5 Smart Strategies to Reduce Allergens and Improve Air Quality in Schools

Sneezing, coughing, watery eyes — these symptoms do more than cause discomfort. They pull students' attention away from lessons, make it harder for teachers to keep classrooms engaged, and lead to more absences throughout the school.

Allergy season creates an environment where students struggle to focus, teachers deal with constant distractions, and staff work harder to keep spaces clean. Without proper air quality strategies, dust, pollen, and mold continue to circulate, making symptoms worse and increasing complaints from parents and staff.

How Allergies Are Disrupting Schools More Than Ever

Allergies are among the most common medical conditions affecting children in the United States. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology:

• 8.4% of U.S. children under age 18 have allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
• 10% have respiratory allergies.
• 11.6% have skin allergies (hives or eczema).

Some children with allergies may also have asthma. Their allergies can trigger asthma symptoms, known as allergic asthma.

With so many children affected, schools must be prepared to manage allergies — not just by reacting to symptoms, but by reducing exposure in the first place. This means creating an indoor environment where allergens are controlled, air is filtered correctly, and students with sensitivities can breathe easily.

5 Ways Schools Can Improve Air Quality and Prevent Allergy Symptoms

1. Upgrade HVAC Systems to Trap and Reduce Airborne Allergens

Your HVAC system is the most significant factor in how allergens move through your school. If filters are not working properly, pollen, dust, and mold spores circulate through classrooms instead of being removed, triggering allergy symptoms and lowering air quality.

A strong filtration system is the best defense. Upgrading to MERV-13 or HEPA filters significantly reduces airborne allergens. If your system allows it, adding HEPA filtration will provide even stronger air purification.

Regular filter changes and system maintenance are just as important. Clogged filters reduce efficiency and push allergens back into the air. Keeping them clean prevents allergens from recirculating and helps maintain healthier air throughout your school.

Action Plan for Facility Managers

• Check your current filter rating. If it’s lower than MERV-13, it’s time for an upgrade.
• Schedule filter replacements before allergy season to keep the air clean year-round.
• Work with your HVAC team to improve airflow and bring in fresh outdoor air when possible.

2. Target High-Allergen Areas with HEPAFORCE® GermBuster Air Purifiers

Even with a strong HVAC system, some areas in your school will always collect allergens — especially in high-traffic spaces like classrooms, cafeterias, libraries, and gyms. These spaces trap dust, pollen, and mold spores, creating hotspots for allergy symptoms, poor air quality, and increased complaints from students, teachers, and staff.

HVAC systems are designed for whole-building air circulation, but they cannot always remove allergens quickly enough in rooms with heavy daily use. Portable air purifiers provide targeted relief in these cases.

HEPAFORCE GermBuster Room Air Purifiers use medical-grade HEPA filtration to capture 99.97% of airborne allergens, including pollen, dust mites, and mold spores. Unlike standard air filtration systems, these purifiers continuously scrub the air in real-time, ensuring that allergens don’t settle and accumulate in busy areas.

Action Plan for Facility Managers

• Pinpoint problem areas where students report the most allergy symptoms — these are the best locations for air purifiers.
• Strategically place GermBusters near student seating, HVAC vents, and entry points to trap allergens before they spread.
• Run air purifiers throughout the school day to maintain consistent air quality and prevent allergen buildup.

3. Control Humidity to Prevent Mold Growth

Mold growth is an expensive problem that affects both air quality and building integrity. It can lead to structural damage, health complaints, and expensive remediation efforts. Once it spreads, removal becomes difficult and costly. Preventing moisture buildup is the easiest way to stop mold before it starts.

Keeping indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% helps prevent mold growth and minimizes allergen buildup. Dehumidifiers, smart HVAC controls, and routine moisture inspections also help maintain proper moisture levels and improve indoor air quality.

Some areas in your school—storage rooms, locker rooms, and cafeterias—are especially prone to excess humidity. Without regular monitoring, moisture can collect in hidden areas, leading to mold that affects air quality throughout the building. A proactive approach keeps humidity under control and prevents allergens from spreading.

Action Plan for Facility Managers

• Monitor humidity levels in high-risk areas to detect issues early.
• Inspect windows, HVAC ducts, and flooring for condensation or leaks that signal moisture buildup.
• Work with your maintenance team to adjust ventilation settings and install dehumidifiers where needed.

4. Implement an Allergy-Safe Cleaning Routine

A clean school does more than improve appearances—it directly affects student health, attendance, and classroom comfort. Dust, pollen, and mold settle into carpets, upholstery, and ventilation systems, turning everyday surfaces into allergen traps. Without the proper cleaning approach, allergens remain in the air, leading to higher absenteeism, staff complaints, and worsening indoor air quality.

Some cleaning methods can make the problem worse. Standard vacuums push allergens back into the air, and dry dusting spreads dust and pollen rather than capturing them. A targeted cleaning strategy removes allergens instead of just moving them around.

Upgrading to HEPA-filtered vacuums traps fine particles, while microfiber cloths lift and remove dust instead of redistributing it. Routine deep cleaning prevents allergens from building up in carpets, curtains, and furniture, reducing their impact on students and staff.

Action Plan for Facility Managers

• Work with custodial staff to establish cleaning protocols that focus on allergen removal.
• Use HEPA-filtered vacuums instead of standard vacuums to capture fine allergens rather than recirculating them.
• Swap out dry dusters for microfiber cloths to reduce airborne particles instead of stirring them up.
• Schedule deep cleaning for carpets, curtains, and furniture to eliminate long-term allergen buildup.
• Include HVAC vent and duct cleaning in maintenance routines to prevent allergens from spreading through the air system.

5. Monitor Indoor Air Quality and Take Proactive Action

The best way to stay ahead of air quality issues is to stop problems before they start. Indoor air quality (IAQ) monitors track pollen, dust, CO₂ levels, and humidity, helping you make adjustments before students and staff feel the effects.

Without monitoring, it’s impossible to know what’s working and what isn’t. Tracking IAQ data allows you to fine-tune HVAC settings, adjust air purifier placement, and target cleaning efforts where they’re needed most. Instead of reacting to complaints, you can stay ahead of the problem and create a healthier school environment.

Action Plan for Facility Managers

• Install indoor air quality monitors in key areas to track allergen levels, CO₂, and humidity.
• Adjust HVAC settings and air purifier placement based on real-time data.
• Use IAQ assessments to refine your air quality plan and improve long-term results.

Give Your Students the Best Environment to Learn

You can’t stop pollen from floating through the air outside, but you can keep it from taking over your school. A proactive air quality strategy helps students, teachers, and staff breathe easier during allergy season by keeping classrooms comfortable and reducing airborne allergens before they become a problem.

The steps you take today will determine how well your school manages air quality this allergy season. Get the Ultimate Guide to Indoor Air Quality now and start creating a healthier learning environment for students and staff.