Residential water heater shipments spike in December, flat in 2025 

Roughly 4.25 million gas water heaters were shipped in 2025, up 1.8 percent from 2024, while electric water heater shipments fell 0.6 percent to just over 5 million

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Image: Kamonchai Mattakulphon via Getty Images

U.S. shipments of residential storage water heaters jumped in December 2025, with both gas and electric units posting double-digit year-over-year gains, according to AHRI data released Friday. 

What’s happening: Shipments of gas water heaters rose 19.3 percent year-over-year during the month, to nearly 419,000 units, while electric water heater shipments grew 16.8 percent to just over 462,000 units. 

Zoom out: Despite the strong December finish, full-year performance was mixed: Roughly 4.25 million gas water heaters were shipped in 2025, up 1.8 percent from 2024. 

  • Meanwhile, manufacturers shipped just over 5 million electric water heaters during the year, a 0.6 percent year-over-year decline. 

The big picture: With one edging up and one edging down, the overall market landed roughly flat in 2025.

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