ARLINGTON, VA — Combined U.S. factory shipments of 510,795 unitary air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for February were up 20% from the same month last year, according to Air- Conditioning and Refrigera-tion Institute (ARI) statistics.

Shipments for the first two months are 22% ahead of last year, with a year-to-date total of 944,181. Heat pumps are up 12% over the same period in 1999, with a year-to-date total of 195,597.

February distributor inven-tories increased by 137,495 units over January, and rose by 137,426 units over February 99. Distributor shipments for February were up 7% from February 99, while year-to-date shipments were up 11%.