What is a common issue related to insufficient refrigerant in the evaporator?

When there is insufficient refrigerant in the evaporator, one of the main consequences is the overheating of the compressor. The evaporator is responsible for absorbing heat from the environment, which requires an adequate amount of refrigerant to effectively carry out this function. If the refrigerant level is too low, it cannot adequately absorb heat. This leads to a situation where the compressor continues to operate to try and cool the space, but without sufficient refrigerant entering the evaporator, the compressor will run excessively dry.

This prolonged operation under low refrigerant conditions can lead to an increase in the temperature of the compressor itself. In extreme cases, overheating can cause severe damage to the compressor, resulting in mechanical failure or burnout. Thus, maintaining the proper refrigerant level is critical not only for the cooling efficiency of the system but also for protecting the compressor from damage.