | PUZ-WZ range |
| F-gas regulation horizon | Compliant now; longer-term restrictions expected on higher-GWP HFCs | Natural refrigerant — unaffected by GWP-driven restrictions |
| Install considerations | Standard monobloc clearances | Additional siting clearances from openings, drains, ignition sources per BS EN 378 |
What makes Mitsubishi Ecodan different
Six things Mitsubishi does that most don't
The Ecodan platform has been shipping in the UK since 2006 — long enough that Mitsubishi has iterated on the pain points installers actually hit. Here's what stands out today.
UK-manufactured. Ecodan units are assembled at Mitsubishi's West Hallam facility near Nottingham — useful for lead-times, spares availability and post-Brexit supply chain resilience.
Zubadan cold-climate tech. Zubadan-badged models deliver full heating capacity down to −7°C ambient and continue operating to −28°C — genuinely useful for exposed Scottish, upland or rural sites.
FTC7 controller across the range. The same control platform runs R32, R290, Zubadan and coastal variants — weather compensation, 2-zone control and MCS-compliant energy metering all built in.
MELCloud is free. No subscription. Homeowners get remote control and energy monitoring from day one; installers get MELCloud Pro for fleet management across every Mitsubishi system they've commissioned.
Coastal (-BS) variants exist for every mainstream model. Anti-corrosion casing treatment specifically designed for salt-air installations — functionally identical to the standard unit in output and efficiency.
BUS grant eligible. Every UK-market Ecodan qualifies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme when installed by an MCS-certified engineer — that's £7,500 off an air source install, discounted at the point of quote.
A real Ecodan install: Garry Hamilton's partner journey
Rather than take our word for the platform, here's Garry Hamilton, one of Mitsubishi's UK installation partners, walking through a real Stone Garden case study — how he specifies Ecodan systems, what customers actually notice after commissioning, and how the FTC7 controller and MELCloud shape the ongoing service relationship.
Highlighted product: FTC7 Packaged Cylinder 200L
The Mitsubishi Ecodan FTC7 Packaged Cylinder 200L (EHPT20X-MEHEW) is the least-effort way to get a full Ecodan system indoors. Everything you need — the FTC7 controller, main controller and sensors, primary and DHW pumps, zone and DHW diverter valves, flow sensor, plate heat exchanger, scale trap and a 3 kW immersion — is factory-assembled inside a single 200-litre unit. The installer connects flow, return, cold feed, hot draw-off and power, and commissions. That's it.
Mitsubishi Electric
Ecodan FTC7 Packaged Cylinder 200L (EHPT20X-MEHEW)
A+ ErP factory-packaged 200L indoor unit with FTC7 controller, all pumps, valves, plate heat exchanger, scale trap and 3 kW immersion built in. Compact 595 × 680 × 1600 mm footprint, 28 dB(A) at 1 m, MELCloud built in, BUS-grant eligible when MCS-installed.
£4,300 Inc. VAT
Requires a G3-qualified and MCS-certified installer to commission and validate warranty and grant eligibility. Pair with any compatible Ecodan outdoor unit (5–14 kW mono-phase or three-phase).
How the cylinder actually works
If you've not lived with a heat pump cylinder before, the mechanics are worth understanding — it's not the same as the direct-fired combi setup most UK homes came from. This short explainer walks through the flow paths, the role of the plate heat exchanger, and why DHW cycles look the way they do:
Standard pre-plumbed cylinders
For most retrofits and new builds, the packaged 200L unit is overkill or the wrong footprint. Mitsubishi's pre-plumbed cylinder range solves that: a duplex stainless steel unvented tank with FTC7 controller, three Grundfos pumps, plate heat exchanger, 3-way diverter, scale trap, cyclonic filter (Fernox TF1 Sigma HP), low-loss header, flow sensor and T&P relief valve, all factory pre-plumbed and pre-wired. Wi-Fi adaptor is included. It's the "install-fast" option for anywhere the packaged 200L doesn't fit.
Mitsubishi Electric
Ecodan FTC7 Pre-Plumbed Cylinder 150L Standard (EHPT15X-UKHEWS)
Class B ErP 150L duplex stainless steel unvented cylinder, factory pre-plumbed and pre-wired with FTC7 controller, three Grundfos pumps, plate heat exchanger, scale trap, cyclonic filter, 3 kW immersion and Wi-Fi adaptor. Compatible with PUZ-WM50VHA through PUZ-HWM140V/YHA and PUZ-WZ50–80VAA.
