Advise on Ducted A/C Daikin Vs Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Khaosprinz on 13/10/2025 - 23:15

Hi everyone,

I would appreciate some advise on a ducted A/C. I am planing a major renovation and the builder recommended a Daikin system, setup with 2 seperate zones and wifi module. My architect and the builder recommend Daikin and used it in numerous projects. However, reading through reviews in forums etc doesn’t look very good, people complaining about noise and reliability issues.

I was hoping if my fellow ozbargainers could share their experience with Daikin A/C’s, ideally more recent installations <5y old. I read here in this forum that Daikin is not as good as it used to be.

I am leaning towards Mitsubishi Heavy Industries FDUA 125AVSXWVH with wifi controller.

Again I would appreciate if you could share experience with these brands and models. Any other tips on what to look for would be appreciated too.

I want an energy efficient and reliable system.

Please vote in the poll which brand you would recommend, if other pls mention in comments and add why.

Thank you.

Poll Options Sun, 19/10/2025 - 00:00

  • 4
    Daikin
  • 28
    Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
  • 6
    Other
Home & Garden Air Conditioner Daikin Mitsubishi Electric

Comments

  • nocure on 13/10/2025 - 23:18
    +5

    The answer to any AC question is always MHI

  • jv on 13/10/2025 - 23:30
    +3

    Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

  • Unorthodox on 14/10/2025 - 00:05

    Why only two zones? And Air touch 5?

    • Khaosprinz on 14/10/2025 - 08:41

      Hi, I do not need more than 2 zones. Do you have any experience with Air touch 5?

  • sumyungguy on 14/10/2025 - 00:28
    +2

    I know a mech engineer who does high-rise apartment complexes; he provisions Daikin and ME, not MHI. If you research more widely than OzB you may find ME is preferred by pros over MHI which are consumer goods and stocked by Bunnings.

    • nocure on 14/10/2025 - 09:13
      +1

      "Pros" recommend anything they get a kickback from….MHI is far superior

      • sumyungguy on 14/10/2025 - 09:55

        What aspects of MHI make them far superior to ME? Lower price isn't an attribute I rate.

      • Brick50 on 14/10/2025 - 12:41
        +1

        Tell us how MHI is superior, from my research I found ME the go.

  • Stealtho on 14/10/2025 - 06:55

    Our Daikin ducted, 2 zones 10 outlets is 19 years old still going as good as day 1

    • MuscleRulz on 14/10/2025 - 07:32
      +7

      Trust me, the Daikin units of today are NOT the Daikin quality of yesteryear… When your 19 yo Daikin system finally dies, please don't be fooled into thinking the next Daikin will be of equal quality and duration… it won't be!… MHI all the way!!! 👍

      • Stealtho on 14/10/2025 - 07:58
        +2

        yeah daughters friend works for a aircon mob, he said same, none are like they used to be.

    • hawthornandrew on 14/10/2025 - 08:14
      +1

      Daikin was the best AC. A number of AC experts have told me that.
      However they are not now. MHI is the best these days so go MHI.

      • Khaosprinz on 14/10/2025 - 08:47

        @hawthornandrew, @MuscleRulz Do you have a MHI system? Just based on the spec sheets the Daikin seem more efficient/effective.

        • MuscleRulz on 14/10/2025 - 13:43
          +1

          Without wanting to sound like a smart-arse, spec sheets are pretty much useless on a 40 degree day when your Daikin system is not working!… I have a 10kw Daikin ducted (only because it was in the house when purchased). 5 grand and 3 repairs later, I've had a gutful. The irony is I used to sell MHI, all be it years ago… The general consensus around the traps now is that MHI is still the way to go. I know what I'll be replacing my Daikin with! 😉

  • Danstar on 14/10/2025 - 08:05

    I've got 5 LG's in my house. Chose LG cos it came with the Wi-Fi dongle built in. The app is pretty easy, they do keep updating it (which can get annoying cos they change the layout) but otherwise they haven't had any issues in the 5+ years I've had them installed.

