Best Practices for Better Indoor Air Quality with Heating Systems

Even with spring here, indoor heating remains active and can start to affect the air quality in subtle ways. Because windows are often kept closed through winter to retain warmth, dust, pet dander, and other irritants can build up unnoticed, circulating through the home each time the heating system kicks in.

Making sure your indoor air stays clean while keeping warm isn't just about comfort. It’s also about keeping your living space healthy. The good news is that improving indoor air quality doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right heating setup, regular maintenance, and a few smart additions to your space, you can enjoy both warmth and fresh air without much hassle. Here’s how we suggest you get started.

Choosing The Right Heating System
Different heating systems affect air quality in different ways. Picking the right one for your home in Canberra comes down to your layout, daily habits, and how much control you want over air movement and humidity.

Here are some common types of heating systems and how they impact indoor air quality:

- Ducted gas heating: This system pushes air through vents located in various rooms. If the ducts aren’t regularly cleaned, they can push dust and debris into the air. That aside, they’re often efficient and quick to heat large spaces.

- Split systems: These units let you heat specific rooms. Some models come with built-in air filters that can help trap airborne particles. Still, they need consistent cleaning to work well.

- Radiant heating: Think of underfloor heating or wall panels. Because there’s no moving air, they don’t blow around dust or allergens, which might make a big difference for anyone sensitive to pollutants.

- Electric panel or convectors: These heat the air within the room and are easy to use, but they don’t filter the air. That means any existing dust or dander stays in circulation.

When selecting a heating system, it’s also worth considering options that include built-in air purification features or adaptable humidity controls. Canberra’s dry winters can irritate airways if humidity drops too low, and some heating setups can make that issue worse.

Choosing the best system depends on what matters most to you. If your household includes kids, pets, or people with allergies, you may want to prioritise systems with strong air filtration or go with options like radiant floor heating to limit airborne dust. For example, one Canberra homeowner we worked with recently had an old ducted unit that hadn’t been serviced in years. After switching to a newer system with a filtration feature, plus some minor layout changes, they quickly noticed the house felt easier to breathe in.

The key is to balance warmth, control and air quality. Having the right setup gives you a better foundation to stay comfortable and healthy through Canberra’s colder months.

Regular Maintenance For Optimal Air Quality
Once you’ve got your heating system sorted, keeping it in good shape is what helps maintain clean air all season long. Dirty filters, clogged ducts or worn-out components don’t just lower performance, they stir up and spread dust, allergens and other particles in every room your system reaches.

Here’s a simple maintenance list to improve air quality through your heating system:

1. Check and replace your air filters

Depending on how often you use your heater, filters can build up with dust and airborne debris quickly. If they’re reusable, clean them every few weeks. If not, make sure they’re swapped out regularly.

2. Schedule a professional duct and vent inspection

Especially for ducted systems, arrange for someone to check and clean the ductwork. Buildup inside the vents can lead to stale air and musty smells.

3. Wipe down external vents and grilles

These gather dust, pet hair, and other fluff. A quick clean stops that grime from getting pushed into the air.

4. Keep the area around indoor units clear

When furniture or curtains block a vent or split-system wall unit, airflow changes and dust can collect. Clearing a space around these points lets the system run more efficiently and improves circulation.

5. Use the right settings

Running your heater on low or eco settings can prevent over-drying the air. If your system lets you set temperature ranges, keep them comfortable but not extreme.

Filters and properly cleaned components catch a lot of what floats around indoors. Maintenance may seem like a chore at times, but it’s one of the easiest ways to improve the air you breathe—especially when paired with a heating solution that fits your lifestyle.

Using Air Purifiers And Plants To Support Clean Air
When heating systems are running most days, the air can become noticeably drier and stuffier. Air purifiers can make a big difference by catching floating particles that aren't filtered out by your heater alone. Even high-quality heating systems will struggle to clear out all indoor pollutants, especially in sealed rooms or homes with thicker insulation.

A good air purifier can help cut down on:

- Pet dander

- Soot from gas heaters

- Smoke from indoor cooking

- Fine dust and pollen

Some air purifiers come with HEPA or carbon filters, which are helpful for homes with asthma sufferers or pets. They're especially handy during the tail-end of winter when windows stay shut most of the day, and stale air can become noticeable. If you’re using gas heating, a purifier with odour control might also help keep things fresh.

On top of that, introducing indoor plants is a practical and easy way to support air freshness. Not all plants get along with heated air, but a few hardy ones work just fine with Canberra’s indoor conditions. Peace lilies, snake plants, and rubber plants are well-suited options. These types hold up well against dry air and tend to thrive with minimal fuss.

Keep in mind, though, that plants work best when there aren’t too many – a few in key areas like the living room, hallway, or bedroom can do the job without overloading the space. Also, make sure the soil is kept clean and free of mould. If you’re noticing an odour or white fuzz, it might be time to cut back on watering or move the plant closer to the sunlight.

Purifiers and plants won’t replace proper heating maintenance, but they’re a smart add-on when looking to support good air quality during the colder seasons. They complement your main system and help keep the environment balanced, even as the temperature yo-yos through late winter and early spring.

Getting Help From Heating Professionals
Even with the best setup and regular maintenance, heating systems can still develop hidden issues over time. That’s where experienced technicians come in. They’re trained to spot problems that you may not notice straight away, like carbon build-up in gas heaters or fan blockages in split systems. And those problems, when ignored too long, can lower air quality without showing obvious signs.

Technicians use proper tools to clear out dust, soot, and bio-growth from inside your heating system’s internal parts. It’s work that goes far beyond what a vacuum or off-the-shelf cleaner can manage. During these checks, they’ll also test how the system is moving air through your rooms. Uneven airflow, recurring stuffy spots or odd smells are often linked to something deeper in the unit that needs attention.

Regular servicing helps ensure that filters and vents are working the way they should and that your heater is moving clean, warmed air through your home. It also prevents minor issues from developing into bigger problems later, especially in Canberra where heating systems work hard through the bulk of winter.

In some cases, people assume their sore throats or dry skin are just part of the season, when in reality, it’s a sign that something in their heating setup is out of balance. A trained technician can step in, test the output, and suggest the right solution—whether it’s a setting adjustment, better placement of vents, or an upgrade to the filtration parts.

Scheduled service visits mean you’re not left second-guessing whether the system is working well. Instead, you're giving your home exactly what it needs to stay warm and fresh.

Staying Warm And Breathing Easy In Canberra
Indoor air quality isn’t just about temperature—it’s about how the air feels, smells, and moves through your space. When heaters run every day, it’s easy to forget how they subtly impact the air you breathe. But with the right choices, it’s just as simple to fix.

From picking a heating system that suits your space to adding a few air-cleaning plants, every little step helps. Topping it off with regular cleaning and professional servicing means your heater won’t just keep you warm—it’ll help give you better air too.

Heading into spring, it makes sense to tidy up your heating approach and keep a clean, breathable home. Air that doesn’t make your eyes itch or your throat feel dry is worth taking the time to get right. Small changes can make everyday comfort last much longer than the season itself.

To ensure your home stays comfortable and the air remains fresh as the seasons shift, it’s worth staying on top of regular heating services in Canberra. This helps your system run smoothly and prevents minor issues from turning into major ones. AGA Air Conditioning offers support to keep your setup efficient while improving the air you breathe indoors. For more details, explore our heating services to see how we can help keep your space comfortable year-round.