The Cost of Ignorance

Today it was $160 - not an exhorbitant sum, but given the trials of homeownership that I've enjoyed lately, not a welcome expense.
So I was awakened on Monday night realizing the air conditioning had quit. Quick study revealed the thermostat had gone on the fritz. 7 a.m. on Tuesday I am in Home Depot buying a new thermostat. Returning from Home Depot, I replace thermostat and air conditioning still does not work. Time to call BGE Home for service - I should have let them replace the thermostat - it is included in service contract coverage. SO when I replaced the thermostat, there were three wires - green, yellow and red - and numerous slots for connections of said wires with letters beside them - and it appeared to me that the letters corresponded to the wire color. But appearances are deceiving. It seems that my green wire was actually white and in the old thermostat the technician had installed a pin between the green and white connections that I didn't see. SO, when I connected green to green in the new thermostat, I made an error because green was actually white. Now with green connected to white, the air conditioning works, but alas, I am poorer due to ignorance. But rejoice, I am no longer melting!