Keeping Your Car A/C Alive in Texas Heat
The short answer
Car A/C systems fail in Texas mainly because nonstop summer use dries seals and leaks refrigerant. Run the A/C weekly year-round, replace the cabin filter yearly and get a spring A/C check to prevent it.
Why car A/C fails here
Months of triple-digit temperatures keep your A/C compressor running nonstop. Seals dry out, refrigerant slowly leaks, and condensers clog with road debris and cedar pollen.
Warning signs
Air that's cool but not cold, a musty smell, clicking or rattling when the A/C engages, water on the passenger floor, or air that only gets cold at highway speed.
Prevention tips
Run the A/C a few minutes every week, even in winter, to keep seals lubricated. Replace your cabin air filter yearly. Park in shade when you can and have the system checked every spring before the heat hits.
The DIY recharge myth
Canned refrigerant can overcharge the system and often contains sealants that damage expensive components. If your system is low, it has a leak — find and fix it first.
