2-22. Jerry Smith’s residential air conditioning (AC)
system has not been able to keep his house cool enough
in 90◦F weather. He called his local AC maintenance
person, who discovered a leak in the evaporator. The
cost to recharge the AC unit is $40 for gas and $45
for labor, but the leak will continue and perhaps grow
worse. The AC person cautioned that this service would
have to be repeated each year unless the evaporator
is replaced. A new evaporator would run about $800–
$850.
Jerry reasons that fixing the leak in the evaporator
on an annual basis is the way to go. “After all, it will
take ten years of leak repairs to equal the evaporator’s
replacement cost.” Comment on Jerry’s logic. What
would you do? (2.1)