Daikin is a Japanese company, based in Osaka. They are known for their innovative air conditioning technologies. In fact, the first split and multi-split air conditioner were developed by Daikin.
On top of that, they have invented the variable refrigerant flow air conditioners, known today as the VRV AC units.
Daikin mini-split systems are the top-of-the-line. They are:
- Energy-efficient (high SEER and HSPF rating).
- Easy to install and use.
- Come with a range of innovative smart technologies other mini-split brands don’t include as of yet.
To properly review the Daikin mini-split system, we will look at 4 key chapters:
- Overview of all Daikin mini-split systems, comprised of single-zone air conditioners, single-zone heat pumps, and multi-zone mini-split systems.
- Key advantages Daikin mini-splits have.
- Review of the 4 most popular and best-selling Daikin mini-splits.
- Comparison of Daikin mini-split system to other brands, like Mitsubishi, Pioneer, Fujitsu, etc.
Overview Of Daikin Mini-Split Systems
Daikin has one of the broadest mini-split portfolios. This includes 3 specific categories of mini-splits, namely:
- Daikin single-zone mini-splits for air conditioning only. These provide only a cooling effect. We’ll look at 17 Series, NV Series, and 19 Series units.
- Daikin single-zone heat pumps. These units provide both a cooling effect (summer) and a heating effect (winter). We will look into 12 different single-zone heat pump series.
- Daikin multi-zone mini-split systems. These include 1 outdoor unit that powers 2 or more indoor units. We will look at a range of outdoor and indoor units.
Any mini-split units can be compared using the key metrics. These metrics include:
- SEER rating. It determines the cooling energy efficiency throughout the summer months.
- HSPF rating. It determines the heating energy efficiency throughout the winter months.
- Energy Star label. If a Daikin mini-split has an Energy Star rating, it means that it has comparatively high energy efficiency and lower running costs. You get a grip on the running costs of air conditioners here.
- Coverage area. Based on the BTU/hr output, we will look at which models have the proper size for your situation.
Let’s look at the Daikin mini-split categories, based on these metrics:
Single-Zone Mini-Split Air Conditioners (Cooling Only)
Single-zone mini-splits are comprised of 1 outdoor and 1 indoor unit. Mini-split AC units are used only for cooling. Unlike heat pumps, the Daikin mini-split air conditioners do not have heating capabilities.
Single-zone mini-split air conditioners are recommended for households who only need additional cooling capabilities in the summer. Comparatively, these units are the most budget-friendly mini-split systems.
Daikin offers 3 cooling-only single-zone mini-split models; the 17 Series, the 19 Series, and the newer NV Series for low ambient cooling (can even operate at -22°F).
Let’s look at the comparison of Daikin mini-split air conditioners:
| Daikin Mini Split Air Conditioner Series: | 17 Series Wall Mount | 19 Series Wall Mount | NV Series Wall Mount |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEER: | 17 | 19 | 17.5 |
| Coverage Area: | 250 – 1,600 sq ft | 250 – 1,600 sq ft | N/A |
| Price: | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$$$ |
| Energy Star: | No | No | Yes |
The ’17 Series’ is the traditional tried-and-tested Daikin mini-split air conditioner series. It has a 17 SEER rating (hence the name) and it is fairly energy-efficient. Due to its now lower price point, it is one of the best-selling Daikin mini split series.
The ’19 Series’ has pretty much the same basic setup as the ’17 Series’. That includes the energy-efficient Daikin inverter technology. It is a newer series, however, with an additional Daikin Comfort smartphone app for control and a higher – 19 SEER rating – energy efficiency. Due to higher efficiency and the new tech, it has a comparatively higher price than the 17 SEER series.
The NV Daikin series is a niche mini-split with up to a 17.5 SEER rating. It is the only Daikin cooling only mini-split with a smart Daikin One+ thermostat. This offers full two-way communication. The NV also has low ambient cooling. It can cool inside air even at -22°F outdoor temperature.
