What indicates that a refrigeration system is short of capacity due to a clogged strainer?

A temperature difference in the liquid line before and after the strainer is a key indicator that a refrigeration system may be short of capacity due to a clogged strainer. When the strainer becomes obstructed, it restricts the flow of refrigerant. This restriction leads to a noticeable drop in temperature as the refrigerant loses pressure and the system struggles to deliver the required amount of refrigerant to the evaporator.

In a well-functioning system, the temperature of the refrigerant should not vary significantly across the strainer. A substantial temperature difference indicates that the refrigerant is not flowing freely, and the system is not able to maintain its capacity effectively, which could be attributed to a clog in the strainer.

Other symptoms might include noisy operation of the compressor or bubbles in the sight glass, which can indicate other issues in the system but are not as directly correlated with a clogged strainer affecting the capacity. Low oil temperature could relate to other system inefficiencies but does not specifically indicate that the capacity issue is due to a clog in the strainer. Thus, monitoring the temperature difference provides a direct insight into flow restrictions and the overall health of the refrigeration system.