AHRI reports September HVAC shipments, marking six consecutive months of gains

AHRI on Friday released its September shipment figures, showing yet another across-the-board gain.

Details: Just over 900,000 combined central air conditioners and heat pumps were shipped in September, up 18% from last year. Heat pump shipments, in particular, jumped 27% year-over-year to 383,000. 

• September marks the sixth consecutive month of combined shipment growth compared to last year. 

• Full breakdown

Why it matters: Shipments, which generally indicate the health of the replacement market, took a 17% hit in 2023 — and were expected to fall again this year. 

• However, they haven’t. As of September, year-to-date combined shipments have topped 7.6 million, about 6% higher than the same period last year.

What’s next: Using the “15-year average lifespan logic” — where today’s shipments mirror those from 15 years ago — the decade of growth from 2010 to 2020 suggests a bright outlook for the next ten years. 

• October’s shipment figures will be released during the second week of December.