Who looks after Toshiba in Australia?
Toshiba's Australian site says "AHIC is the Australian distributor of Carrier and Toshiba brand residential and light commercial HVAC products", authorised by Carrier Corporation to distribute Toshiba. The warranty certificate names AHIC (Australia) Pty Ltd, of Clayton in Victoria, as the warrantor.
The residential range here is single split systems, multi split systems, inverter ducted systems and controllers. Toshiba's FAQ says you buy a system through one of its dealers rather than direct. We're not one of them, and we don't sell Toshiba: licence-checked installers see your job, the one who takes it quotes you, and you decide whether to go ahead.
My Toshiba has a fault. What do I do?
Switch it off and note what it's doing
Write down any code on the display and the day the problem started. Toshiba keeps its fault codes page under installer and technical support, so leave the diagnosis to a technician.
Tell AHIC within 30 days
The certificate says the purchaser must notify AHIC within 30 days of a defect first developing. Don't wait to see if it settles down.
Have your proof of purchase ready
AHIC needs it to process the claim.
Let AHIC arrange the repair
The certificate says "Any repairs carried out by non-authorised agents during the Warranty Period will void this Express Warranty." A handy local tech fixing it first could cost you the cover.
Check how far away you are
Owners 100 km or more from an AHIC branch or authorised service representative pay the travel and freight costs.
Ways a Toshiba warranty gets lost
- Buying second hand or at auction. The certificate excludes both.
- Failures from improper or faulty installation, or a unit not fitted by a Qualified Installer. AHIC doesn't warrant the installation itself.
- No Certificates of Compliance from the installer, where they apply.
- Installing it in a caravan or boat.
- Salt damage on a coastal home. The certificate puts "ensuring that additional corrosion protection is applied" in a corrosive environment on the purchaser.
Safe for you, and better left to a technician
You can
- Note fault codes and when they appear.
- Keep the receipt where you can find it in a hurry.
- Download owner manuals from toshiba-aircon.com.au under customer support.
- Clean the filters as the manual says.
Leave to a licensed installer
- Diagnosis and repairs, arranged through AHIC while under warranty.
- Corrosion protection on a coastal install.
- Anything touching the refrigerant, which needs an ARC licence.
Before you buy a Toshiba, ask
- Is this a new unit, not second hand or ex-auction?
- Is it a hi-wall, multi or Digital model on the 7 year residential terms?
- Will you give me Certificates of Compliance when you finish?
- We're near the coast. What corrosion protection will you apply?
- How far is the nearest AHIC branch or service representative?
- What's your RTA number? It should be on the quote.
What we'd do
Our take
Toshiba's warranty rewards owners who act quickly and keep things official. If something goes wrong, we'd report it to AHIC straight away and let AHIC's people fix it, even if a local tech could come sooner. Before any of that, we'd want an installer who fits splits and ducted systems regularly and hands over the compliance paperwork without being asked.