Fall is the season for jumping into leaf piles, autumn walks with your family, eating crisp apples, and sipping on pumpkin spice lattes. But there are more than 23 million people in the U.S. who associate fall with sneezing and wheezing, and fall allergies. If you or a loved one is in that group, we’re here to help you enjoy fall while avoiding allergies.
Most fall allergies are triggered by ragweed pollen, mold growth, dust, or pet dander. A single ragweed plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains in a season, with ragweed season typically running from August through November.
And more rain, coupled with falling leaves, creates the perfect environment for mold growth. Mold spore counts can reach peak levels, exceeding 50,000 spores per cubic meter, between early September and late October. And don’t forget about dust and pet dander. Data show that closing the windows for cooler weather traps dust and dander, causing indoor air pollution to be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor air.
So, let’s take a closer look at these common fall allergy triggers, how to keep more of them outside, and what to do when the allergens do make their way into your home
This Is Why Fall Allergy Season Can Be So Difficult
Ragweed is one of the biggest contributors to fall allergies. Its pollen is lightweight and easily carried through the air, which means you can be exposed even when there isn’t ragweed growing in your own yard. And with a single plant capable of producing up to 1 billion pollen grains in a season, that pollen can get just about everywhere.
Fall pollen patterns also vary depending on where you live and changes in weather. According to the CDC, warmer temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and fewer frost days can make pollen seasons begin earlier and last longer.
If you’re sensitive to pollen, this exposure may add to symptoms like sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, and irritated eyes. If you have asthma and pollen is one of your triggers, exposure may also worsen asthma symptoms.
Outdoor mold can also become more noticeable during fall. Damp, decomposing leaves and other organic material makes it easier for mold to grow, introducing another fall allergen during yardwork and outdoor activities.
Mold spore counts can reach peak levels, exceeding 50,000 spores per cubic meter, between early September and late October.
Dust mites and pet dander can add to your fall allergies, too. Dust mites thrive in soft, warm places like bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture, where their allergens can build up and get stirred into the air. Pet allergens can collect in many of those same places and stick around even after your pet leaves the room. So once cooler weather has you spending more time inside, you may end up breathing in more of both.
The air inside homes is typically 2 to 5 times higher in pollutant concentrations than outdoor air. —EPA
Why Fall Allergens Follow You Indoors
Simply closing the front door and shutting the windows won’t stop outdoor allergens from entering your home. That means managing fall allergens at home comes down to two places: your surfaces and your air.
Pollen and other particles can enter your home in many ways:
- On clothing and shoes
- In your hair and on your skin
- On pets that have been outside
- Through the front door when you walk in
That’s why you should always change your clothes and shower after spending time outside, according to the CDC. And of course, keep your windows closed during pollen season to reduce indoor allergens.
Once pollen and other particles enter your home, they settle onto floors, bedding, upholstery, and other surfaces. Others remain suspended in the air or become airborne again as you (or your furry friends) move through the room.
How to Stop Allergens From Building Up in My Home?
Once allergens make their way inside, many end up settling on surfaces throughout your home. Pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and pet dander can collect on floors, bedding, carpets, and furniture, where everyday movement can stir them back into the air.
Regular cleaning can keep that buildup down:
- Leave shoes near the door.
- Change clothes after spending time outside.
- Shower before bed after heavy pollen exposure.
- Wash bedding regularly.
- Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture.
- Damp-dust hard surfaces.
- Wipe down pets after they’ve been outside.
These habits help you tackle allergens where they settle, before they have a chance to get kicked back into the air.
What Can I Do About Airborne Fall Allergens at Home?
Cleaning helps with allergens that settle, but pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and dust can stay airborne or get stirred back up as you move around your home.
That’s where HEPA filtration swoops in to save the day. HEPA filters are designed to capture at least 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns, allowing them to be very effective at capturing tiny airborne allergens, including mold spores that can be as small as 1 micron.
But there’s an important catch: the filter can only capture allergens that get circulated through it. Therefore, it's important to have a purifier powerful enough to circulate the air in a space at least 2X per hour. In most scenarios, this helps keep the level of fine particles (PM1.0) near zero.
That’s why these three variables are key when comparing air purifiers: HEPA filtration, CADR, and recommended coverage.
- HEPA Filtration: HEPA filters help capture tiny airborne particles, including pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold spores.
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): A higher CADR means the purifier can deliver more filtered air, removing airborne allergens faster.
- Recommended Room Coverage: Proper sizing helps your purifier clean the air efficiently and consistently throughout your space.
Where Should I Put My Air Purifier During Fall Allergy Season?
Where you put your air purifier can make a huge difference. We suggest that you start with the room where you spend the most time or where your allergies bother you most. Then make sure your purifier has enough open space around it to move air freely.
Here are some air purifier placement tips:
Bedroom: A smart home for your purifier if you wake up stuffy or congested. Since you’ll be running it while you sleep, look for a purifier with quiet operation (even at higher fan speeds) or a sleep mode that turns off the lights so as not to disturb your rest.
