MELBOURNE, Victoria - 30 June, 2026 - With Melbourne in the depths of winter and ducted heating systems running across the city, indoor air quality specialist FreshDuct is encouraging homeowners to inspect and clean their heating ducts — a step it says is routinely overlooked despite Australians spending the overwhelming majority of their time indoors.
Australians spend an estimated 90 per cent or more of their time indoors, according to the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. That figure climbs in winter, when colder weather keeps families inside and heating systems recirculate air through ducting for hours each day.
Yet the quality of that indoor air remains poorly understood. The State of Indoor Air in Australia 2025 report, produced by the THRIVE research centre at the Queensland University of Technology, found that less than 0.03 per cent of buildings in Australia have ever been studied for indoor air pollutants, and that indoor air quality is not adequately addressed in the nation's building codes or health strategies. The report drew on 106 peer-reviewed studies covering more than 2,500 buildings.
For ducted heating systems, FreshDuct says the winter months are when accumulated dust, debris and allergens are most likely to be circulated back into living spaces. Ducting that has sat unused through autumn can collect fine dust, and the first sustained run of the heating season pushes that material through every vent in the home.
The concern is not new. A frequently cited CSIRO estimate has placed the cost of poor indoor air quality in Australia at up to $12 billion per year. Notably, CSIRO's foundational indoor-air research was conducted in homes across south-east Melbourne — underscoring the local relevance of the issue for Victorian households.
Winter also brings elevated condensation and mould risk. The Victorian Building Authority notes that warm, moist indoor air meeting cold surfaces during the colder months is a common driver of condensation and mould growth in Victorian homes — conditions under which clean, well-maintained ventilation matters most.
"Winter is when heating systems work hardest, and it's also when homes are sealed up tight," said Daniel Mercer, Operations Manager at FreshDuct. "If a duct system is carrying months of settled dust, that's what gets pushed back into the rooms people are living in. A straightforward inspection and clean is one of the simplest things a household can do for the air in their home over winter."
The sentiment echoes the national research. As the QUT report's lead author, Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska, has put it: "Clean indoor air should be a basic expectation, not a luxury."
FreshDuct suggests homeowners watch for common signs that heating ducts may need attention: visible dust around vents, musty odours when the heater first starts, uneven airflow between rooms, and increased dust settling on surfaces. The company recommends a professional air duct inspection and cleaning before or early in the heating season so issues are addressed before systems run continuously. Households running reverse-cycle units can also book split system cleaning at the same time.
About FreshDuct
FreshDuct is a Melbourne-based indoor air quality specialist providing air duct cleaning, heating and cooling duct cleaning, split system cleaning, dryer vent and exhaust cleaning, chimney services and mould remediation across Melbourne and surrounding regions. The company focuses on improving indoor air quality, HVAC hygiene and system performance for residential and commercial properties.
More information is available at https://freshduct.com.au.
Media Contact FreshDuct Phone: 04 3191 8137 Website: https://freshduct.com.au
Media Contact
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Contact Person: Kirsty Wipel Media
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Address:2 4 Burwood Road Hawthorn
City: Melbourne
State: Victoria
Country: Australia
Website: freshduct.com.au
