Air Duct Cleaning in Victoria

Evidence is mixed for routine cleaning of already-clean ducts. It clearly helps when ducts contain mould, construction dust, pest debris, or blockages. Pairing cleaning with better filtration and sealing duct leaks delivers more measurable benefit than cleaning alone.

The pattern: a $50-100 'whole house special', then on-site claims of hidden mould with photos that may not be from your ducts, pressure-selling sanitizer fogging at hundreds extra. Legitimate firms quote by vent/system count, show you findings in your own ducts, and never pressure same-day decisions.

Proper source-removal cleaning puts the system under negative pressure with a high-power vacuum, then agitates each duct run with rotating brushes or compressed-air whips so debris is pulled to the collector — not blown into the house. Register covers, the air handler, and coils should be included.

Lint-clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of house fires and make dryers run long and hot. Annual cleaning of the vent run — not just the lint trap — restores airflow, cuts drying times, and removes the fire risk. It's cheap relative to the risk.

Usually no — blanket chemical fogging is discouraged unless there's confirmed microbial growth and the product is approved for HVAC use. Mechanical cleaning plus fixing the moisture source addresses the cause; fogging is the most-upsold, least-needed add-on.

There's no fixed schedule — clean when there's visible mould, vermin, renovation dust, or significant debris buildup. In practice every 3-5 years is typical for forced-air homes, sooner after building work or if filters blacken quickly.

A typical single-system home takes 2-4 hours with a two-person crew. Larger homes, multiple air handlers, or heavy contamination stretch to a full day. Be suspicious of anyone promising a whole house in under an hour.

Yes when ducts run through dusty roof or underfloor spaces — common in Victorian homes with ducted gas. Cleaning removes years of dust and occasional vermin debris; pair it with a licensed gasfitter's service of the heater itself for CO safety.