Controlling Your Heat Pump: Remote, Wall Thermostat, App and Voice
Quick answer: a Mitsubishi heat pump can be controlled four ways: the handheld remote that comes with every indoor unit, an MHK2 wireless wall thermostat, the Mitsubishi Comfort app (the successor to kumo cloud) over home Wi-Fi, and voice through Amazon Alexa or Google Home once the app is set up. Most of our North Country customers add Wi-Fi control, because it means warming up the camp from the car on a Friday afternoon and letting our office diagnose a problem remotely instead of waiting for a truck.
The handheld remote
Every Mitsubishi wall, floor and cassette unit ships with an infrared remote. It handles the essentials: on/off, mode (Heat, Cool, Dry, Fan, Auto), setpoint, fan speed, vane direction, and a simple on/off timer. For a single-zone room it is all many people ever use. Two habits make it work better: point it at the unit until you hear the beep, and keep it in one spot so nobody "loses the heat" in February. See our guide to timer functions for the scheduling it can do.
The MHK2 wireless wall thermostat
If you want a conventional thermostat on the wall, the MHK2 is it. It mounts anywhere in the room, reads the temperature where people actually sit rather than up at the unit, and offers a weekly schedule, hold, and a familiar up/down interface. It is the right choice for a guest room, a rental, or anyone who would rather not use a phone. Because it senses temperature at eye level instead of near the ceiling, it also fixes the "the unit says 70 but it feels like 66" complaint in rooms with high ceilings.
Wi-Fi control: Mitsubishi Comfort app and kumo cloud
A small Wi-Fi adapter installed inside each indoor unit connects it to your home network. From there the Mitsubishi Comfort app on your phone or tablet gives you full control of every zone from anywhere:
- Change mode, setpoint, fan speed and vanes for each room
- Build weekly schedules per zone: bedrooms cooler at night, living room warm by 6 a.m.
- Group zones and control the whole house with one tap
- Set temperature limits so guests cannot run the camp at 80°F
- Get alerts for filter reminders and error codes
- Let our technicians see the system's status and error history remotely
Older installs run the kumo cloud app, which Mitsubishi has transitioned to Mitsubishi Comfort; existing adapters carry over. That remote visibility is not a gimmick. One of our High Peaks customers had a temperature issue on a mini-split and our Comfort Consultant "was able to diagnose and fix the issue remotely without needing a site visit." For a seasonal camp in Schroon Lake or a second home in Lake Placid, app control also means you can hold the house at 50°F while you are away and bring it up before you arrive. Details on the controllers page.
Voice control with Alexa and Google
Once the Comfort app is set up, link it to Amazon Alexa or Google Home and the system answers to your voice: "Alexa, set the living room to 70" or "Hey Google, turn off the bedroom heat pump." It is handy from the couch and genuinely useful for anyone with limited mobility. Third-party automation can go further, for example turning the system down when everyone's phone leaves the house, but the built-in schedules cover most needs.
Which control setup is right for you?
| Situation | Recommended control |
|---|---|
| Single room, you are home most days | Handheld remote |
| Family home, several zones, want schedules | Mitsubishi Comfort app on every zone |
| Guest room, rental, or someone who dislikes phones | MHK2 wall thermostat |
| Seasonal camp or second home | Comfort app with freeze-protection setpoint and alerts |
| Ducted air handler for the whole house | MHK2 or Comfort app, same as a furnace thermostat |
Control tips that save energy in a cold climate
- Heat pumps are happiest holding a steady temperature. Set it and leave it; deep nightly setbacks cost more than they save at -10°F because the system has to recover at full speed.
- Use Auto fan speed. The unit knows when it needs more airflow.
- In shoulder seasons, pick Heat or Cool manually rather than Auto mode, which can hunt on a 55°F day.
- Use Dry Mode on humid August evenings near the lake instead of over-cooling.
- If a zone will not respond to the app, check that the indoor unit's Wi-Fi light is on and your router is up before calling; then run our troubleshooter.
We add Wi-Fi adapters to new installs and retrofit them to existing Mitsubishi systems. Ask at your free estimate or book it as part of your next maintenance visit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I control a Mitsubishi heat pump from my phone?
Yes. With a Wi-Fi adapter in each indoor unit, the Mitsubishi Comfort app (successor to kumo cloud) controls every zone from anywhere, with schedules, alerts and remote diagnostics.
Does a Mitsubishi heat pump work with Alexa or Google Home?
Yes. Once the Mitsubishi Comfort app is set up, link it to Amazon Alexa or Google Home for voice control of each zone.
Can I add Wi-Fi control to an existing Mitsubishi system?
Yes. Most Mitsubishi indoor units from the last decade accept a Wi-Fi adapter. We retrofit them during a maintenance visit or service call.
Should I use a wall thermostat or the remote?
The remote is fine for a single room. The MHK2 wall thermostat reads temperature where you sit rather than at the ceiling and gives a familiar interface with a weekly schedule, so it is the better choice for main living areas, guest rooms and rentals.
Talk to us
Have questions about your home? Call Adirondack Heat Pumps at (518) 812-1958, stop by the showroom at 15 Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga, or request a free in-home estimate. We serve Essex County, the Lake George and Lake Champlain shores, the High Peaks and Addison County, Vermont.