New records: In 2025, sales of heat pumps and conventional air conditioners essentially reached a tie (both hovering around 4M). But that changed in September of last year, when pumps out-sold ACs for the first time—and the gap has continued to narrow. Over the first few months of 2026, heat pump sales increased around 1% (and AC sales fell by almost 8%) compared with the same period last year.
Why the sudden shift? State and local incentives, plus utility rebates, have upped heat pumps’ appeal.
Molly Glick
Energy Central Team
Sun, Jun 28