£3,700 Inc. VAT
Larger capacities are available in the same product family — the 150L is the entry point suitable for typical 3-bedroom homes; step up to 180L or 210L for larger DHW draws or households with concurrent shower use.
Pairing an Ecodan with a third-party cylinder
Sometimes the Mitsubishi cylinder isn't the right fit — you need a horizontal cylinder for a loft install, a larger vessel for a big house, or a specific brand your client already trusts. Mitsubishi supports this cleanly with the FTC7 Master Controller, a standalone version of the same FTC7 brain that lives inside the packaged and pre-plumbed cylinders. Pair it with any suitable third-party unvented cylinder, plus the required sensors, and you get identical control logic, 2-zone weather compensation, MCS-compliant energy metering and MELCloud connectivity.
How the pairing works
Wall-mount the FTC7 Master Controller
The PAC-IF082B-E is a compact wall-mounted controller that takes the place of the built-in FTC7 in a packaged cylinder. Wire it to the Ecodan outdoor unit and to mains power.
Add the DHW tank sensor
Fit the PAC-TH011TK2-E into the cylinder's DHW sensor pocket. This is the sensor the FTC7 reads for hot water heat-up cycles and Legionella protection sequencing.
Add flow, return and flow-rate sensors
A pair of PAC-TH011-E temperature sensors handle primary flow and return; a PAC-FS01-E measures flow rate. Together they enable full MCS-compliant energy metering.
Plumb the hydraulic side
Third-party cylinder, primary pump, low-loss header, 3-way diverter and scale trap all get installed conventionally. The FTC7 provides the control logic and metering.
Mitsubishi Electric
Ecodan FTC7 Master Controller (PAC-IF082B-E)
Standalone FTC7 controller for pairing any Ecodan outdoor unit with a third-party cylinder or hydraulic kit. Full FTC7 control logic, single- or 2-zone weather compensation, MCS-compliant energy metering, Modbus RTU, MELCloud-ready. Universal R32/R290 Ecodan compatibility.
£930 Inc. VAT
Mitsubishi Electric
FTC7 Third-Party Cylinder DHW Temperature Sensor (PAC-TH011TK2-E)
Genuine Mitsubishi NTC pocket-mount tank sensor with 5 m cable, matched to the FTC7's NTC resistance curve. Plug-and-play into the master controller's DHW input. Required for every third-party cylinder pairing — generic sensors risk Legionella cycle failures.
£37 Inc. VAT
Highlighted third-party cylinder: Crown Endurance 300L Horizontal
A common use case for the third-party route is when you need a horizontal cylinder — Mitsubishi doesn't manufacture one, but plenty of properties have the space for it and not for a tall vertical vessel. The Crown Endurance 300L Horizontal (END300HPH) is a natural pairing: 300L of nominal capacity (279L potable) in a compact 545 mm-diameter shell that lies on its side, built specifically for heat pump low-flow-temperature operation with a 2.96 m² coil rated at 25.48 kW.
Crown Water Heaters
Crown Endurance 300L Heat Pump Horizontal Cylinder (END300HPH)
Loft-friendly horizontal cylinder built for heat pumps — 1 mm duplex stainless steel with 25-year warranty, 2.96 m² coil rated 25.48 kW, secondary return connection and full G3-compliant unvented kit as standard. Perfect for the third-party FTC7 pairing where headroom is limited.
£1,595 Inc. VAT
Coastal models: −BS variants for salt-air sites
Standard Ecodan casings hold up well inland, but salt-laden air accelerates corrosion of aluminium fins and steel enclosures. The Mitsubishi answer is the −BS coastal specification — an enhanced corrosion-resistant casing treatment applied to the outdoor unit. Output, efficiency and control compatibility are identical to the standard model; only the casing durability differs. Two coastal options at opposite ends of the range give a sense of the coverage:
Mitsubishi Electric
14kW Ecodan R32 3Ph Mono ASHP Coastal Zubadan (PUZ-HWM140YAA-BS)
Three-phase 14 kW monobloc with full Zubadan cold-climate tech (rated output down to −7°C, operates to −28°C) and coastal-hardened −BS casing. A+++ ErP at 35°C flow (SCOP 4.48, COP 4.46 at A7/W35), 53 dB(A) at 1 m. Suits larger homes and rural or coastal exposed sites.
£5,990 Inc. VAT
Mitsubishi Electric
5kW Ecodan R290 1Ph Mono ASHP Coastal (PUZ-WZ50VAA-BS)
Single-phase 5 kW next-generation R290 monobloc with −BS coastal casing. A+++ ErP at 35°C flow (SCOP 4.62), 75°C max flow temperature, guaranteed operation to −25°C ambient, 40 dB(A) at 1 m. MELCloud built in. Suits 2–3 bedroom well-insulated homes on the coast.
