Shipments of air-source heat pumps and unitary air conditioners surged past the 7 million unit mark for the first time in 2004, ending the year with 7,401,067 units shipped, which easily eclipsed the previous record of 6,807,262 units set in 2003, according toARI. Heat pumps jumped 16% ahead of 2003, ending with a record 1,886,100 units shipped. Combined U.S. factory shipments of unitary air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for 2004 was 9% ahead of last year.