Steel Markets

April Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data
Written by Brett Linton
June 10, 2017
Below is the latest data release issued by the the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) regarding residential and commercial heating and cooling equipment shipments through April 2017. You may read the press release on their website here.
Residential Storage Water Heaters
U.S. shipments of residential gas storage water heaters for April 2017 decreased 3.9 percent to 352,064 units, down from 366,436 units shipped in April 2016. Residential electric storage water heater shipments decreased 5.3 percent in April 2017 to 322,917 units, down from 340,855 units shipped in April 2016.
For the year-to-date, U.S. shipments of residential gas storage water heaters increased 4.0 percent to 1,508,708, compared to 1,450,197 shipped during that same period in 2016. Residential electric storage water heater shipments increased 6.1 percent year-to-date to 1,420,475 units, compared to 1,339,227 shipped during the same period in 2016.
Commercial Storage Water Heaters
Commercial gas storage water heater shipments decreased 15.5 percent in April 2017 to 7,630 units, down from 9,030 units shipped in April 2016. Commercial electric storage water heater shipments decreased 1.7 percent in April 2017 to 11,416 units, down from 11,612 units shipped in April 2016.
Year-to-date U.S. shipments of commercial gas storage water heaters decreased 3.1 percent to 33,391 units, compared with 34,451 units shipped during the same period in 2016. Year-to-date commercial electric storage water heater shipments increased 14.8 percent to 45,838 units, up from 39,918 units shipped during the same period in 2016.
Warm Air Furnaces
U.S. shipments of gas warm air furnaces for April 2017 increased 14.1 percent to 211,293 units, up from 185,253 units shipped in April 2016. Oil warm air furnace shipments decreased 9.6 percent to 1,239 units in April 2017, down from 1,370 units shipped in April 2016.
Year-to-date U.S. shipments of gas warm air furnaces increased 8.4 percent to 869,833 units, compared with 802,243 units shipped during the same period in 2016. Year-to-date U.S. shipments of oil warm air furnaces decreased 3.4 percent to 9,136 units, compared with 9,455 units shipped during the same period in 2016.
Central Air Conditioners and Air-Source Heat Pumps
U.S. shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps totaled 694,089 units in April 2017, up 8.9 percent from 637,260 units shipped in April 2016. U.S. shipments of air conditioners increased 6.0 percent to 467,884 units, up from 441,461 units shipped in April 2016. U.S. shipments of air-source heat pumps increased 15.5 percent to 226,205 units, up from 195,799 units shipped in April 2016.
Year-to-date combined shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps increased 8.4 percent to 2,406,068, up from 2,218,866 units shipped in April 2016. Year-to-date shipments of central air conditioners increased 7.5 percent to 1,549,802 units, up from 1,442,124 units shipped during the same period in 2016. The year-to-date total for heat pump shipments increased 10.2 percent to 856,266 units, up from 776,742 units shipped during the same period in 2016.
Below is a graph showing the history of water heater, warm air furnace, and air conditioner shipments. You will need to view the graph on our website to use it’s interactive features, you can do so by clicking here. If you need assistance with either logging in or navigating the website, please contact our office at 800-432-3475 or info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

Brett Linton
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