Heat Pump, Electric Water Heater Shipments Hit Near-Record Highs — SkimNews
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- AHRI reported heat pump shipments reached near-record levels in July, rising 17.6% year over year and accounting for close to half of all combined AC and heat pump units shipped
- Electric water heaters outsold gas models by about 52,000 units in July despite a 3.9% year-over-year dip, with shipments up 23% since 2016 according to AHRI data
- Heat pump shipments have grown 172.7% over the past decade, far outpacing AC-only unit growth of 40%, and represented over 40% of combined AC and heat pump shipments from 2022 to 2026
- AWHI noted significant advancements in commercial heat pump water heater technology, including new central systems, storage designs, and communication features enabling load shifting
- Commercial heat pump water heaters are expanding beyond multifamily buildings into kitchens and small commercial spaces, driven by product innovation and demand for energy flexibility
- Gas furnace shipments rose 15.3% since 2016 and hit the fourth-highest July total on record, with ACHR News noting they remain a 'steadfast' category despite heat pump gains
Why it matters: The sustained double-digit growth in heat pump and electric water heater shipments over years—not just months—shows electrification is becoming structural in building systems, not cyclical. While gas furnaces still hold ground, manufacturers and policymakers must now treat electric dominance as an operational reality, not a distant goal.
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