Which symptom might indicate that a refrigeration system is overcharged?

When a refrigeration system is overcharged, one prominent symptom is ice buildup on the evaporator. This occurs because an excessive amount of refrigerant can lead to excessive cooling in the evaporator coil, causing the moisture from the air to freeze instead of simply condensing. The freezing can obstruct airflow and further reduce the system’s efficiency, leading to a cycle where more refrigerant may be required, exacerbating the problem.

Other symptoms, while they may also occur due to overcharging or other issues within the refrigeration system, do not specifically indicate an overcharge. Increased compressor noise could suggest mechanical issues or other operational problems, but it does not directly correlate with an overcharged condition. Poor cooling performance typically indicates insufficient refrigerant, blockages, or malfunctioning components rather than an excess. Higher energy consumption can result from a range of factors, including overcharging, but is not as specific an indicator as ice buildup on the evaporator, making the latter a more definitive symptom of overcharging.