Single-Zone Mini-Split Heat Pumps (Cooling And Heating)
Ductless Daikin heat pumps are probably the most popular category of Daikin mini-splits. They are designed with 1 outdoor and 1 indoor unit; the heat pump provides both cooling and heating. Most of them come in 3/4-ton to 2-ton capacities (9,000 BTU to 24,000 BTU) with coverage between 250 sq ft and 1,600 sq ft. Here is the list of Daikin mini-split heat pumps complete with energy efficiency specifications:
| Daikin Mini Split Heat Pumps: | Mounting: | SEER: | HSPF: | Coverage: | Price: | Energy Star: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daikin EMURA | Wall Mount | 11.0 (EER) | 9.3 | 250 – 1,200 sq ft | $$$$ | No |
| Daikin 17 Series | Wall Mount | Up to 17 | 9.0 | 250 – 1,600 sq ft | $$$$ | No |
| Daikin 19 Series | Wall Mount | Up to 19 | Up to 10 | 250 – 1,600 sq ft | $$$$ | Yes |
| Daikin AURORA | Floor Mount | Up to 20 | Up to 11.7 | 250 – 1,600 sq ft | $$$$ | Yes |
| Daikin AURORA | Wall Mount | Up to 20.3 | Up to 12.5 | 250 – 1,600 sq ft | $$$$ | Yes |
| Daikin AURORA FDMQ | Ducted Concealed | Up to 19.3 | Up to 10.8 | 250 – 1,600 sq ft | $$$$ | Yes |
| Daikin LV Series | Ducted Concealed | Up to 15.5 | Up to 10.4 | 250 – 900 sq ft | $$$$ | No |
| Daikin LV Series | Wall Mount | Up to 24.5 | Up to 12.5 | 250 – 1,600 sq ft | $$$$ | Yes |
| Daikin Quaternity | Wall Mount | Up to 26.1 | Up to 11.0 | 250 – 1,200 sq ft | $$$$ | Yes |
| Daikin VISTA | Ceiling Cassette | Up to 20.9 | Up to 11.7 | N/A | $$$$ | Yes |
| Daikin NV Series | Wall Mount | Up to 17.5 | Up to 9.5 | N/A | $$$$ | No |
| Daikin FDMQ | Ducted Concealed | Up to 20.2 | Up to 10.6 | N/A | $$$$ | Yes |
As you can see, Daikin produces heat pumps with 4 types of mounting:
- Wall-mounted. Most energy-efficient; LV series and Quaternity can reach 24.5 SEER and 26.1 SEER rating.
- Floor mounted. Daikin AURORA series with up to 11.7 HSPF rating, very energy efficient as far as heating is concerned.
- Ducted concealed. These units require ductwork and have lower energy efficiency ratings than wall-mounted units.
- Ceiling cassette. Daikin VISTA series gives you the ability to install the ceiling-mounted air conditioner and heater; very practical for offices, for example.
Daikin does produce single-zone heat pumps with different energy efficiency. If you want to reduce your cooling and heating electricity bills, you should follow two rules of thumb:
- Always look for a SEER rating of 20 or above.
- Always look for an HSPF rating of 10 or above.
What you want to avoid, for example, is the Daikin 17 Series. Those units have up to 17 SEER rating (below 20) and 9.0 HSPF rating (below 10). These are older models that are usually available at lower prices.
Let’s look at what multi-zone mini-split units does Daikin offer:
Multi-Zone Mini-Split Heat Pumps (Cooling And Heating)
Now, multi-zone mini-split units are a combination of 1 outdoor unit and 2 or more indoor air handlers. Daikin offers 4 types of outdoor units and 6 types of indoor units; you can combine almost any outdoor Daikin unit with an indoor Daikin air handler.
4 Models Of Outdoor Units:
- VRV IV-S Series. Up to 5-ton total capacity (up to 18 SEER rating). You can attach 2-10 indoor air handlers to the unit.
- Multi-Zone Daikin AURORA. Famous AURORA Series with the highest 21.7 SEER rating. Can be used to create 2, 3, or 4 zone mini split.
- RMXS Series 8-Zone. Up to 8 zone mini-split outdoor units with up to 18.8 SEER rating.
- MXS Series. 2-5 zone mini-split with an above 20 SEER rating (20.2 SEER, to be exact).
Let’s see which indoor air handlers you can connect to the Daikin outdoor units.
6 Models Of Indoor Units (Air Handlers):
- Daikin EMURA. Beautifully designed indoor Daikin air handler with up to 18.9 SEER rating.
- VISTA Ceiling Cassette. Cassette air handler you can install on your ceiling; with up to 18.9 SEER rating.
- FTXS/CTXS. Cheap Daikin indoor air handler with up to 18.9 SEER rating.
- FVXS. Floor mounted indoor unit with up to 18.9 SEER rating.
- FDXS/CDXS. Ceiling unit, similar to a cassette design, with a minimal height of less than 1 ft.
- Daikin FDMQ. Most energy-efficient indoor unit with up to 20.2 SEER rating.
