Could black mould be causing my kids' cough and headaches?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, black mould behind your wardrobe from an AC leak is a very likely cause of the persistent coughing and headaches in your children. In Dubai's climate, where high humidity and year-round AC use create ideal conditions for mould, such hidden growth is common. The spores released into the air are a known respiratory irritant, particularly for children, often triggering allergy-like symptoms and headaches.

For a situation involving visible growth and active symptoms, a professional inspection is strongly recommended. Do not attempt to clean it yourself, as improper methods can aerosolize a massive amount of spores, drastically worsening your indoor air quality. The safest approach is to first identify the full extent of the problem. A reputable indoor environmental professional will use moisture meters to find the leak's source and assess any hidden damage within the walls. They should also conduct air and surface sampling to be analysed by an accredited microbiology lab; this identifies the mould species and spore concentration, which is critical for determining the correct remediation protocol.

The cleaning process itself must be one of containment. Professionals will seal off the area with plastic sheeting, use HEPA-filtered negative air machines to create a pressure differential and prevent spore spread, and carefully remove the contaminated materials. All cleaning should be done with HEPA vacuums and damp-wiping techniques. Once the mould is removed, the root cause—the AC condensate leak—must be repaired to prevent immediate recurrence. Finally, post-remediation verification testing is essential to confirm the spore count in the air has returned to acceptable levels before the containment is removed. Look for providers who can show you documented before-and-after lab results to verify the job was done correctly.