Should we sleep elsewhere due to AC leak and black mold?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, you should sleep in another room immediately. The symptoms you're describing—stuffy noses and sore throats that resolve when you leave—are classic signs of mold exposure. The black mold behind your wardrobe is a visible sign of a moisture problem from the AC leak, but there is almost certainly more mold growing inside the AC unit and possibly within the walls.

In Dubai's climate, with high humidity and constant AC use, a small leak creates a perfect environment for mold to proliferate rapidly. This isn't something to delay. You need a two-step approach: first, address the health risk by removing the exposure, and second, fix the root cause.

Stop using the leaking AC unit. Have a certified HVAC technician repair the leak and drain line to prevent further moisture intrusion. For the mold itself, a professional inspection is crucial. They will assess the extent of the growth on the wardrobe, inside the wall cavity, and within the AC system itself. Remediation involves physically removing the contaminated materials and cleaning the area with specialized agents, not just spraying a disinfectant. Given the proximity to your sleeping area and the duration of the leak, a DIY cleanup is not advised as it can aerosolize spores and worsen the problem.

After remediation, consider an indoor air quality test from a company with its own microbiology lab to verify that spore counts have returned to acceptable levels before you resume using the room.