With the cooling season fast approaching shipments of central air conditioners and heat pumps for March jumped 75 percent compared with last month, according to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.

Central Air Conditioners and Air-Source Heat Pumps
Combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for March totaled 590,192, a 7 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, combined shipments totaled 1.2 million, a 7 percent drop compared with the same period last year.With the cooling season fast approaching shipments of central air conditioners and heat pumps for March jumped 75 percent compared with last month, according to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute. Central Air Conditioners and Air-Source Heat Pumps Combined U.S. factory shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for March totaled 590,192, a 7 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, combined shipments totaled 1.2 million, a 7 percent drop compared with the same period last year. Heat pump shipments for March totaled 186,720, a 4.5 percent drop from the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, heat pump shipments totaled 435,331, a 3 percent drop compared with the same period last year. Warm Air Furnaces U.S. factory shipments of gas warm air furnaces in March totaled 200,544, a 26 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. Oil warm air furnaces for the same month totaled 4,185, a 26 percent drop compared with March 2007 totals. For the year-to-date, gas furnace shipments totaled 528,153, a 17 percent drop compared with the same period last year. Oil furnace shipments for the year-to-date totaled 13,710, a 27 percent drop compared with the same period last year. Room Heaters A total of 2,603 unvented room heaters were shipped in March 2008, an 11 percent drop compared with the same month last year. For the year-to-date, 12,429 units have been shipped, an 11 percent drop compared with the same 3-month period last year. Storage Water Heaters Residential electric water heater shipments for March totaled 380,074, a 14 percent drop from the same month a year ago. Residential gas water heater shipments totaled 385,448, a 15 percent drop compared with shipments for the same month last year. For the year-to date, 2.1 million residential gas and electric storage water heaters have been shipped, a 9 percent drop compared with the same period a year ago. Commercial gas water heater shipments for March totaled 8,655, dropping 9 percent compared with the same month last year, while commercial electric water heater shipments totaled 6,772, jumping 9 percent compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, electric water heaters shipments are 4 percent ahead of total shipments of this product during the same period last year. Commercial gas water heater shipments for the year-to-date are down 2 percent, compared with the same period a year ago.

Heat pump shipments for March totaled 186,720, a 4.5 percent drop from the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, heat pump shipments totaled 435,331, a 3 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Warm Air Furnaces
U.S. factory shipments of gas warm air furnaces in March totaled 200,544, a 26 percent drop compared with the same month a year ago. Oil warm air furnaces for the same month totaled 4,185, a 26 percent drop compared with March 2007 totals. For the year-to-date, gas furnace shipments totaled 528,153, a 17 percent drop compared with the same period last year. Oil furnace shipments for the year-to-date totaled 13,710, a 27 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

Room Heaters

A total of 2,603 unvented room heaters were shipped in March 2008, an 11 percent drop compared with the same month last year. For the year-to-date, 12,429 units have been shipped, an 11 percent drop compared with the same 3-month period last year.

Storage Water Heaters
Residential electric water heater shipments for March totaled 380,074, a 14 percent drop from the same month a year ago. Residential gas water heater shipments totaled 385,448, a 15 percent drop compared with shipments for the same month last year. For the year-to date, 2.1 million residential gas and electric storage water heaters have been shipped, a 9 percent drop compared with the same period a year ago.

Commercial gas water heater shipments for March totaled 8,655, dropping 9 percent compared with the same month last year, while commercial electric water heater shipments totaled 6,772, jumping 9 percent compared with the same month a year ago. For the year-to-date, electric water heaters shipments are 4 percent ahead of total shipments of this product during the same period last year. Commercial gas water heater shipments for the year-to-date are down 2 percent, compared with the same period a year ago.