Mold under AC carpet: DIY fix or call professional?« Back to Previous Page

Given the visible mold and ongoing AC leak for a month, you should call a professional. In Dubai’s high humidity, even after fixing the leak, the damp carpet and underpad act as a reservoir, allowing hidden mold to thrive and spread spores through your AC system.

DIY bleach is not recommended. It only removes surface discoloration on non-porous materials and is ineffective on porous items like carpet and padding. It can also aggravate the problem by releasing more spores and toxic fumes into the air. A dehumidifier is a supportive tool but won't address the root colony.

The symptoms you describe—stuffy noses and sore throats—are classic indicators of poor indoor air quality often linked to mold exposure. For a case of this duration and with visible growth, professional remediation is the safest approach. They will contain the area, safely remove the contaminated materials (carpet, underpad), HEPA-vacuum the subfloor, and use specialized antimicrobials. Crucially, they will identify and rectify the source of the AC condensate leak to prevent immediate recurrence. A post-remediation verification test, like an air quality sample sent to a microbiology lab, is the only way to confirm the space is truly safe.