AHRI reports mixed U.S. HVACR shipment data for March 2026

AHRI released March 2026 U.S. shipment data for heating, cooling and water heating equipment, showing growth in central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps, while residential storage water heater and gas furnace shipments declined. The data covers shipments to customers sold within the fifty United States and District of Columbia, whether produced domestically or imported.

U.S. shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps totaled 856,674 units in March 2026, up 4.6% from 818,761 units in March 2025. Air conditioner shipments increased 0.1% to 436,757 units, while air-source heat pump shipments rose 9.8% to 419,917 units.

Year-to-date combined shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps decreased 6.8% to 1,936,334 units. Central air conditioner shipments fell 13.4% year-to-date to 975,764 units, while heat pump shipments increased 0.9% to 960,570 units.

Residential gas storage water heater shipments declined 2.9% in March 2026 to 410,647 units, and residential electric storage water heater shipments decreased 5.7% to 466,223 units. Year-to-date shipments fell 7.7% for residential gas storage water heaters and 7.0% for residential electric storage water heaters.

Commercial storage water heater shipments increased in March. Commercial gas storage water heater shipments rose 2.0% to 8,634 units, while commercial electric storage water heater shipments increased 12.3% to 17,434 units.

Gas warm air furnace shipments decreased 15.3% in March 2026 to 252,982 units. Oil warm air furnace shipments increased 37.5% to 2,863 units. AHRI said the industry data is aggregated from information supplied by member companies participating in its Statistics Program and can be subject to revision.