Fifteen years ago, my parents bought two 220 volt air conditioner window units. One was installed in a window in the living room, the other in a window in the dining room.

A few days ago, the unit in the living room ceased to cool. The fan still worked, but the compressor did not, so I bought a new unit. It cost $339.00, plus seven percent sales tax.

My Mom paid for the installation: eighty dollars, plus tax. I must say, the new unit, which is rated at 18,500 British Thermal Units, cools so much better than the old unit did. In all fairness, I don't know what the rating of the old unit was.