US heat pump shipments rose 7% year on year to about 297,000 units in December, in stark contrast to declines in other types of air conditioning and heating equipment. According to the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), air conditioner shipments fell 9.4% over the same period to 319,000 units.
For the full year, heat pump shipments will rise nearly 11% to 4.33 million units in 2022, while air conditioner shipments will decline 3.6% to 6.05 million units. AHRI data is an indicator of economic conditions and trends for manufacturers of air conditioning and heating equipment.
Heat pump shipments rose 7% year-on-year in December, up from 5.9% in November, but down from 19% in October and 27% in September.
Shipments of heat pumps, versatile devices that heat and cool homes, are expected to pick up amid policy support from the government. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which President Biden signed into law in mid-August, offers billions in tax credits and federal tax breaks to encourage the purchase of energy-efficient equipment.
The data showed that household gas storage water heater shipments fell nearly 18% year on year to about 370,000 units in December, while electric storage water heater shipments fell 3.8% to about 405,000 units.
For the full year in the US, domestic gas storage water heater shipments fell 17% to about 4.13 million units, while electric storage water heater shipments fell 6.4% to about 4.57 million units.