All Daikin multi-zone mini-splits are created by combining the outdoor unit with several indoor units. You have 30+ possible combinations. That means that you can specifically design the multi-zone AC and heating according to your needs.
With all of this in mind, let’s look at the most popular basic Daikin 17 Series mini splits:
Popular Daikin 9k – 24k Mini Splits (Comparison)
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- Daikin 9,000 BTU Mini Split (RXB09AXVJU + FTXB09AXVJU)
- Daikin 12,000 BTU Mini Split (RXB12AXVJU+ FTXB12AXVJU + WAFP21+IKM1438)
- Daikin 18,000 BTU Mini Split (RXB18AXVJU+ FTXB18AXVJU + WAFP21+IKM1412)
- Daikin 24,000 BTU Mini Split (RXB24AXVJU+ FTXB24AXVJU + WAFP21+IKM1458)
| Daikin Mini Split: | DAIKIN 9,000 BTU | DAIKIN 12,000 BTU | DAIKIN 18,000 BTU | DAIKIN 24,000 BTU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Cooling Capacity: | 8,800 BTU/hr (0.73 Ton) | 11,000 BTU/hr (0.92 Ton) | 18,000 BTU/hr (1.5 Ton) | 21,200 BTU/hr (1.77 Ton) |
| Cooling Efficiency: | 17 SEER / 11 EER | 17 SEER / 8.5 EER | 17 SEER / 10.5 EER | 17 SEER / 11 EER |
| Heating Capacity: | 9,400 BTU/hr (0.78 Ton) | 11,300 BTU/hr (0.94 Ton) | 17,900 BTU/hr (0.99 Ton) | 21,200 BTU/hr (1.77 Ton) |
| Heating Efficiency: | 9 HSPF / 3.56 COP | 9 HSPF / 3.30 COP | 9 HSPF / 3.30 COP | 9 HSPF / 3.68 COP |
| Coverage Area: | Up to 400 sq ft | Up to 550 sq ft | Up to 1000 sq ft | Up to 1500 sq ft |
| Max. Airflow: | 300 CFM | 360 CFM | 435 CFM | 580 CFM |
| Noise Levels: | 30-42 dB | 30-42 dB | 35-40 dB | 41-47 dB |
| Price: | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$$$ |
| Average Rating: |  |
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| Availability: | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
1. DAIKIN 9,000 BTU Specifications Review
| Cooling Capacity: | 8,800 BTU/hr (0.73 Ton) |
| Cooling Efficiency: | 17 SEER / 11 EER |
| Heating Capacity: | 9,400 BTU/hr (0.78 Ton) |
| Heating Efficiency: | 9 HSPF / 3.56 COP |
| Coverage Area: | Up to 400 sq ft |
| Max. Airflow: | 300 CFM |
| Noise Levels: | 30-42 dB |
| Price: | $$$$ |
| Rating: | |
Buy Daikin 9,000 BTU Mini Split
2. DAIKIN 12,000 BTU Specifications Review
| Cooling Capacity: | 11,000 BTU/hr (0.92 Ton) |
| Cooling Efficiency: | 17 SEER / 8.5 EER |
| Heating Capacity: | 11,300 BTU/hr (0.94 Ton) |
| Heating Efficiency: | 9 HSPF / 3.30 COP |
| Coverage Area: | Up to 550 sq ft |
| Max. Airflow: | 360 CFM |
| Noise Levels: | 30-42 dB |
| Price: | $$$$ |
| Rating: | |
Buy Daikin 12,000 BTU Mini Split
3. DAIKIN 18,000 BTU Specifications Review
| Cooling Capacity: | 18,000 BTU/hr (1.5 Ton) |
| Cooling Efficiency: | 17 SEER / 10.5 EER |
| Heating Capacity: | 17,900 BTU/hr (0.99 Ton) |
| Heating Efficiency: | 9 HSPF / 3.30 COP |
| Coverage Area: | Up to 1000 sq ft |
| Max. Airflow: | 435 CFM |
| Noise Levels: | 35-40 dB |
| Price: | $$$$ |
| Rating: | |
Buy Daikin 18,000 BTU Mini Split
4. DAIKIN 24,000 BTU Specifications Review
| Cooling Capacity: | 21,200 BTU/hr (1.77 Ton) |
| Cooling Efficiency: | 17 SEER / 11 EER |
| Heating Capacity: | 21,200 BTU/hr (1.77 Ton) |
| Heating Efficiency: | 9 HSPF / 3.68 COP |
| Coverage Area: | Up to 1500 sq ft |
| Max. Airflow: | 580 CFM |
| Noise Levels: | 41-47 dB |
| Price: | $$$$ |
| Rating: | |
Buy Daikin 24,000 BTU Mini Split
All in all, after a spec-by-spec review of the Daikin mini-splits, you can see that they are a solid choice. If you compare them to Mitsubishi, Pioneer, Haier, Carrier units, you will find that Daikin units have above-average SEER and HSPF ratings.
