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Frontal view of the Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pump (image credit: Hitachi)
The Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pump is a compact, efficient heating solution for homes, it’s quiet and provides year-round comfort, making it one of the best air source heat pump models in the UK.Hitachi is a Japanese multinational conglomerate that has been operating in the European market since 1982.
The company is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and frequently ranks in the Fortune Global 500. Hitachi has been long considered one of the best air source heat pump manufacturers in the UK and the world, and its Hitachi Yutaki M has even won it a prestigious international award (Heating Manufacturer of the Year at the InstallerLive Awards 2011).
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Technical information
The Hitachi Yutaki M is a compact air source heat pump providing year-round comfort and an excellent range of heating temperatures. The pump is ideal for domestic heating and hot water, and can produce a good output at ambient temperatures down to -20°C.
The Hitachi Yutaki M features a remote control and app with different modes to set energy use efficiently. This air source heat pump is also one of the most compact in the market – requiring only an outdoor unit and no internal space, making it the perfect choice for smaller properties.
- Type of heat pump: Monobloc air-to-water pump system
- Heat output: 7.50kW to 16.00kW
- ErP energy efficiency class: A+++
- Output temperature: Up to 60°C
- Capacities available: 7.5kW to 14kW
- COP: Market lead of 4.31 (5.0 for the 2HP model)
Key features
- Great for domestic use and new builds: The Hitachi Yutaki M can be installed in new suitably-insulated homes or used alongside another existing heating solution. Because it only requires an external unit, it is perfect for smaller properties.
- Wide range of comfortable temperatures: The Hitachi Yutaki M can generate water up to 60°C (55ºC for 4~6HP) and has weather compensation control.
- Environmentally friendly and cost-saving: The Hitachi Yutaki M is eligible for domestic and non-domestic RHI and is MCS-accredited, meaning you can actually earn money for your energy and cover your initial investment faster.
Pros and cons
An example of a prestige pack including the Yutaki M and accessories (image credit: Hitachi)
Pros
The Hitachi Yutaki boasts some great features:
- Very compact: You only need to install a single unit on the outside of your property. The Hitachi Yutaki M requires no space inside, making it an excellent choice for small properties, flats, and new buildings. The heat pump can be used as an alternative or installed in addition to a more traditional boiler.
- Quiet: The Hitachi Yutaki M has low sound levels. Although it’s normal for all heat pumps to produce some noise, the fact that the Yutaki M has no indoor unit (everything is outdoors) makes it especially quiet.
- Simple installation: The pump requires no refrigeration handling and can be installed quickly. All components are easy to access, and the heat pump can be configured in 5 minutes thanks to an intuitive wizard set-up interface.
Cons
But there are a few downsides:
- Maximum output: Some of the Hitachi air source heat pumps have a lower maximum output compared to other brands (for example, the Vaillant flexoTHERM 400V has a max output of 19kW) or to gas boilers. This should, however, be enough for most small and medium houses.
- Better when combined with other technologies: The Hitachi Yutaki M works best when you can use it in combination with other technologies, such as underfloor or warm air heating.
Price: Hitachi air source heat pumps can be pricier than other brands due to a perceived higher quality and their compact size – something not many other competitors have achieved. You will need between £6,000 and £12,000 (depending on the model) and a certified engineer to install the heat pump.
How do Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pumps work?
The Hitachi Yutaki series uses a high-efficiency DC inverter scroll compressor that increases reliability (image credit: Hitachi)
The Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pump is an excellent replacement for boilers, as it can provide good heat through low and high-temperature radiators and underfloor heating. The Hitachi Yutaki M has two heating circuits, a simple yet powerful weather compensation control feature, and has an ErP efficiency class of up to A+++. The Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pump is available in capacities of 7.5kW to 14kW, and its screed drying (the amount of time it takes between the initial screed installation and the final flooring) function makes it also ideal for new builds.
The pump can be installed in large houses, small flats, and schools. Overall, the Hitachi Yutaki M boasts one of the highest efficiencies in the market and can be combined with other renewable technologies such as solar thermal. One of its main advantages, considering it’s a very compact air source heat pump that only requires an outdoor unit, is that you can control everything remotely. The outside unit itself is also very compact; depending on the model, measuring from just 600mm high.
How does the Hitachi Yutaki M heat pump operate?
The Hitachi Yutaki M is compact and can be installed on the outside of the property (image credit: Hitachi)
The Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pump can generate water up to 60°C (55ºC for 4~6HP) without the need for a backup heating element. It has a broad operating range that goes from about -25ºC to 46ºC (with a heating operating range of -25ºC to 25ºC and a cooling operating range of 10 to 46ºC). This broad spectrum of temperatures can cope well with extreme weather. The inverter technology used by the heat pump also means the output matches the heating load of your property. At the same time, the world-renowned Hitachi high-pressure scroll compressor provides more reliability. In fact, the Yutaki M is so powerful that you can potentially heat up a swimming pool with it.
The heat pump also has weather compensation control. This technology can help the heating system work more efficiently by monitoring both the external and internal temperatures and adjusting the pump’s operation accordingly. As a result, you can have fewer temperature fluctuations and make your house more comfortable overall.
The Hitachi Yutaki M has low sound levels and multiple power-saving modes to suit your lifestyle and save energy. For example, you can set the heat pump to comfort, anti-freezing, energy, or vacation modes. There is also a weekly timer and a ‘favourite’ button, among other intelligent functions provided by the system.
