Technicians must often make a decision about the best course of action to take for a repair. Choosing the right course of action is the key to a successful and profitable repair. Choosing the wrong course of action can lead to a problematic repair, loss of income, and a blemish on their reputation. Managing these risks is part of the job for every service technician.
A common example of this is when dealing with refrigerant leaks. On some fractional horsepower systems, finding the source of a leak can be difficult and time-consuming. One option is to simply add refrigerant to the system and hope the leak is small enough that the system continues to run adequately for a sufficient amount of time. Not a very good option, because the system may only operate a brief amount of time before it fails again. Another option is to add a sealant with the refrigerant and hope it seals the leak. This option may work, but it also may not work. The best option is to conduct a leak search to find and repair the leak. This option can be more costly and time-consuming, but if done correctly, the leak is assuredly repaired.