AHRI data shows residential gas and electric shipments returning to monthly growth, while the commercial market remains mixed through the first half of 2026.
Three of the four storage water heater categories posted year-over-year monthly increases: residential gas rose 6.7%, residential electric increased 0.8% and commercial electric jumped 10.9%. Commercial gas was the exception, declining 5%.
Commercial water heating is moving beyond like-for-like replacement as efficiency standards, electrification policies and smart controls change how systems are specified, installed and serviced.
Federal standards may set the timeline, but state policies, building owner expectations and new technologies are accelerating commercial water heating’s high-efficiency transition.
The manufacturer of residential and commercial water heating technology will showcase ongoing innovation for plumbing engineers and designers.
Bradford White Corporation engineers will deliver the seminar “Navigating the Future of Commercial Water Heating: Key Insights on DOE 2026 Updates, Efficiency, Venting, and Retrofit Design.”
This case study covers a car wash business looking to upgrade its struggling boiler setup.
When aging boilers left A-1 Truck & Car Wash vulnerable to costly downtime, the facility turned to a scalable tankless system that delivered faster installation, greater efficiency and reliable hot water for its high-volume operations.
Twelve courses will be offered on A. O. Smith's line of heat pump water heaters, tankless water heaters, commercial gas water heaters and smart hybrid units
Hybrid systems offer a critical bridge in the transition from fossil fuel reliance to full electrification. For contractors working in colder climates or retrofitting older homes, all-electric heat pump systems can be a tough sell. Hybrid units, however, deliver measurable emission reductions while preserving consistent output and adaptability.