£3,300 Inc. VAT
MELCloud: the free Wi-Fi control layer
Every Mitsubishi Ecodan is designed to be controlled remotely via the free MELCloud app, on iOS and Android. Newer packaged and pre-plumbed cylinders ship with the Wi-Fi capability built in; for outdoor-only installs or third-party cylinder pairings using the PAC-IF082B-E, the MAC-587IF-EH Wi-Fi Interface is the small dongle that plugs the FTC7 into the homeowner's router. It's compatible with FTC6 and FTC7 systems.
Free MELCloud app
Homeowner-facing iOS and Android app for scheduling, room-by-room set points, DHW boost, holiday mode and real-time energy monitoring. No subscription.
MELCloud Pro for installers
Separate installer portal for fleet management — monitor every commissioned system in one dashboard, diagnose remotely, spot units drifting from expected performance.
Real-time energy metering
When paired with the FTC7's MCS-compliant flow, return and flow-rate sensors, MELCloud reports kWh in and heat out — the numbers you need for actual SCOP verification.
Simple 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
802.11 b/g/n on 2.4 GHz for best reach through walls and floors. 2 m connection cable to the FTC7. No mesh dependency, no cloud subscription lock-in.
Mitsubishi Electric
MELCloud Wi-Fi Interface (MAC-587IF-EH)
Wi-Fi gateway for Ecodan systems with FTC6 or FTC7 controllers. Enables the free MELCloud app for the homeowner and MELCloud Pro for the installer. 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n with 2 m cable. Fits every FTC6/FTC7 setup that doesn't already include integrated Wi-Fi.
£130 Inc. VAT
Range at a glance
| Product | Refrigerant | Output / Capacity | Best fit | Price Inc. VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTC7 Packaged Cylinder 200L (EHPT20X-MEHEW) | — | 200L, A+ ErP | Simplest install for the indoor side; typical 3-bed home | £4,300 |
| FTC7 Pre-Plumbed Cylinder 150L (EHPT15X-UKHEWS) | — | 150L, Class B ErP | Pre-plumbed alternative when packaged 200L doesn't fit | £3,700 |
| FTC7 Master Controller (PAC-IF082B-E) | — | — | Third-party cylinder pairings; loft installs; horizontal tanks | £930 |
| PAC-TH011TK2-E DHW Sensor | — | 5 m cable, pocket-mount | Required companion for every third-party cylinder pairing | £37 |
| Crown Endurance 300L Horizontal (END300HPH) | — | 300L / 279L potable | Third-party horizontal cylinder for lofts and low-clearance spaces | £1,595 |
| 14kW R32 3Ph Mono Coastal Zubadan (PUZ-HWM140YAA-BS) | R32 | 14 kW, A+++, SCOP 4.48 | Larger homes; exposed rural or coastal sites; three-phase supply | £5,990 |
| 5kW R290 1Ph Mono Coastal (PUZ-WZ50VAA-BS) | R290 | 5 kW, A+++, SCOP 4.62 | Well-insulated 2–3 bed coastal homes; future-proof natural refrigerant | £3,300 |
| MELCloud Wi-Fi Interface (MAC-587IF-EH) | — | 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n | Adds MELCloud to any FTC6 / FTC7 system without integrated Wi-Fi | £130 |
Certification and support
MCS-certified installation
All UK Ecodan installs must be commissioned by an MCS-certified heat pump installer to validate the manufacturer warranty and to claim the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant.
G3 unvented qualification
Packaged and pre-plumbed cylinders (and any third-party unvented pairing) require a G3-qualified installer for the DHW side. Not the same as being MCS-certified.
BS EN 378 for R290 siting
R290 units have additional minimum clearances from openings, drains and ignition sources. Always follow the current Mitsubishi installation manual — never a cached older PDF.
UK manufacturer warranty
Backed by Mitsubishi Electric UK when commissioned by a Mitsubishi-approved engineer. Warranty registration documentation is supplied in-box with each outdoor unit.
Ready to specify a Mitsubishi Ecodan system?
Whether you're a homeowner comparing R32 and R290, an installer costing a coastal Zubadan job, or a developer specifying multiple properties, AIZO Quality Heating can help you pick the right combination of outdoor unit, cylinder and controls — and get you a project-specific quote with delivery lead-times.