HVAC shipments plunge 42% in September

U.S. combined shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in September fell 41.5 percent year-over-year, according to AHRI data released Thursday. 

What’s happening: HVAC manufacturers shipped just under 529,000 combined units during the month, down from roughly 904,000 in September 2024. (The figure includes both residential and commercial equipment.)

• Why it matters: While the trend was expected, as Homepros previously reported, September marks both the fourth consecutive month when shipments declined by more than 20 percent — and the sharpest single-month year-over-year drop since at least 2010, according to the furthest available data. 

Zoom in: Air conditioner shipments, in particular, fell 49 percent year-over-year during the month, while heat pump shipments declined by 31 percent.

• Year-to-date: Combined shipments from January through September, totaling 6.55 million units, are now down 14.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

What’s next: October’s shipment figures will be released in early December.