Residential heating equipment shipments increased to 5.72 million units last year, a 5% increase. This was the third record shipment year in the last four. A strong housing market buoyed the heating industry through the first quarter of 2000. As the pace of housing construction decelerated, heating equipment slowed down as well.

New England and the South Atlantic area had colder winters last season compared to the year before, helping to lift sales, but only slightly. The recent trend, however, has been for warmer-than-normal winters (see Figure 1).

The biggest development has been the move in the Northeast to convert from oil and electricity to natural gas. Skyrocketing prices for heating oil and attractive prices for natural gas have sent oil equipment out of the homeowner’s door.

The slowing in housing starts is expected to depress new installations through 2004. The replacement trend continues to look up and should keep volume from declining by more than 8% from the 99 level.

This year’s shipment total is projected to be down 5%. Shipments should then average about 5.3 million units each year through 2005. This is slightly higher than the 5.26 million average since 1995.

Got Gas?

New installations accounted for 35% of heating equipment shipments for the last two years. This is the highest level since 1990. The housing slowdown is expected to reduce this to 29% by 2004.

The replacement market increased 6% in 99, achieving a record 3.72 million units. The forecast is for replacements to drop 4% to 5% this year, then come back to totals following the long-term trend rate (see Figure 2). Replacements will remain at a relatively high level, but will not return to the 99 peak until 2003.

Gas central heating was up 5% to 3.35 million units µ a record µ in 1999. This year, furnace volume is following the reduction in housing starts. However, shipments will still be at historically robust levels. An average of 2.98 million gas furnaces are expected to be shipped annually, along with approximately 190,000 gas boilers per year, through 2005.

Oil-fired central heating equipment gained 7% in 99, from increased separate burner installations. Oil furnaces were down 2%; cast iron and steel boiler shipments were essentially the same as 98. Oil heating equipment shipments are predicted to decrease at a compound annual rate of 2.9% through 2005.

Electric central heating shipments were up 4% a year ago due to increased housing construction in the South and West. Electric heating equipment can be expected to drop by 4% in 2000. Heat pumps will most likely average 1.17 million annual units shipped through 2005, slightly below the 1.2 million average seen since 1996.

Publication date: 11/13/2000