Heating and air conditioning in Union City
Union City homes went up mostly in the 2000s, and most heat with electricity. Around Shannon Glen, Wellington and Brandon Hill that means heat pumps past 20 years, tired AC and drain lines working hard every summer.
No cooling in Union City?
What wears out first in homes built around 2002?
Mostly heat pump related. The median Union City home was built in 2002 (census data), so a system that came with the house will be over 20 years old. 62.5% of homes use electric heating (either heat pump or electric furnace) compared to 33.6% using gas. This means we tend to get more calls in the winter for defrost issues, stuck on aux heating and high electric bills in January. In the summer, they are running all day with humid afternoons. Depending on the design, equipment will be in an attic, closet or crawlspace. Around 6 in 10 homes are rented so the owner and the tenant both need to know what's going on.
Notes on these homes and their systems
Most homes here are 2000s builds on electric heat, and most are rented. Those three facts shape nearly every repair and replacement decision.
- Most homes heat with electricity
- That usually means a heat pump doing both jobs, cooling all summer and heating all winter, so it logs far more hours than an AC that rests from October to April. A 20-year-old heat pump has worked hard. Repairs start to stack up.
- Long, humid summers on the coil
- Muggy afternoons keep the indoor coil wet for hours, and the water it pulls from the air goes down the condensate drain. Algae and dust build up in that line. When it backs up, a safety switch can shut the whole system off.
- Attics, closets and crawlspaces
- An attic air handler in August means hot, slow work and a drain pan sitting over a ceiling. A closet unit means tight access. Replacements inside city limits go through Union City's own building office, not South Fulton's.
Heating and cooling work in these homes
Each service below has its own page with the warning signs, what the fix involves and the common questions.
-
AC RepairOutdoor units that hum but won't start in the first hot week of summer.
-
Emergency AC RepairNo cooling on a 90-degree afternoon, or water dripping from an attic unit.
-
AC Installation & ReplacementOriginal 2000s systems that need a right-sized replacement, not just the same tonnage again.
-
Furnace Repair & ReplacementThe gas homes, about a third here: igniters, flame sensors and furnaces that short cycle.
-
Heat Pump Repair & InstallationHeat pumps stuck on aux heat, iced outdoor coils, and units well past 20 years.
-
HVAC Maintenance & Tune-UpsSpring and fall checks for heat pumps that never get a real off-season.
-
Air Duct CleaningDusty vents after a tenant moves out or a renovation, and whether cleaning actually helps.
-
Ductless Mini-SplitsA converted garage, sunroom or bonus room the central system never quite reaches in July.
Questions owners and renters ask us
Owners, landlords and renters call with these. Short answers here, longer ones on the phone.
Homes and systems
How long does a split AC last in a Union City home?
There's no fixed number. Sizing, filter changes and how hard the summers drive it matter more than the brand. What we can say is that the median home here was built in 2002, so a system that came with the house is past 20 years and due for a repair-or-replace talk.
Which HVAC rebates can Union City homeowners use?
Most homes here are Georgia Power customers; check your bill to be sure. Georgia Power's Home Energy Improvement Program pays half the cost, up to a cap, on items like swapping an electric furnace for a heat pump or adding a smart thermostat. Apply within 60 days and read the program terms first.
Long hot afternoons
Why does my Union City house read 78 when the AC is set to 72?
The system is losing. Common issues are dirty filter, dirty outdoor coil, low refrigerant due to a leak, leaking ducts in the attic and undersized unit from the beginning. On the hottest of afternoons you may get a 1-2 degree drift but 6 degrees usually isn't.
Can a heat pump keep a Union City house cool in 100 degree heat?
Yes. If it is the correct size and working, a heat pump in cooling mode acts like an air conditioner. It will be running almost constantly. If it is running all afternoon and still getting warmer, something needs checking.
Other towns we cover
One phone number covers all of them. Towns with their own page are linked, with one thing worth knowing about homes there.
| Town | Neighborhoods | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Fairburn | Fireside, Rosegate Manor, Shannon Chase, Durham Lakes | The electric company there can change by street |
| East Point | Frog Hollow, Jefferson Park, Center Park, Colonial Hills, Semmes Park | The oldest homes of the group, on city power |
| College Park | College Park Historic District, Cooks Crossing, Lakeview Heights, Pleasant Valley, Brandy Chase | Mostly rented older homes near the airport |
Union City heat pump acting up?
Call and give us the street or subdivision and what the system is doing. Or send the form and we'll call you back.
(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.