According to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), U.S. shipments of commercial gas water heaters totaled 6,598 in January, a 10-percent increase over the 6,016 units shipped in January 2009. However, shipments of commercial electric water heaters dropped 14 percent, from 4,771 units in January 2009 to 4,120 in January 2010.
Warm-Air Furnaces
January 2010 brought gains for both gas and oil warm-air furnaces. Shipments for gas warm-air furnaces increased 26 percent to 169,024 units, up from 134,370 units shipped in January 2009. In January 2010, oil warm-air furnace shipments increased 76 percent to 5,609 units, up from 3,186 units in January 2009.
Central Air Conditioners and Air-Source Heat Pumps
The total number of U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in January 2010 was 309,892 units, 116,910 of which were heat pumps. The combined total of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps increased 38 percent from a revised total of 224,447 units in January 2009. The total number of shipments for heat pumps increased 27 percent from a revised January 2009 total of 92,148 units.