As large swathes of the country grapple with heatwave conditions, many Australians will be finding comfort in the cool breeze of their air conditioning.
We’ve written about the importance of cleaning split systems but if you have a ducted unit, it needs similar care to run efficiently and safely.
Making sure your system is both clean and properly maintained will ensure it runs efficiently — and not doing so could negatively impact your health.
Why is it important to clean your ducted heating or cooling system?
Shannon Lush, a household cleaning expert based in Sydney, on Gadigal country, says people tend to clean ducted air conditioning units less frequently than their split-system counterparts, and this can have health risks.
"If you have a split system, if your filter clogs up, your split system doesn't work, and you know to get somebody in to repair it.
"If it's a ducted system, your filter is bigger and it's able to cope with more before it breaks down, so people don't do anything about it."
It's a sentiment echoed by Thomas Russell, an air-conditioning and refrigeration teacher from Melbourne/Naarm vocational training provider Box Hill Institute.
"Unfortunately, most people don't understand the maintenance needs of their ducted systems," Mr Russell says.
"This can result in cooling and heating systems not running efficiently, which can lead to parts breaking or increased power bills."
How often should ducted aircon be cleaned?
When it comes to knowing how often to clean, Ms Lush says you should "Let you nose and your eyes tell you".
"If your air conditioning starts to smell, if you can smell anything coming out of the duct, there's something wrong, because you should not be able to smell anything. If there's something there, it means it's not filtering properly."
Chris Barnes, an indoor heating and cooling expert from consumer advocacy group Choice, says the same principles for cleaning and maintaining a split-system air conditioner also broadly apply to their ducted counterparts.
"If you've got a very dusty environment, you are going to get more dust building up in your filters, and you're going to [notice] that in your indoor air and … on your furniture," Mr Barnes says.
How do I clean a ducted air conditioner?
So can you clean a ducted air conditioner yourself?
Both our experts say there are parts you can definitely tackle without calling in a professional.
If your vents and ducts are visibly dusty, Mr Barnes recommends giving them a thorough clean with a vacuum cleaner and soft, dry cloth.
Ms Lush says she focuses on "the areas you can see and any moveable vents" as part of her regular cleaning.
She recommends using a lavender oil and water mix, at a ratio of one teaspoon per litre of water, to wipe any visible dust from surfaces, and instead of using microfibre cloth or paper towel, Ms Lush recommends using pantihose.
"Pantihose get into more spots than microfibre cloths do — and they're cheaper and you can get old packets from second-hand stores."
Mr Russell says you should also "clean the return air filter as needed".
As Ms Lush explains, "the vents aren't anywhere near as important as cleaning the main filter pad in the machine".
"You just take them out and wash them in warm, soapy water and dry them in sunshine and then put them back in," she says.
Check the manual for your system to find out where your filters are located and how to remove them.
When to arrange a professional service
While it's important to stay on top of dust build-ups in the places you can reach, it's not a substitute for having your unit professionally serviced.
Mr Russell says, ducted units "should be maintained on a yearly basis", and a service "should include removing and cleaning the filters or pads, ducts and the registers".
The cost of a service will depend on the type and size of your system so it's a good idea to ring around to find out.
"It's important to keep up with professional maintenance of any built-in heating or cooling system, as [professionals] can make sure they are running optimally and let you know of any potential repairs or service needs that need to be addressed before they cause bigger issues," Mr Russell says.
Ms Lush agrees, and says: "If it was your car, you'd have your car serviced once a year and it's no different."
"And every air-conditioning system comes with its own manual," she adds.
"Read your manual; most people don't. It's a machine, and machines need to be serviced."
