MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - Shipments of ductless split systems showed the largest gain in Canada for the first quarter of 2006. According to statistics released by the Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), ductless shipments jumped 62 percent - from 6,095 in the first quarter of 2005 to 9,876 in the first quarter of this year.

Residential air conditioning shipments showed the second largest gain, increasing by 61 percent - from 43,781 in the first quarter of 2005 to 70,621 in the first quarter of 2006.

In this same report, HRAI noted:

Commercial air conditioning shipments increased 21 percent in Canada, increasing from 8,012 in the first quarter of 2005 to 9,716 in the first quarter of 2006.

Residential furnace shipments increased 2 percent, moving from 55,478 units in the first quarter of 2005 to 56,840 in the first quarter of 2006.

Unit heater shipments showed an increase of 11 percent, from 7,486 in the first quarter of last year to 8,304 in the first quarter of this year.

Chiller bookings decreased 6 percent, falling from 255 in the first quarter of last year to 239 in the first quarter of 2006.

For more information, contact HRAI at manuf@hrai.ca.

Publication date: 05/22/2006