Jeff May’s Healthy Home Tips

Jeffrey C. May is a certified indoor air quality professional (CIAQP) who has investigated moisture, mold, odor, indoor air quality, and paint failure problems in thousand of buildings across the United States. He is the principal scientist at May Indoor Air Investigations LLC and the author of My House Is Killing Me!, My Office Is Killing Me!, and The Mold Survival Guide, all published by Johns Hopkins. His wife, Connie L. May, was an English teacher and school administrator before joining May Indoor Air Investigations LLC. She is a coauthor of the textbook series From Thought to Action, and she coauthored The Mold Survival Guide.

If your nose gets congested, you develop a sinus headache, or your asthma often gets worse after an hour or two at home or at work, buy one of Jeff's books to find the cause and a way to fix it (and he didn't pay me to say this). -- Paul Enright, MD WebMD 2008 Accessible language, step-by-step instructions, and clear, identifying diagrams and photos. AARC Times 2008

• IntroductionPart I: Mold, Mildew, and YouDilemma 1: Mold, Inside and Outa. My BasementA Crawl Space under the HouseAn Unfinished BasementA Finished BasementMoisture Control at the ExteriorFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesb. My AtticInspectionsMoisture ControlPipesRepairsStorageFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesc. Rooms in BetweenMusty OdorsRooms with WaterRooms without WaterSoot, Not MoldFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesd. Floods and LeaksFloodsInsuranceLeaksFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiese. The Garagef. Heating and Cooling SystemsAir Conveyance SystemsOther Kinds of Heating SystemsHumidificationCentral DehumidificationHot-Water HeatersFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesg. Property I Want to Buy or RentFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesh. Hotels and AutomobilesFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental SensitivitiesI. Outside the BuildingDilemma 2: Confirmation and Remediationa. Testing for MoldTesting on My OwnHiring Professionals to TestFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesb. Cleaning it Up MyselfBathroomsThe KitchenPersonal Possessions and FurnishingsRegular Household CleaningFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesc. Hiring Professionals to RemediateFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental SensitivitiesPart II: Problems Other than MoldDilemma 3: What and Where?a. Rooms with WaterBathroomsThe KitchenLaundry AreasIndoor Pools and Hot TubsFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesb. Other Rooms and Their ContentsBeds and BeddingCarpetingFurnitureHome Office EquipmentFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesc. Smoke and Harmful GasesFireplaces, Wood Stoves, and CigarettesGasesFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesd. Heating and Cooling SystemsAir Conveyance SystemsGas-Fired EquipmentOil-Fired EquipmentFireFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiese. Pets and PestsPetsPestsFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental Sensitivitiesf. Renovation and ConstructionRenovationConstruction MaterialsAsbestosLead PaintFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental SensitivitiesDilemma 4: Everday CleaningFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental SensitivitiesDilemma 5: TestingFor People with Allergies, Asthma, or Environmental SensitivitiesConclusionAdditional ResourcesIndex