A starved evaporator is most likely caused by which condition?

• A. Overheating compressor
• B. Low refrigerant charge
• C. Overcharged condenser
• D. High refrigerant charge

Answer: (B)

Starved evaporator means the evaporator isn’t being fed with enough refrigerant to fully fill and function at its heat-absorbing surface. The most common reason for this is a low refrigerant charge. When there isn’t enough refrigerant in the system, there isn’t enough liquid available to flow through the metering device and into the evaporator, so the evaporator coils aren’t fully wetted and the heat transfer capacity drops. The result is poor cooling and the evaporator appearing starved of refrigerant.

The other conditions point to different problems. An overheating compressor signals issues with lubrication or excessive discharge temperatures rather than a lack of refrigerant reaching the evaporator. An overcharged condenser raises head pressure and affects condensation, not the supply of refrigerant to the evaporator. A high refrigerant charge can cause other symptoms like oil return or liquid floodback, but it doesn’t cause the evaporator to starve.