Heating and air conditioning in College Park
Most College Park homes are older and rented, from the historic district to Lakeview Heights and Pleasant Valley on the Clayton County side. Heat pumps that run all summer and old houses fitted for new systems top the list.
College Park heat pump down?
What do older, mostly rented homes here need most?
Heat pumps that can handle long run times and systems that fit into awkward old housing. Over half of College Park homes use electric heating (56.5%) compared to gas (41.3%). So the heat pump often heats all year and runs almost constantly in July and August. The median home was built in 1972 and around 78% are rented meaning the equipment will have usually been replaced at least once. Sometimes whatever would fit in the closet would be used. The power is from College Park Power meaning there aren't any rebates from Georgia Power. In the historic area the homes are older meaning tight attics, crawl spaces and duct runs that weren't designed for central air.
Notes on older rentals and their systems
Older homes, mostly rented, mostly on electric heat. The owner, the tenant and the age of the house all shape what a repair looks like.
- About 78 percent of homes rented
- The tenant feels the problem; the owner approves the fix. Calls go faster when the tenant knows who to reach and the owner has said what can be approved. On a replacement, the owner picks the efficiency tier and sets the budget.
- Heat pumps through long humid summers
- A heat pump cooling through a muggy July can run for hours without a break, keeping the coil wet and the drain line busy. Long run time alone is normal on the hottest days. Ice, short cycling or warm air are not.
- Old houses, tight spaces for equipment
- A house from the 1970s, or an older one inside the historic district, may hide the air handler in a closet or crawlspace sized for older gear. New equipment has to fit what's there. Permits for work here come from College Park, not South Fulton.
Services for homes near the airport
Each line links to the full service page. Here's what usually goes wrong behind each one in homes here.
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AC RepairOutdoor units worn down by summers of nonstop running; capacitors and fan motors fail first.
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Emergency AC RepairA heat pump that quits on a 95-degree afternoon with the tenants at home.
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AC Installation & ReplacementNew systems fitted to old closets, crawlspaces and duct runs that were never sized for them.
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Furnace Repair & ReplacementThe gas homes, about four in ten: older furnaces, ignition faults and heat exchanger checks.
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Heat Pump Repair & InstallationHeat pumps in most homes here: aux heat stuck on, icing, and constant summer run time.
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HVAC Maintenance & Tune-UpsSpring and fall visits that catch drain clogs and weak parts before a tenant has to call.
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Air Duct CleaningDucts in older houses with heavy dust or old debris, and straight advice on whether cleaning helps.
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Ductless Mini-SplitsOlder homes with no ducts to some rooms, where a mini-split beats tearing open plaster walls.
What landlords and tenants ask us
Owners, landlords and tenants ask these, from Cooks Crossing to Brandy Chase.
Older homes
Can a central AC in a College Park home last 30 years?
Rarely. A few will however most outside units will have been replaced well before this. An old unit will have been made before 2010 meaning it almost certainly uses R-22 which isn't produced anymore. If there is a leak it will be costly to keep running. 30 years is a good time to plan.
Is it difficult to install a heat pump in an older College Park house?
Usually no. However older homes can cause extra steps. The existing ducting may be undersized or leaky. The closet may be tight. The new unit will need the home's electrical service. If there isn't any ducting a ductless mini split can often be fitted easier. We will look at the home.
Long summer run times
Is it bad for a heat pump to run nonstop in a College Park summer?
Not on the hottest days. When it's in the 90s and humid, a right-sized heat pump can run for hours and still be healthy. It's a problem if it runs nonstop and the house won't cool, the lines ice up, or it does the same thing on mild days.
How many hours should the AC run at night in College Park?
There isn't a set number. Often on a July night the outside temperature will be in the 70s and humid meaning the system may be turning on and off all night to keep the humidity down. Short bursts every few minutes are the warning sign. That's short cycling.
Also covered from the same number
Call one number from any of these towns. Linked towns have their own page; the last column says what stands out there.
| Town | Neighborhoods | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Union City | Shannon Glen, Wellington, Brandon Hill, Christian Corners, The Woods | Median home from 2002, mostly on electric heat |
| Fairburn | Fireside, Rosegate Manor, Shannon Chase, Durham Lakes | City utility, Georgia Power or an EMC, by street |
| East Point | Frog Hollow, Jefferson Park, Center Park, Colonial Hills, Semmes Park | 1960s housing with equipment in crawlspaces |
Heat pump struggling in this heat?
Call with the street or complex and what the system is doing. Tenants, have the owner's okay handy. Or send the form.
(470) 912-2502Open every day, 7am to 7pm
Before you call, check
- The thermostat. Set to Cool and a few degrees below the room, or to Heat and above it. Fresh batteries if it takes them.
- The breakers. The one for the furnace or air handler, and the one for the outdoor unit.
- The filter. At a return grille or in the furnace. If light will not pass through it, change it.
Smell gas? Leave the house without touching light switches or phones, then call 911 or the gas company once you are outside. If a breaker trips again after one reset, leave it off and call us.