A Daikin round flow cassette went from being a “cool” thing to being a poor choice of replacement parts.
However, the reality today is that the system has become known for an increasing number of problems that occur in many installations during this unit’s typical age of 12 to 15 years.
Many people are not aware that, after about November 2002, Daikin’s refrigerant-based products were changed fundamentally by the requirement for the use of new components. All manufactured since January 1, 2003 (designated 3V type), switched over to using completely different parts than 2V types (made before November 2002).
It was the beginning of a fundamental change in terms of parts and components. There were some minor changes in hardware manufacture and other factors. Still, they are insignificant compared to the fundamental shift that switched over to using completely different parts.
Comparison of 3V type (right) with 2V type (left)
When it comes to selling, the manufacturer is in a difficult position. The unit’s warranty period has ended, but the problems are not always discovered immediately after that time. Some are small and can be dealt with, while others are more serious and require parts replacement. The critical point here is when the company must decide whether to cover the cost of parts replacement. And this is where most companies draw the line.
The most widely accepted period for deciding upon this is one year after the warranty has expired (one year after purchase). However, things like leakage or refrigerant leaks are discovered much later than that—sometimes even several years later. The average round flow cassette has a refrigerant charge of three or four kilograms, so it can take years before serious problems are detected.
When leaks are discovered in piping or the system after the warranty period has ended, replacement parts are expensive. Furthermore, if replacement parts are not available in stock, they must be ordered in, with delivery taking several months. That means that the customer is required to pay for storing the system during this period. These are not easy decisions, but it comes down to whether or not parts post-warranty will be covered by Daikin.
The most appropriate thing to do is replace the unit before it becomes a problem. This is because when it comes to parts replacement, age makes a big difference. For example, if one year has passed after the warranty period and the part costs about 100,000 yen, Daikin will cover half of that price (50-50 split) most of the time. However, if two years have gone by since then and the same part costs 150,000 yen, the company will only cover 10 percent of that (10-90 split).
Although it is difficult to predict when problems will surface and require parts replacement, if the unit has been in service for ten years, there is a good chance that almost all parts have failed. It also becomes more expensive at this time due to the need for more complicated repairs. This is why it is often time well spent to replace units during their warranty period.
Most customers who look at units made between November 2002 and July 2003 say that these were good products (3V types). If an installation goes well, that means fewer service calls in the future.