Home office: If you spend several hours working there each day, a purifier can continuously filter the air around you while you work. A quieter model can also help minimize distractions during calls or focused work.
Near high-traffic areas: Think entryways or spots where your pets hang out. These areas can pick up more pollen, dust, and dander throughout the day, so having a purifier nearby can help catch those allergens as they get stirred into the air.
Avoid tight corners: Aim to give your purifier 18” to 24” of clearance. Walls, curtains, and furniture can restrict airflow when there isn’t enough open space around it for air to flow freely.
Use your purifier consistently: The longer your purifier runs, the more opportunities airborne allergens have to pass through the filter and be captured. Which is why it’s also important to find a purifier that’s energy efficient, so that running it 24/7 isn’t hurting your electricity bill.
Prevent Fall Allergens at Home With Alen Air Purifiers
Don’t just treat allergies, prevent them! Our BreatheSmart lineup gives you plenty of options so you can pick the perfect air purifier for your room size and needs.
The BreatheSmart lineup brings together powerful HEPA filtration, whisper-quiet operation, and Alen’s Forever Guarantee.
Our HEPA filters are designed to capture airborne allergens like pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold spores, while quiet operation makes it easy to keep your purifier running while you work, relax, or sleep. And with Alen’s Forever Guarantee, you have lifetime-term coverage for your purifier when you maintain an active filter subscription.
| Alen Air Purifier | Best For | Room Coverage | CADR | Noise Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BreatheSmart 25i | Bedrooms, offices & smaller spaces | 400 to 800 sq. ft. | 107 | 20–40 dB |
| BreatheSmart 35i | Medium bedrooms, home offices & living spaces | 700 to 1,400 sq ft | 190 | 23–42 dB |
| BreatheSmart 45i | Larger bedrooms, living rooms & open spaces | 950 to 1,900 sq ft | 255 | 24–50 dB |
| BreatheSmart 75i | Large, open spaces | 1,400 to 2,800 sq ft | 375 | 25–51 dB |
What Alen’s Certifications Mean for You
When you’re comparing air purifiers, there are a lot of performance claims to sort through. Independent certifications can make that easier by showing you where a product has been tested against established standards. Alen air purifiers are the most awarded on the market today, including awards and certifications from:
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
- SleepScore
- ENERGY STAR®
- California Air Resources Board (CARB)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Quiet Mark
- Consumer Reports
Our Alen BreatheSmart air purifiers are Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly®, which means they’ve been independently tested to show they can reduce airborne allergens, so you can feel more confident about the air in your home.
Our BreatheSmart 75i, 35i, and 25i purifiers also have ENERGY STAR® certification, California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification, and ETL certification. That means these models meet established standards for energy efficiency, and comply with California’s strict requirements for ozone emissions and electrical safety.
And of course, nobody wants a noisy air purifier. That’s why we wanted to double and triple-check that Alen models are whisper-quiet. And Quiet Mark certification verified this: Alen air purifiers 25i, 35i, and 75i rank among the quietest 20% of air purifiers on the market.
We’re pretty proud of our certifications, and we hope they give you even more confidence as you are shopping for your air purifier.
Take it From Other Alen Air Purifier Users…
We're always excited when our customers tell us that we've helped them. If you go to Alen.com, you’ll find lots of reviews talking about how Alen purifiers have helped with all sorts of problems, from dust to pollen to allergies.
“Quiet and very efficient. It was shocking to see how much dust it collected.” —Jeff, a verified buyer of Alen BreatheSmart Air Purifiers
"I have asthma. I went from using my emergency inhaler daily to once monthly due to this air purifier!! I feel better, sleep better and have lots more energy! I love it so much, I bought a second one for the rest of the house. Thank you!” –M., a verified buyer of Alen BreatheSmart Air Purifiers
“Fast shipping. Overall great customer service and product to help breathe fresh air!” —N., a verified buyer of Alen BreatheSmart Air Purifiers
Your Fall Allergy Home Checklist
Fall should still feel like fall. We want you to enjoy those pumpkin spice lattes and crisp autumn walks, without the runny nose or itchy eyes. And a little preparation can help you enjoy more of it.
Before peak fall allergy season settles in:
- Check local pollen conditions before spending long periods outside.
- Keep windows closed when pollen levels are high.
- Remove your shoes at the door.
- Change your clothes after extended outdoor activity.
- Shower before bed when pollen exposure has been heavy.
- Wipe down pets after walks through grass, weeds, or leaves.
- Wash your bedding regularly.
- Vacuum and damp-dust to remove settled particles.
- Make sure your HVAC filter is appropriate for your system and replace it as recommended.
- Use a properly sized HEPA air purifier for allergies in the rooms where you spend the most time.
- Check your purifier filter regularly and replace it on schedule.
With smart routines and the right filtration for your space, you can reduce airborne allergen exposure and create cleaner, more comfortable air throughout your home.
Ready to prepare your home for fall allergy season? Explore Alen air purifiers for allergies.
