18 | December 2019
Water flowed to the end of the flashing into the miter joint and
rotted the trim and framing. May Indoor Air Investigations LLC
• Be wary about cracks in concrete that are near a
foundation wall and subject to water flow from a
downspout.
• A mushroom growing out of siding may be an indica-
tion of extensive fungal growth and rot beneath the
surface.
• A thermo-hygrometer should be used to measure
the relative humidity separately from the set point
on a dehumidifier. The thermo-hygrometer should
be placed near the floor in an exterior corner.
There was a roof leak behind the hardboard siding.
May Indoor Air Investigations LLC
• A cable or wire leading from the exterior into the sid-
ing or trim of a house should have a "drip loop" to
prevent rainwater from entering the building.
i
My Office is Killing Me,
The Sick Building Survival Guide
Available on amazon.com.
• Access to an attic should be covered with an air-
tight, insulated box to prevent the upward migration
of moist house air.
Founder and Principal Scientist of May Indoor Air Investi-
gations LLC in Tyngsborough, MA (www.mayindoorair.
com), Jeffrey C. May combines his education as an
organic chemist and his over twenty-five years of experi-
ence investigating building problems to specialize in indoor
air quality (IAQ). He is a former Adjunct Faculty Member in the
Department of Work Environment at University of Massachu-
setts Lowell, and is author or co-author of four books on indoor
air quality (published by The Johns Hopkins University Press),
including My House is Killing Me: The Home Guide for Fami-
lies with Allergies and Asthma. Jeff is a nationally recognized
speaker at annual conferences for the IAQ Association and the
Maine IAQ Council, among others. He is a Council-Certified
Microbial Consultant (ACAC) and a Certified IAQ Professional
(AEE), and is licensed in the NH and FL as a mold inspector/
assessor. Jeff holds a B.A. from Columbia College (chemistry)
and an M.A. from Harvard University (organic chemistry). See
http://www.mayindoorair.com for details about Jeff's compa-
ny's services, and www.myhouseiskillingme.com for more in-
formation about Jeff's publications and work. You can contact
Jeff at jeff@mayindoorair.com or call 978-649-1055.
Also of interest
to those pursuing
a healthy
environment
is our book
