Hitachi air conditioning

About Hitachi air conditioning

Hitachi air conditioning is sold in the UK under the Hitachi Cooling & Heating name, with its UK pages on hitachiaircon.com. The range covers wall-mounted units and multi-splits for homes, larger split systems for shops and offices, VRF for bigger buildings and air-to-water heat pumps.

Hitachi is perhaps better known among building services engineers than among homeowners, because so much of its equipment is in commercial buildings. That doesn’t make its home units any less capable: they’re simply compared less often.

Wall units for homes

Hitachi sells its domestic wall units under the airHome name, in ranges numbered by specification, such as airHome 400 and airHome 600. Current UK models use R32. Some Hitachi units include self-cleaning functions that help keep the indoor coil cleaner between services; they reduce the build-up of dirt, but they don’t replace an annual service and filter cleaning.

Hitachi indoor units can also run on a multi-split outdoor unit when you want several rooms done. Because range names and features change from year to year, we confirm the exact model, size and specification on your quote.

VRF and commercial systems

Hitachi’s commercial range includes larger split systems with cassettes, ducted and under-ceiling units for shops, restaurants and offices, and VRF systems for larger buildings; its UK site lists several VRF outdoor ranges, including its Sigma series. VRF runs many indoor units from shared outdoor units, with central control. That suits hotels, where each bedroom needs its own control, and offices with many zones. See our VRF, hotel and commercial pages.

Controls and the airCloud Go app

Each domestic unit comes with a handset. For phone control, Hitachi’s airCloud Go app works with Wi-Fi-enabled units, so you can switch on, change modes and set schedules from anywhere. Hitachi has extended airCloud Go from home users to small businesses, which is handy for a shop or office with a few units. Larger commercial systems normally use wired controllers and central control.

Refrigerant on older Hitachi systems

Many older Hitachi systems, particularly commercial ones, use R410A, which has a GWP of 2,088 compared with 675 for R32. They can still be serviced and repaired legally, but R410A is getting scarcer and dearer as the GB phase-down tightens. On larger systems, the F-gas rules also set how often leak checks are needed, based on the system’s tCO2e. We keep those records for you on a maintenance contract.

Where Hitachi fits

• Bedrooms and living rooms: airHome wall units.
• Small shops and offices: wall units or cassettes, with airCloud Go.
• Hotels and multi-zone offices: Hitachi VRF.
• Existing Hitachi sites: servicing, repairs and like-for-like replacements.

For a home, the choice between Hitachi and another brand usually comes down to the specific model on offer, the app and how the unit looks on your wall. We’ll show you the options side by side.

Warranty

Warranty on Hitachi equipment comes from the manufacturer, through its UK distribution, and the terms can depend on the product and how it was installed and registered. We explain the manufacturer’s warranty that applies to your system on your quote, and we keep commissioning and service records to support any claim. We don’t add a warranty of our own. See our warranty guide.

Hitachi in hotels and offices

In a hotel, each bedroom needs its own controller, and the building needs a way to switch rooms off when they’re empty. In an office, different zones need different settings, and facilities teams want to stop temperatures being set too low. Hitachi’s VRF and central controls are built for this kind of building. When we take on an existing Hitachi site, we start by surveying the system: the outdoor units, indoor units, controllers and the F-Gas records. That gives you a clear picture of its condition before we propose a maintenance plan or any repairs.

Repairing older Hitachi systems

Older Hitachi systems can often be repaired, but parts for discontinued ranges sometimes take longer to source. When we diagnose a fault, we check parts availability before quoting, so you know the likely timescale. On a large VRF system, replacing one failed component is usually far cheaper than replacing the system, and we’ll say so. Where a system is near the end of its life, we can plan a phased replacement that keeps the building running.

Strengths and things to consider

Strengths: a strong commercial pedigree, especially in VRF; a simple app that also suits small businesses; and well-specified home units.

Things to consider: fewer reviews and comparisons for Hitachi home units than for the biggest brands; fewer design-led finishes; and, as with any brand, parts for older ranges can take longer to source, which we’ll tell you before you commit to a repair.

Installation, servicing and repairs

A single-room split costs £1,200–£2,200 + VAT, a 2-room multi-split £2,800–£4,500 + VAT and a 3–5 room multi-split £4,500–£8,500 + VAT, including supply, installation, commissioning and F-Gas documentation. Commercial and VRF systems are priced after a survey. An annual service is £95–£150 + VAT, and a repair call-out starts from £75 + VAT for diagnosis. We reply to enquiries the same working day.