WHERE DID THAT MOLD COME FROM?

Mold and mildew is the result of liquid water coming in contact with mold spores. The spores are everywhere! In an air conditioning context, the liquid water results from airborne moisture coming in conact with a surface colder than the water vapor temperature. Remember the "sweating" of a cold glass of iced tea in the summer? The surface temperature of the glass is lower than the vapor temperature of the air, resulting in condensation. If window frames are damp, you probably have the wrong type window frame.

GET A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR

It's simple, its cheap, and it could save your life. Anyone with a natural gas furnace needs one. Heat exchangers in gas furnaces wear out, and crack. Out comes a product of combustion called carbon monoxide. It is odorless, but lethal. Especially if your furnace is over 20 years old, you are at risk. People go to sleep and never wake up. So...head down to your home improvement store and get one, they run about 20 bucks.

WHY ARE MY WINDOWS LEAKING IN THE WINTER?

My windows are leaking, but it isn't raining! Well, your windows are probably not leaking, but rather are "sweating". The moisture you have observed on the windows is actually condensation. This results from cold window frames in contact with moist indoor air. If the windows are non-thermally broken, the metal is cold and will cause condensation. Should you not be able to replace the windows, crack them a bit to let in some dry air. It will cost energy, but you will get fresh air and skip the cost of window replacement.