Daikin air conditioning

Daikin was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1924, originally making aircraft radiators, and built its first packaged air conditioner in 1951. A century on, it is one of the biggest names in air conditioning worldwide. In UK homes it is a default premium recommendation: efficient, quiet and reliable, backed by one of the largest networks of accredited installers in the country, so it is easy to get quoted, fitted and serviced.

The range covers every need. The Emura is the designer flagship, with curved styling in white, silver or black. The Stylish offers the same design-led approach in up to eight finishes, including wood and fabric-look fronts. The Perfera is the high-efficiency all-rounder with built-in air purification, and the Ururu Sarara adds humidity control and fresh-air ventilation at the top of the range. All current domestic units run on lower-impact R32 refrigerant, and the best reach the top A+++ efficiency rating on smaller capacities.

You pay a brand and design premium for all this, and the very best efficiency figures and Wi-Fi control depend on the model and size you choose. For most buyers who want a unit that will simply work well for years, that premium is easy to justify.