A starved evaporator would likely be caused by which of the following problems?

A starved evaporator occurs when there is insufficient refrigerant flow through the evaporator coil, which can lead to reduced cooling efficiency and potential equipment damage. One common cause of this issue is the sensing bulb of a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) not making proper contact with the suction line.

When the sensing bulb is not in contact with the suction line, it cannot accurately sense the temperature of the refrigerant returning from the evaporator. This lack of feedback can lead the TXV to improperly regulate the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator, causing insufficient flow—hence the term 'starved evaporator.' Essentially, the TXV may not open enough to allow adequate refrigerant into the evaporator, resulting in poor cooling performance.

Other factors mentioned, such as a blocked suction line filter or an insufficient refrigerant charge, could also contribute to the problem of a starved evaporator but are not as directly linked to the functioning of the TXV as the issue with the sensing bulb. A blocked suction line filter can restrict flow, but it doesn't involve the specific interaction and feedback required from the TXV. Similarly, an insufficient refrigerant charge would lead to a variety of system issues, but the immediate regulation of refrigerant flow