    Did have an issue with one once a few years ago, LG sorted out someone to come and fix it for free.

    • JimB on 14/10/2025 - 11:52

      Must be a massive house to have 5 ducted systems!

      • Danstar on 14/10/2025 - 12:47
        +1

        Whoops. I missed the ducted part and assumed it was split systems they wanted :S

  • timthetoolman on 14/10/2025 - 08:42
    +2

    Advise Advice Advize

  • JimB on 14/10/2025 - 11:53

    Ask them who the installer is.

    Then speak to the actual installer on what is their preferred brand.

  • mitt on 14/10/2025 - 11:58
    +3

    Are you fully committed to ducted? Multiple splits have come in more efficient & reliable in every install I have encountered in the last 10 years. I have seen setups with multiple split systems combined together though a unified app/thermostat control & act like a single ducted system all controlled together. I have seen many old ducted systems replaced with multiple splits, never seen someone with splits replace them with a ducted system, though ducted retrofits are often harder vs new build so that explains part of it.

    • JimB on 14/10/2025 - 12:17
      +1

      You're never going to get the same gentle quiet performance from splits compared to ducted.

      I didn't replace splits with ducted. I built a couple of houses. First house, all splits. Next house, fully ducted.

      Ducted does cost more to run but with solar these days, you can run it for free during summer days.

    • Khaosprinz on 15/10/2025 - 08:09

      Yeah want ducted since it’s a major renovation and the system will be a lot nicer integrated.

  • quarkz on 14/10/2025 - 12:11
    +3

    Our 3 year old Daikin ducted 14kw system has broken down 3 times. It was out of action for 8 months as Daikin refused to cover the full cost of repair, they would only cover parts. It was an absolute nightmare and I would never touch a Daikin again.

  • carlJack on 14/10/2025 - 12:22

    Work in Air con related industry. Daikin are the most popular ducted aircons we work with. Next is Panasonic.

  • peteru on 14/10/2025 - 12:54
    +1

    Recently replaced a 5 year old split Daikin where the electronics failed miserably and a fix would cost as much as a new system.

    Installed a MHI Bronte split system. It is much quieter and has better air distribution - it can blow further into the living space and be configured to direct air in more directions than the Daikin could. The built-in WiFi can be made to work with Home Assistant, including energy monitoring, which is useful if you want to understand and manage costs.

    The MHI system is far superior to any of the Daikin systems I had over the last 20+ years. I'm glad I switched brands. I see no reason for Daikin to continue beings as popular as it has been. They are not innovating, their customer service is not great & the repair costs are obscene. They advertise a lot and ride on reputation form the past. Perhaps Daikin offer good kick-backs for installers to get more installs.

    Time will tell how well the replacement MHI split system holds up long term, but so far (few months) there is no cause for concern.

  • omguleh on 15/10/2025 - 18:59

    Im building a new house now and went with a ME VRF system with a central distribution unit, 8 heads in total and all wifi.

  • 00 on 15/10/2025 - 22:18

    Braemar?

  • boretentsu on 15/10/2025 - 22:26
    +1

    I had a daikin unit that came with an apt. The pcb failed 2 months out of warranty and they wouldn't fix it without charge. They basically told me FU when I tried to escalate it. Cost me $2500 and when googling on forums, I discovered it was a very common fault. I'm mindful that the pcb is coming close to being 5 years old since it was repaired.

    • peteru on 15/10/2025 - 23:08
      +2

      Yep. Same case here. Error U4. It cost me less to replace the Daikin system with a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. See above. The MHI system is heaps better than current model Daikin systems.

      • boretentsu on 16/10/2025 - 10:40
        +1

        Daikin is a rort. They give offplan developers some kickbacks and discounts to install their planned to fail units then make it back with repairs like toner ink.

        MHI VS Daikin in 2025, as if that's even a choice.

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