ARLINGTON, Va. - According to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), furnace and residential gas water heater shipments were up in February while the other measurable sectors for heating and cooling equipment were down.

AHRI reported that February 2010 brought gains for both gas and oil warm air furnaces. Gas warm air furnace shipments jumped 22 percent, and oil warm air furnace shipments increased 8 percent. Year-to-date, U.S. shipments of gas warm air furnaces have increased 24 percent, to 319,893 units, compared with 257,999 units shipped by this point in 2009. U.S. shipments of oil warm air furnaces have increased 41 percent, to 9,361 units, compared with 6,651 units shipped by this point in 2009.

While residential gas water heater shipments increased 3 percent in February, residential electric water heater shipments decreased 3 percent. Both commercial gas and electric water heater shipments decreased 4 percent. And the combined total of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps also decreased 4 percent. However, the year-to-date shipments for air conditioners and heat pumps have increased 15 percent compared to this point in 2009.

Publication date: 04/26/2010