What can be a consequence of insufficient refrigerant in a system?

Insufficient refrigerant in a refrigeration system can lead to the overheating of the compressor and a reduced cooling effect. When the refrigerant level is low, there is not enough refrigerant to absorb the heat effectively from the environment, which means that the compressor has to work harder to try to achieve the desired cooling. This increased workload can cause the compressor to overheat, as it operates without adequate refrigerant to cool and lubricate its components.

As the compressor gets too hot, it can lead to mechanical failures or reduced service life, ultimately affecting the reliability of the entire cooling system. Furthermore, with limited refrigerant, the system cannot maintain its intended cooling capacity, leading to insufficient cooling in the space being refrigerated. Thus, option C accurately reflects a significant consequence of having insufficient refrigerant in a refrigeration system.