Toshiba air conditioning

About Toshiba air conditioning

Toshiba air conditioning is sold in the UK through installers and distributors, with its UK site at toshiba-aircon.co.uk. The range covers wall-mounted and multi-split systems for homes and small businesses, light commercial splits, VRF for larger buildings, air-to-water heat pumps and high-capacity commercial heat pumps.

Ranges for homes

Toshiba’s most distinctive domestic unit is the HAORI, an R32 high-wall unit with a fabric-covered front. It looks more like a piece of furniture than an appliance, which makes it a favourite for bedrooms and living rooms where a plain white box would stand out. Toshiba also sells more conventional wall units at different price points; we confirm the current models on your quote.

For more than one room, Toshiba’s RAS multi-split outdoor units (G3 generation) run 2 to 5 rooms from one outdoor unit, using R32. That keeps the outside of the building tidier. Our multi-split page explains how these systems are planned, and our design air conditioning units page compares HAORI with other style-led units.

Commercial systems

For shops, offices and restaurants, Toshiba’s light commercial range includes the R32 RAV Digital Inverter outdoor units, paired with cassettes, ducted, under-ceiling and wall units. For larger buildings, Toshiba’s VRF range includes the SHRM Advance R32 heat recovery and heat pump system, which can heat some areas while cooling others, as well as R410A VRF outdoor units. Toshiba also lists the Universal Smart X (USX) Edge modular heat pump for high-capacity applications.

See our VRF and commercial air conditioning pages for how we survey and design these jobs.

Controls and refrigerant

Domestic units come with a handset, and Wi-Fi control is available on many models. For commercial systems, Toshiba’s wired controllers include the RBC-MTSC2 MiNi touch screen controller. Toshiba also offers refrigerant leak detection products, which matter on larger systems where leak checks and detection are a legal requirement under the F-gas rules.

Current Toshiba domestic and light commercial ranges use R32 (GWP 675). Older Toshiba systems may use R410A (GWP 2,088), which can still be serviced but is becoming dearer.

Where Toshiba fits

• Bedrooms and living rooms where looks matter: HAORI.
• Two to five rooms: a RAS multi-split.
• Shops, offices and restaurants: RAV Digital Inverter with cassettes or ducted units.
• Larger buildings: VRF such as SHRM Advance.

Where a business already has Toshiba equipment, extending the same system or adding units of the same brand can keep controls and servicing simpler. We check what’s there first.

Toshiba warranty

Toshiba’s UK warranty page says it offers warranties of up to 7 years, with labour allowances, and that the cover depends on the installer’s category under its warranty guidelines; claims are made through Toshiba’s commissioning and warranty tool. Because the length of cover depends on the installer, we don’t quote a number here and we don’t claim a Toshiba category. We explain the manufacturer’s warranty that applies to your system on your quote, and we don’t add a warranty of our own.

Fitting a HAORI well

A design unit only looks right if it’s installed neatly. With a HAORI we take extra care over the route of the pipework and the condensate drain, so there’s no visible trunking across the wall where it can be avoided. The fabric front is meant to be seen, so we agree the exact position with you: centred on the wall, clear of curtains and not blowing straight at a bed or sofa. If the pipe run has to go a longer way round, we explain why and include it in the fixed price. The fabric cover is designed to be removable, and it’s worth asking at the survey how Toshiba recommends keeping it clean.

Planning a Toshiba multi-split

With up to five rooms on one outdoor unit, a multi-split needs careful planning. Each indoor unit is sized to its own room, and the total has to suit the outdoor unit. We plan where each pipe run goes, how long it is and how the condensate from each room will drain, and we look at whether the outdoor unit can sit somewhere quiet and out of sight. If one room will be used much more than the others, we may suggest a separate single split for it instead.

Strengths and things to consider

Strengths: HAORI is one of the few genuinely different-looking units on the market; multi-splits up to five rooms; and a deep commercial range up to heat recovery VRF.

Things to consider: design units cost more than plain units of the same size; the warranty length depends on the installer’s category, so ask every installer what you would actually get; and range names change, so compare quotes on exact model numbers. Our Toshiba air conditioning review has more detail.

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.