Who is Daikin, and why it matters when something breaks

Daikin started out making radiator tubes for aircraft. That was in Osaka, Japan, in 1924, when Akira Yamada founded the business under the name Osaka Kinzoku Kogyosho. A century on, it is one of the brands people ask us about most. Knowing a bit about the company behind the badge helps explain why some of our recommendations land the way they do, and it is mostly about what happens years after the install.

From radiators to refrigerants

According to Daikin's own history, the company had begun research into fluorine refrigerants by 1933. It took the name Daikin in 1963. Along the way it developed the first heat pump type packaged air conditioner made in Japan, called the Mifujirator, which ran the compressor, condenser and fan under automatic control. Before that, running air conditioning plant took real expertise.

In 1982 Daikin introduced VRV, a system that runs many indoor units off shared outdoor plant by varying how much refrigerant goes where. It is still a big part of commercial buildings today, and the idea behind it shows up in the smaller multi-split systems used in homes.

Daikin's corporate profile says it now operates in 150 countries and employs over 70,000 people. Its business is air conditioning and refrigerants, which is narrower than many of the big appliance names.

Daikin in Australia

The Australian business began in Sydney as Clark Daikin Pty Ltd, selling water-cooled packaged air conditioners, and later imported cooling-only single split air conditioners before changing its name to Daikin Australia. Daikin Australia says it was formed in 1980, and that it has been heating and cooling Australian homes for over 50 years.

A few things about the local operation are worth knowing:

• It makes things here. Daikin Australia runs a manufacturing facility in Sydney. Its ducted indoor units, some VRV indoor units and its VRV packaged rooftop units carry Australian Made certification.
• It holds parts here. Its Daikin Park site at Warwick Farm in south west Sydney, about 33,000 square metres, combines a factory, a training centre and one of the country's larger air conditioner warehouses, holding spare parts along with finished goods.
• It employs people here. Daikin Australia lists more than 550 employees.

None of that makes a unit heat a room better. It matters for what comes after.

Why the company behind the unit matters to you

A split system is a ten to fifteen year purchase. Daikin's own guidance is that its systems can last 10 to 15 years or more with proper maintenance. Over that time the most likely thing you will need is not a new unit, it is a part: a fan motor, a sensor, a circuit board.

That is where a large, established maker with a local operation earns its keep. Daikin says it keeps spare parts warehoused in Australia for fast delivery, and that it has a nationwide network of authorised service agents. When we diagnose a fault on a Daikin, the part is normally something we can order through Australian channels rather than chase overseas. Repairs are charged as a service call: the call-out, the time on site and any parts, and a part that arrives quickly keeps that to one visit where it can.

The warranty works the same way. Daikin's 5 year parts and labour warranty covers split, multi split and ducted air conditioners bought and installed in homes across Australia. Its warranty card says covered repairs are done during normal business hours by Daikin Australia or a repairer it arranges, and that for a consumer with a valid claim it bears the cost of arranging the repair. It also spells out what is not covered, including faults caused by incorrect installation, and the owner's job of cleaning filters and keeping the outdoor unit clear.

What Daikin is not

Daikin sells mainly through its Specialist Dealer network, and it notes those dealers are independently owned businesses. The installer is still the person who sizes the system, runs the pipe and does the commissioning, and a good brand cannot make up for a poor install. That is true of every maker we work with.

We also install and service other major brands, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Toshiba, LG and Samsung. Daikin is one good option among several. The right one depends on the room, how cold it gets, and how you use the house.

What we would take from all this

If you are choosing a split or a ducted system for a house in the ranges, the brand question is really three questions: how well it heats in our cold mornings, how easy it is to get parts for in ten years, and who honours the warranty. Daikin answers the second and third clearly, and its current split range has options that suit a cold climate.

If you would like a hand weighing it up, give us a ring on 0417 734 206, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, or send us a note. We measure and quote new systems before anything is ordered, and we can look at whichever split system suits the room.