Is black mold causing my kids' cough? DIY clean or profesional?« Back to Previous Page

My kids have been coughing non-stop for the past month and we can't figure out why. I finally pulled out the sofa in our Deira apartment to look behind it and found a huge patch of black mold spreading across the wall, probably from a slow AC leak. It smells damp and earthy back there. **Could this mold be the cause of their respiratory issues, and is a DIY cleaning safe or do we absolutely need to call a professional company?**
Posted by Jaya Kumar
Asked on May 3, 2026 10:20 pm
Yes, the black mold behind your sofa is very likely the cause of your children's persistent coughing. In Dubai's humid climate, this type of mold growth from an AC leak is common and produces spores that irritate the respiratory tract, leading to chronic coughs, congestion, and worsened allergy symptoms, especially in children.

Do not attempt a DIY cleaning. Disturbing the mold will release a massive amount of spores into your apartment's air, potentially making the respiratory issues much worse. For a large, established patch, professional remediation is necessary. They will use containment barriers, HEPA filtration units to scrub the air, and specialized antimicrobial treatments to address the root cause.

The first step is to identify and fix the moisture source—the AC leak. Until it's repaired, the mold will return. For a case of this size and with health symptoms already present, a professional inspection is strongly advised. They can assess the full extent of the growth, which often spreads inside wall cavities, and provide a protocol for safe removal that protects your family and your home.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on May 5, 2026 9:17 am