AC mold caussing cough: remove it or see doctor?« Back to Previous Page
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The AC in my apartment in Jumeirah Village Circle has been leaking a little, and now there's black speckled mold growing on the wall behind the bedroom curtain. My husband has been waking up with a stuffy nose and a cough for the past two weeks, and I'm starting to get worried it's connected. I wiped it with vinegar but it came right back.
What's the most effective way to get rid of this for good, and should we see a doctor about the cough?
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The wall mold from your AC leak is likely the cause of the persistent cough and congestion, especially in Dubai's climate where high humidity allows it to thrive. You should both see a doctor to address the current respiratory symptoms, as prolonged exposure to mold spores can irritate airways and worsen allergies.
Vinegar only removes surface mold you can see; it doesn't kill the hyphae roots growing deep into porous materials like drywall. For a recurring problem from a leak, the most effective solution is to stop the moisture source. Have an AC technician repair the leak first. Then, the affected section of wall must be properly remediated—this often involves cutting out and replacing the contaminated drywall to ensure all hidden mold is removed. For a case this persistent, a professional inspection is advised. They can identify the full extent of the growth and use HEPA filtration to contain spores during removal, preventing them from spreading to other parts of your apartment. In many Dubai apartments, the issue can be systemic, originating in the central AC unit itself, which would require a separate duct cleaning. A company with its own microbiology lab can test to identify the mold type and confirm the remediation was successful, which is the only way to be sure it's gone for good. |
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