Ways To Reduce Home Allergens

By GreenFlow Heating & Cooling
Apr 21
4 min read

Allergies can sneak up on you. One day, your home feels comfortable and quiet. The next, you’re waking up stuffy, your kids are rubbing their eyes, and the dog’s shedding more than seems fair. For some households, it’s seasonal. For others, it’s year-round. And if you or someone in your home deals with asthma, even mild symptoms can start to feel like a constant background hum.

You don’t need to turn your house into a clean room. But there are steps you can take to reduce allergens in a meaningful, manageable way—and no, it doesn’t always involve tearing into your HVAC system or buying a cartful of gadgets.

This is what I recommend, based on years of seeing what actually works inside real homes.

1. Replace your HVAC filters more often—really.

Most people wait too long to replace their air filters. If allergies are a problem in your home, make it a habit to check monthly and change the filter every one to two months.

Look for a filter with a MERV rating between 8 and 13—high enough to catch smaller particles like dust and pet dander, but not so restrictive that it chokes your system. If you’re unsure what your system can handle, ask someone who knows HVAC. It’s worth the extra few minutes.

Would I spend a bit more on a better filter in my own home? Absolutely.

2. Vacuum the way you wish someone else would.

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and make sure you’re getting to the spots that tend to collect the most: under beds, along baseboards, around furniture legs, and on soft surfaces like rugs and upholstery.

Even if you don’t have wall-to-wall carpet, hard floors collect a surprising amount of dust. A weekly vacuum is good. Twice a week, if you have pets or allergy-sensitive family members, is even better.

3. Duct cleaning: helpful, but not always necessary.

There’s a lot of marketing around duct cleaning, and it’s easy to get the impression that it’s a cure-all. It isn’t.

That said, if it’s been 7–10 years since your ducts were cleaned—or if there’s been construction, pests, or visible dust blowing from the vents—it’s worth looking into. I recommend this for homes where someone has moderate to severe allergies, but I’d skip it if the ducts are already clean and symptoms are mild.

4. Consider a standalone HEPA purifier for bedrooms.

You don’t need a system-wide air purification setup to make a difference. A good-quality HEPA purifier in the bedroom can noticeably improve sleep for people with allergies or asthma. It’s especially helpful in homes with pets or older HVAC systems that aren’t doing much to filter air on their own.

Whole-home purifiers that connect to your HVAC system can work well, too—but I’d only add one if your system’s already due for an upgrade. Otherwise, it’s often more cost than benefit.

5. Keep an eye on indoor humidity.

Dust mites and mold both thrive in damp conditions. Try to keep your home’s relative humidity between 30% and 50%.

If your windows fog up easily in the winter or your basement smells musty, it’s a sign the air might be too damp. Portable dehumidifiers can help in smaller spaces. In homes with high moisture year-round, you might want to talk to a pro about whether your HVAC system is helping—or making things worse.

On the flip side, too-dry air can irritate your nose and throat, so balance is key.

6. Don't underestimate ventilation.

Fresh air makes a bigger difference than most people realize. If your home is sealed up tight year-round—windows always closed, no regular airflow—it can trap everything inside: allergens, moisture, even the smell of last night’s dinner.

When pollen levels are low, open windows now and then. Turn on your bathroom and kitchen fans, and let them run for a bit after showers or cooking. If your home feels stale even when it’s clean, that may be a sign you’d benefit from something like an ERV or HRV (those are balanced ventilation systems that exchange indoor and outdoor air in a controlled way).

They’re not necessary in every home, but in newer builds or sealed-up houses, they can really help.

7. Wash your bedding often.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s effective. Wash sheets, pillowcases, and blankets weekly in hot water to kill dust mites and remove allergens that settle into fabrics.

This one’s especially important for kids with allergies, or anyone who tends to wake up congested. If you’ve been using the same pillow for five years without washing it… it’s probably time.

What I wouldn’t waste money on

Some things sound promising but don’t do much in real life:

Scented sprays and candles meant to “freshen” the air—they often make allergies worse.
Super high-MERV filters that your system isn’t built for—these can restrict airflow and cause more problems than they solve.
Over-the-top air purification gimmicks with buzzwords but no testing. If it promises miracle-level cleaning, read the fine print.

If it were my home...

Here’s what I’d personally stick with:

A quality filter swapped out every 1–2 months
HEPA vacuum twice a week
Clean bedding every week
Keep humidity balanced
Open windows when you can
Small purifier in the bedroom if needed

Thats's it, that’s what makes the biggest difference.

Final note

There’s no such thing as a perfect home with zero allergens. But with a few smart habits, you can absolutely make your space more comfortable. Not just for allergy season, but all year long.