You can also operate the Hitachi Yutaki M from an intuitive smartphone app thanks to its Remote Thermostat ATW-RTU-05. The application includes features such as a one-touch holiday button (sets the boiler to low power settings while you’re away) and frost protection. All operations are also easy to manage through remote control, so you don’t have to step outside to make any changes to your heating system. All you need to do is press a button.
The Hitachi Yutaki M is eligible for both domestic and non-domestic RHI and is fully MCS certified – which means you can earn money by selling energy to the National Grid. This air source heat pump can not just provide all your heating and domestic water requirements while reducing your energy bills but also cut your carbon emissions by up to 70% – making it the perfect green choice for your home.
The pump requires no refrigeration handling and can be easily and quickly installed. This highly efficient system is an ideal choice for replacing traditional boilers. For instance, it’s four times more efficient, using just 1kW of electricity to extract renewable energy from the air and produce an output of 4kW heat. This makes it a particularly attractive product for new properties and more environmentally-conscious consumers.
How much does the Hitachi Yutaki M cost?
The Hitachi Yutaki M is an affordable air source heat pump. It costs around £3,620 to £5,030 for the pump itself. Buying and installing the system will cost around £6,000 to £12,000 (the price will vary depending on the model and the company you choose to carry out the installation).
It’s worth mentioning, however, that once the upfront cost is covered, you can look forward to years of potential savings and earnings that will quickly repay your investment. As with most Hitachi air source heat pumps, the installation is simple, and the heat pump is easy to maintain. Setting things up can take as little as 5 minutes due to an intuitive interface. All heat pump components are also easy to access.
A standard 5-year guarantee is available on all Hitachi systems, provided the systems are installed by a qualified engineer. In some cases, you can request an accredited installer to also get an exclusive 7-year part and labour guarantee.
How do Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pumps compare to other heat pumps?
The Hitachi Yutaki M provides top-spec performance capabilities that will efficiently heat your home and be comfortable during the harshest winters. The Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pump can be compared to the following systems:
- Samsung EHS Monobloc (which can be hard to find as it’s less popular than its competitors)
- Nibe F2040 (which is very quiet and compact but has long callout times)
- Vaillant flexoTHERM 400V + aroCOLLECT (which has an impressive max power of 19kW but is more costly)
- Daikin Altherma (which can work with existing radiators but is also more expsnive)
Compared to its competitors, the Hitachi Yutaki M has an impressive A+++ energy rating and efficiency of 500%, making it extremely energy-efficient and capable of producing significant savings over its lifetime.
What the professionals say
“Hitachi is a big player in the technology industry and they don’t disappoint when it comes to air source heat pumps (…) The Yutaki range of air source heat pumps are compact units which boast one of the highest efficiencies on the market.” BoilerGuide
“The range includes a variety of outputs and water temperatures to suit your requirements and provides you with leading technology to maintain the perfect indoor environment, regardless of how warm or cold it is outside.” Builders Prices
“The Yutaki M can provide domestic hot water and heating and is therefore ideal boiler replacement technology in a suitably insulated home or it can be used alongside an existing heating solution. It is a compact solution where a single unit is installed on the outside of the property, taking up no space inside.” Solflex
What customers say
At the time of writing this review, there aren’t any customer reviews available for the Hitachi Yutaki M air source heat pump. However, thanks to the product, Hitachi was able to win ‘Heating Manufacturer of the Year’ in 2011.
There is a general agreement that the monobloc Yutaki-M is one of the market’s best air source heat pumps. One characteristic that makes it particularly special is the fact that you won’t need an internal module inside your home. Instead, all refrigeration is sealed in the outdoor unit, which makes it perfect for smaller and new properties.
Another important consideration when doing a Hitachi Yutaki M review is that all of Hitachi’s Yutaki air source heat pumps are eligible for domestic RHI, MCS approved, and have domestic hot water Legionella Protection – which makes them particularly attractive to new buyers. The heat pumps also come with a five-year warranty as standard.
Final recommendation
Because the heat pump has such a wide operating range of temperatures, it can cope with extreme weather while still producing hot water and working well with high-temperature radiators and underfloor heating. Although the cost of air source heat pumps can be steep as an initial investment, it’s only a matter of time until you start seeing significant gains in terms of energy savings and comfort for your home.
More than half of the Hitachi Yutaki M models have energy ratings of A+++ and multiple operating modes to better suit your lifestyle and temperature preferences. This heat pump is, undoubtedly, one of the best offerings on the market and the most solid UK air source heat pump. However, if you’re looking for a more powerful solution, you can also look into the next model in the Hitachi Yutaki range, the Yutaki S80 – which can heat up water up to 80ºC and gain five-fold efficiency gains if you compare it to standard heating systems.
Our methodology
We considered several factors when reviewing the Hitachi Yutaki M heat pump. We included five main criteria: design, durability, efficiency, performance, and guarantee options, and took into consideration professional and customer reviews that have installed and tried the product. We also compared the Hitachi Yutaki M with some of the best heat pumps in the UK in terms of both performance and price. The weight of the factors we analysed is as follows:
- The warranty period offered by the brand, for a total of 10 points;
- The overall reputation of the brand is based on online reviews, for a total of 15 points;
- Trustpilot reviews for a total of 5 points;
- Awards and accolades (e.g. Which? Best Buy Awards) for a total of 5 points;
- Customer service performance, for a total of 10 points;
- The price range, for a total of 15 points;
- Efficiency ratings, for a total of 15 points;
- Installation and maintenance network and reviews, for a total of 15 points; and
- The total warranty period for a total of 10 points.