Statistics from the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Assoc-iation (GAMA), through August, indicate that furnaces had a rough couple of months to end the summer, oil boilers have been down for seven consecutive months, and gas boilers have been quite strong throughout this year.

Gas warm air furnaces (Figure 1) dropped 18.4% in July and were down 9.1% in August vs. 1999. After being down slightly in June, gas furnaces have seen three straight months of declines.

Oil warm air furnaces (Figure 2) have been down for five months, starting with a 15.6% drop in April and, most recently, a 14.3% decrease in August. After a solid first quarter, the trend has been downward.

GAS ME UP

The star in central heating has been gas cast iron boilers (Figure 3). Shipments have been up every month over 99, and have made substantial gains in February (21%), April (33%), and August (16.8%).

After jumping off to a good start in January, oil cast iron boilers (Figure 4) have been on a continuous slide. Declines have tapered, however, in the last two months measured µ 3.6% in July and 0.8% in August.

Oil and bare-steel boilers have alternated plus and minus numbers each month of 2000. In July, these units were on the plus side at 15.7%; in August, they decreased 3%.

Gas steel boilers have only partial numbers. The last two months with complete data have both been down.

Logs, Inserts Cool

The star in central heating has been gas cast iron boilers (Figure 3). Shipments have been up every month over 99, and have made substantial gains in February (21%), April (33%), and August (16.8%). After jumping off to a good start in January, oil cast iron boilers (Figure 4) have been on a continuous slide. Declines have tapered, however, in the last two months measured µ 3.6% in July and 0.8% in August. Oil and bare-steel boilers have alternated plus and minus numbers each month of 2000. In July, these units were on the plus side at 15.7%; in August, they decreased 3%. Gas steel boilers have only partial numbers. The last two months with complete data have both been down.

Publication date: 11/13/2000