Does the longer AC season in Southern California accelerate component wear?
Yes - and capacitors are the first components to show it. Capacitors store and release the electrical charge needed to start and run the compressor and fan motors. They degrade with heat exposure and operational hours. In Southern California's long AC season, a capacitor that might last 10 years in a cooler climate may show degraded microfarad readings within 5–7 years. A technician who catches a weakening capacitor during a March tune-up replaces a $150–$300 part. The same homeowner who skips the tune-up and runs a degraded capacitor through a July heatwave risks a compressor failure - a $1,200–$2,800 repair or a full system replacement.