AC leak causing black mold and sore throat? Professional needed?« Back to Previous Page

A persistent AC leak almost certainly causes mold growth, and your scratchy throat is a common symptom. Dubai's high humidity provides the perfect environment for mold to thrive on damp drywall, especially behind a curtain with limited airflow.

Bleach is not recommended here. It can't penetrate porous materials like drywall to kill the roots, and its high water content can actually feed the mold, making the problem worse. For a small, surface-level patch, a vinegar or hydrogen peroxide solution can be effective, but your situation involves a recurring water source and potential wall infiltration.

Given the ongoing leak and your health symptoms, a professional assessment is strongly advised. They will first identify and fix the AC leak—the critical first step—before any remediation. They can then assess if the mold is only surface-level or has grown deeper into the wall, which requires different removal techniques. A reputable company with a microbiology lab can also take an air or surface sample to identify the mold species, which confirms the health risk level and verifies that the cleanup was successful.

In many cases, a small section of contaminated drywall must be cut out and replaced to fully resolve the issue and prevent it from returning. Simply cleaning the surface is often insufficient for this type of water damage.