Be sure to choose the right Daikin unit for your specific needs.
I purchased in July the mini split for 2 bedrooms in July of 2021. There seems to be a problem with them both. Neither of the controls keep the temperature where you set it. Both units seem to be 10 to 15 degrees off what I set them to. I have had to turn then both off a couple of times as even being set to 58 or 60, the temperature went up to 70 degrees in the rooms and it was 20 degrees outside or lower. I would think that when you set the temp the wall unit would be that temp but it is not working correctly. Are all of Daikin’s units off what you set them to? I think there is something wrong with both units, when I set my furnace to 68 it is at 68. No matter what temp I put the daikin to, they are never at that temp. What is wrong with my units. Please help.
Hello Christine, that is quite a bother. No HVAC unit should be 10 to 15 degrees off. It might be that you have a problem with a unit being undersized or oversized. Undersized AC, for example, won’t be able to handle all that heat. Oversized AC, for example, will short-cycle every minute or so, which can result in this temperature discrepancy. It’s best to call a local HVAC guy to check out what seems to be the actual problem.
I often see these claims of how many square feet room size these units cover. A lot of assumptions have to be made for this. Daikin advertises one line that says it will provide heat down to -5 deg. But nowhere can I find any information on how many BTUs this heat is at -5 deg for, say, a 24,000 BTU out side piece and a couple of 12, 000 BTU air handlers.
Hello Dave, it’s true, there are a lot of assumptions but these assumptions are standardized; that at least helps you to compare different units. We see a lot of -5 degree (Hyper Heat) claims as well but haven’t found how many BTUs or percentage of the total mini split capacity can be used at -5 degrees. It bothers us as well.
I had Daikin Mini Split Heat Pump, three 9000 BTU, and one 24000 BTU Mini Splits installed in 2018. Then in 2020 added another 9000 BTU Mini Split. Each Mini Split was tested for cooling only after installation. Because of favorable weather conditions and good house insulation and new windows only used one of the three initial Mini Splits for cooling for a duration of four (4) days. The entire Mini Split system has not been turned “on”, powered up more than ten (10) times from installation in 2018 to 2022. During this Summer’s September heat wave, I discover my system must have a refrigerant leak because none of the Mini Splits are cooling! BIG PROBLEM IS: The HVAC contractor who I purchased from and was selected by your Daikin Dealer / Distributor, is not required to be certified on Daikin Mini Split systems. There is no certification training or process for the HVACs! After paying thousands of dollars for a system barely even turned on, I’m subjected to paying thousands of dollars more to find a leak that maybe equipment (Daikin) related or a leak related to cable connectivity issues which would relate to the HVAC’s workmanship. Of the three HVACs in my area, some use different refrigerant cable methods to support more Mini Splits than the three (3) feeder lines extending from the Heat Pump unit. How the HVAC adds another Mini Split to an existing system also varies especially refrigerant cable wise. Regardless of the leak’s fault, a lacking customer conscious HVAC can charge excessively what they want for what they consider difficult and labor intensive leak detection without impunity!
Hi Patrick, sorry to hear all that. A good HVAC guy is not all that easy to find. If you need some help, you can fill in this form and you will get some HVAC phone numbers from your area. Hope it helps.
I am curious as to if other owners of this brand of mini split (or others) have had issues with the drain clogging frequently? Perhaps not frequently. My 18,000 BTU unit has had to be serviced 3 times over the last 4 years for a clogged drain line which resulted in water pouring out of the indoor unit every time.
Although I have 2 short haired cats, I keep the filters clean. Is an average of a once a year system flush normal for these units? My landlord now wants to charge me for the service calls at $120.00 a pop. I live in Texas if that has any bearing on the performance.
Thank you for your timely response.
Hi Holly, once a year system flush is normal. Drain clogging pretty much depends on the size of the drain hole, and dirt accumulation. 2 cats can actually have a significant hair input here 🙂 Having your unit serviced about once per year due to the same issue – clogged drain – in definitely not normal.