1. On the Air - iPod, uPod, We All Pod!
2. Ask Tom & Leslie - Math Question
3. Short Cuts - Cold, Hard Cash
4. Fun Fact - Cleaning Tip Hot Off the Press
5. Dot Common Sense - Managing Mold
6. On the Wire - Finishing Touch

ON THE AIR

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ASK TOM & LESLIE

A lot of you had questions about math, specifically - how come we can't add? We got several emails from astute readers who crunched our numbers and found an error. Sincere apologies from our newsletter editor: Americans actually lose nearly an hour a day, or 12 days a year, looking for things they know they have but can't find - not 12 weeks! Thanks to those who caught it and let us know.

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GOT A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR MONEY PIT?

1. The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
2. Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. Weíll get back to you with the answer ñ or even call you back during the show!
3. Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.

FUN FACT

In most households, the refrigerator is the single biggest energy consuming kitchen appliance. Replacing a refrigerator bought earlier than 1990 with a new ENERGY STAR qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for more than four and a half months. Want to know how to get cold, hard cash for your old refrigerator? Before tossing your old refrigerator, ask your utility company about rebate programs. By federal law, utility companies must offer programs to encourage energy efficiency, and trading your old ice box for an energy efficient model may just help you unfreeze some cash in the process. If you're not replacing your fridge, you can still save money by making sure it's running efficiently. Here are five tips to help keep it cool and save cash:

• Keep the refrigerator away from your oven, dishwasher, or direct sunlight.
• Let air circulate around the condenser coils by leaving a space between the wall or cabinets and the refrigerator.
• Make sure the door seals are airtight.
• Keep your fridge between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
• And finally, the hardest tip to follow -- don't stand in front of your fridge with the door open!

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FUN FACT

Want to make window washing easier and less expensive? We've got a handy hint that's hot off the press. It's better than your coffee and paper in the morning! Here's the scoop: newspaper is excellent replacement for paper towels when washing windows. It's always handy, and it eliminates the streaks. You can also use a new coffee filter to clean windows and let that sun shine in.

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DOT COMMON SENSE

Mold is a scary four-letter word. Awareness about this tiny organism and its harmful affects on people are just coming to light. Most people associate mold with damp, dark spaces such as a basement. But mold can infiltrate an attic space. And a moldy attic is almost always a sign of a moisture problem. The most likely causes for attic moisture are: improperly vented bath exhaust fans, leaky pull-down stairs and access hatches and excessive house moisture, for example, from a dryer vented into the house. Homeowners can handle mold cleanup in small amounts, but extensive mold problems must be dealt with professionally. If an attic is very moldy and there are stored items, like Christmas decorations or camping gear, these may acquire moldy dust and be carried into a home if the item is brought downstairs. Anyone with allergies to the mold could suffer from exposure. For more information, including frequently asked questions, visit our new Mold Resource Guide. Mold expert and author Jeff May helped us put the guide together. Visit www.MayIndoorAir.com or or www.MyHouseIsKillingMe.com for information on mold remediation and health effects.

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ON THE WIRE

On While You Were Out, designers often use moldings to finish the look of a room and add some sophistication as well as architectural detail. You can see great before and after photos here. You might think molding is purely decorative. But we bet you didn't know that it can serve an important structural purpose as well. Moldings finish the look of a room and add a nice architectural detail. But they can also offer an attractive disguise for the joints between walls and ceilings, floors, windows, and doors. All homes move as they expand and contract, and moldings help hide minor cracks in these areas. There's a wide range of profiles and materials available, so you can easily "mold' a custom look for your home. Here are a few pointers:

Select molding styles based on the architectural style of your home and of the room you are decorating. Contemporary homes will use sleeker moldings while period style homes can use more detailed decorative molding.

Before buying moldings, determine the lengths available. Plan the layout carefully to minimize the number of joints and maximize the use of each strip of molding. Bring the molding strips into your home about ten days before installation. This gives them a chance to adjust to the temperature and humidity conditions before being finished.

Prime and paint (or stain) both sides of each strip of molding before installation. Finishing BOTH sides of the molding strips should help reduce warping from moisture in the paint or stain. Let them dry thoroughly for at least 24 hours or longer.

Test fit each piece before nailing. Measure twice, cut once. Attach moldings with finishing nails using a nail gun or a regular hammer. Avoid denting the molding face whenever possible and use a nail set to countersink each nail. It is recommended that moldings are nailed in at each stud. If possible, cut moldings so that joints are located over a stud. But try to place any joints in the least visible areas of a room. Avoid joining molding strips in the center of a wall or over a focal point such as a fireplace. Caulk gaps between molding and walls or ceilings, using as little caulk as possible and pressing it into the joints with a specialized tool or your finger.

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