AC leak causing black mold and child's cough: urgent cleanup?« Back to Previous Page

The AC in our apartment in Jumeirah seems to be constantly leaking, and now I’ve spotted a patch of black mold on the wall behind the kids’ bunk beds. My youngest has had a runny nose and a persistent cough for the last two weeks and I’m starting to panic. Is this a common issue with the humidity here and what’s the safest way to get this professionally cleaned without exposing my family to more spores?
Posted by Duc Yamaguchi
Asked on April 6, 2026 10:05 pm
The AC leak is the critical issue that must be addressed first. In Dubai's high humidity, this constant moisture source creates an ideal environment for mold, making this a very common problem. The black patch and your child's respiratory symptoms are likely connected, as mold exposure is a known irritant that can cause exactly those symptoms, especially in children.

For a situation involving a child's health and a significant leak, a professional inspection is strongly recommended over DIY. Do not attempt to clean it yourself, as improper scrubbing can aerosolize a high concentration of spores, significantly increasing exposure.

A proper remediation process for an occupied apartment involves containment. Professionals will seal the area with plastic sheeting, use HEPA-filtered negative air machines to prevent spores from spreading to other rooms, safely remove the contaminated materials, and HEPA-vacuum the entire area. The underlying AC leak must be repaired by your building's maintenance team or an HVAC technician to prevent immediate recurrence. Only a company with the correct equipment and protocols can perform this safely.

After remediation, the wall must be completely dry before repainting. To verify the cleanup was successful, you can request post-remediation testing to confirm spore counts have returned to normal levels. This provides documented proof the environment is safe.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 8, 2026 5:32 am