U.S. shipments of residential gas storage water heaters for April 2026 decreased -1.6 percent, to 361,801 units, compared to 367,604 units shipped in April 2025.
The latest numbers show that water heater shipments continued to soften in April, reflecting many of the same economic pressures affecting residential construction and remodeling activity.
On a recent episode of And So It Flows, Kristen Bayles sat down with Gregg Holladay, business development manager for specialty markets at Bradford White, to discuss the growing role heat pump water heaters are expected to play in the residential plumbing market and why contractors need to start preparing now.
Aldrich joined A. O. Smith in 2001 as part of the company’s four-year manufacturing rotational program.
With more than two decades of engineering and product development leadership at A. O. Smith, Aldrich steps into the role at a critical moment for the water heating industry.
Valley View Elementary School in Green Bay, Wis., upgraded its aging water heater.
By replacing a 15-year-old gas unit with A. O. Smith’s Cyclone FLEX water heater, the school increased efficiency to as much as 98% while ensuring consistent hot water for kitchens and student handwashing, and reducing its overall carbon footprint.
Many people still hesitate when they hear the phrase “tankless water heater.” The myths run deep: they won’t work in cold climates, they’re too expensive, they can’t keep up with demand. These misconceptions are fueled by early limitations in the technology and years of hearsay passed along between homeowners – and even some tradespeople.