What is a major consequence of undercharging a refrigeration system?

Undercharging a refrigeration system significantly impacts its cooling efficiency, leading to poor cooling performance. When the system does not have enough refrigerant, it cannot absorb and transfer heat effectively. This results in a lower cooling capacity, causing the system to struggle to maintain the desired temperature. As a direct consequence, the system may run longer than intended, resulting in inconsistent or inadequate cooling in the refrigerated space.

Other factors in the refrigeration system, such as energy costs, refrigerant pressure, and compressor lifespan, can also be affected by undercharging, but the immediate and most noticeable consequence is the poor cooling performance. When the refrigerant level is insufficient, the evaporator coils may not properly cool, leading to warm air blowing into the space being refrigerated and potentially failing to meet food safety standards in commercial food storage.