Daikin DX20VC Review

The Daikin DX20VC air conditioner is the brand's most impressive offering. With a high-efficiency variable-speed compressor, the DX20VC boasts a SEER rating up to 24.5. it has a lot of desirable features and design elements, but it may not be the right air conditioner for most homes in Canada.

This model review will explain why the DX20VC might be too much air conditioner for Canadians, and it will also help you to find other Daikin options by comparing this model to three others based on price, features, and tier.

The review will cover the important details about the DX20VC, including its pricing, efficiency, features, warranty coverage, and when you might need an air conditioner this powerful.  

In a Nutshell

Average Price (with installation): $5000 - $6000+

Top Features

• Ultra-high SEER and ENERGY STAR® certified
• High probability for rebate eligibility
• High-efficiency Daikin variable-speed swing or scroll compressor with inverter technology
• Compatible with Daikin’s smart thermostat
• Equipped with a self-diagnostic system
• Excellent warranty coverage
• One of Daikin’s quietest air conditioners
• Rated Most Efficient of ENERGY STAR in 2021
• Has a high-efficiency ECM condenser fan motor

The Bottom Line

Packed with a variety of Daikin's cutting-edge technological features, the DX20VC delivers undeniably consistent cooling comfort. For example, Daikin's inverter technology helps prevent uncomfortable temperature swings that are normally experienced with standard air conditioning units.

Inverter technology works by adjusting the motor speed, so it makes automatic adjustments to the temperature to save you money and keep your home at the right temperature.

Further, the unit's variable-speed compressor achieves impressive efficiency levels and guarantees quiet operation, fewer hot/cold spots, and excellent moisture management.

One thing to know about the DX20VC is that air conditioners with ultra-high efficiency ratings like this are generally meant for places like the Southern U.S. where summers are longer and hotter.

For Canada, the ideal SEER range tends to be between 16 and 18. The more efficient an air conditioner, the more it’s going to cost. However, for Canadian summers, anything above a SEER 18 won’t return proportional energy savings, so you may not recoup the extra money you spend for an ultra-high-efficiency model like the DX20VC.

In-Depth Review

Daikin DX20VC Specifications:

• Compressor: Variable-speed swing or scroll
• SEER: Up to 24.5
• ENERGY STAR certified: Yes
• Decibel rating: As low as 57
• Tonnage: 2 to 5 ton
• Cooling capacity: 24,200 to 53,000 Btus

Features Overview

The DX20VC has some great selling features, including being compatible with the Daikin One+ smart thermostat that can give you Wi-Fi control over your temperature, ventilation, and humidity settings.

It also comes with the Daikin Inside Intelligence diagnostics system that can make repairs and maintenance faster and easier.

Finally, it has many design elements to protect the unit from damage, increase longevity, and reduce operational noise.

Other Key Features

• Built with diagnostic indicator lights
• The bi-flow filter drier keeps contaminants out of the refrigerant system to guarantee long-term efficiency
• A heavy-gauge galvanized-steel cabinet comes with a grille-style sound control top
• The Nickel Gray powder-paint finish provides a professional appearance
• The high-density foam compressor sound blanket keeps noise levels at a minimum
• Has temperature and coil sensors
• A wire grille protects the fan and a steel guard protects the coil
• Has access panels on the top and side for easier maintenance

Warranty Information

Daikin goes above and beyond the competition by offering Canadian homeowners an especially comprehensive warranty on their premium-grade air conditioning units.

This coverage includes a limited 12-year unit replacement warranty as well as a limited 12-year parts warranty.

Just be sure to register the unit within 60 days of installation, otherwise it will only be protected by a five-year parts warranty.

Comparable Models from Daikin

Model Comparison by Price: DX20VC versus DX16TC

In terms of pricing, the DX20VC is Daikin’s most expensive unit. This is because of the model’s wide range of premium-grade components, advanced features, variable-speed compressor, ultra-high-efficiency SEER of 24.5, and more.

By comparison, the DX16TC will cost Canadians an average of $4,500 to $5,500 to buy and install. Although it’s a less efficient and less sophisticated air conditioner, the DX16TC arguably provides better value than the DX20VC.

The DX16TC has a two-stage compressor, a high-efficiency SEER of 17, and ENERGY STAR certification. It’s going to be powerful enough for just about any home in Canada, and it falls into the ideal SEER range for our summers.

Because the DX16TC will be more affordable to buy and provide similar long-term energy savings as the DX20VC, it could be more cost-effective and a better choice overall for most homeowners.

Model Comparison by Features: DX20VC versus DX14SN

The DX20VC is Daikin’s most advanced and most feature-laden air conditioner, and it’s easy to see how sophisticated it is when you compare it to a value-tier model like the DX14SN.

The DX14SN is a single-stage air conditioner with a single-speed fan motor, a SEER of 15.5, no ENERGY STAR, no compressor sound blanket, and no compatibility with Daikin One+.

As a result, the value model won’t save you as much on energy bills, it may not be powerful enough for some larger homes, and it will be noisier when it’s running.

Furthermore, while the DX14SN will be more affordable than the top-tier model, it may not qualify for the same rebates, and it will cost more to operate.

Model Comparison by Tier: DX20VC versus DX18TC

The DX18TC is also a premium-tier air conditioner from Daikin, and while it’s not as advanced as the DX20VC, it could provide better long-term value, just like the DX16TC.

The DX18TC is a two-stage air conditioner with a SEER of 19. It doesn’t have the inverter technology, but it has many of the same features and design elements that make the DX20VC attractive.

Because the DX18TC is less efficient, it’s going to be more affordable than the top-tier model. However, because it’s closer to the 16- to 18-SEER range that’s great for Canada, it might be a better option.