How Choosing Independently Certified HVAC Filters Can Reduce Allergens and Support Healthier Indoor Environments
May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, designated by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) since 1984 to raise awareness about the wide impact of asthma and allergies and highlight the importance of diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of these conditions. With more than 106 million Americans affected by asthma and allergies, and with symptoms often peaking during spring, this is a meaningful moment to consider how our indoor environments shape day-to-day wellbeing.
May is also National Clean Air Month, established to highlight the dangers of air pollution and the importance of clean air. Together, these two observances draw attention to something easy to overlook: on average, we breathe around 2,000 gallons of air each day, and most of it is indoors, where pollutant levels can be two to five times higher than outdoor air. Climate change is compounding these challenges by lengthening allergy seasons, raising pollen counts, and increasing common asthma triggers. For vulnerable populations especially, the need to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) has never been more relevant.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems and filters can play a vital role in improving IAQ by removing airborne contaminants such as pollen, dust mite allergen, and pet dander. In this article, we explore how HVAC filters contribute to cleaner indoor air, why independent certification matters, and introduce our Certified partners Kleenex® Air Filters from Kimberly-Clark and Filtrete™ Air Filters from 3M.
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters
IAQ is a fundamental factor in creating a healthy living space, especially for people with asthma or allergies. Pollutants such as pollen, dust mite allergen, pet dander, and mold spores can accumulate indoors and become airborne within the breathing zone, leading to respiratory issues and exacerbating symptoms for those with sensitivities. Poor IAQ has been linked to a range of health concerns, including asthma, allergic reactions, and long-term respiratory conditions.
In many homes, HVAC systems are the primary means of circulating air. However, these systems can also distribute allergens and other harmful particles throughout the home if they are not equipped with effective filtration. This makes the choice of HVAC filter a crucial part of managing and improving indoor air quality.
How HVAC Filters Improve Indoor Air Quality
HVAC filters are designed to trap and remove a variety of airborne contaminants, including allergens like pollen, dust mite allergen, and pet dander. By preventing these particles from recirculating throughout your home, HVAC filters reduce common asthma and allergy triggers.
In addition to allergen removal, managing indoor humidity is another important factor in reducing common asthma and allergy triggers. Maintaining indoor relative humidity (RH) between 40% and 50% helps limit mold growth and dust mite allergen levels. While air conditioning can reduce humidity as a side effect of cooling, homes in humid climates may also benefit from dedicated humidity control equipment.
Choosing Independently Tested and Validated HVAC Filters
When selecting a filter for your HVAC system, it is important to choose one that has been independently tested and validated for its effectiveness in improving IAQ. The Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program provides this assurance. Products that receive this certification have undergone rigorous testing to meet strict criteria for reducing allergens and supporting better air quality in the home.
Certified HVAC and furnace filters are tested across the following areas:
Allergen and Particle Removal: Filters are challenged in a test duct containing dust with common allergens. To achieve certification, filters must meet the following minimum performance levels: remove at least 95% of pollen particles, remove at least 92.5% of house dust mite allergen particles, remove at least 85% of cat allergen particles, and remove at least 40% of micro-particles. Micro-particles (smaller than 1.0 microns) are of particular concern because they can penetrate deep into the lungs.
Loaded Performance Testing: Filters are tested to ensure consistent performance over time. As dust accumulates on a filter, its effectiveness can decrease, and the HVAC system may have to work harder to push air through the clogged filter. To achieve certification, the filter’s efficiency must not drop by more than 20% when it becomes loaded with dust.
Seal Integrity Testing: To ensure clean air is passing through the filter rather than around it, the filter media is covered with an impermeable barrier and air is forced toward the filter to check for leaks. Air bypassing the filter must remain below 10% within 30 seconds.
The Importance of Certification
Choosing an independently tested and validated HVAC filter, such as those Certified by the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, provides peace of mind that you are making an informed decision for your home’s air quality.
Terms like “hypoallergenic” are often used as marketing tools, but they are largely unregulated and can be misleading. Manufacturers are free to use the term without needing to prove their claims. This is where third-party certification becomes invaluable. Independent certifications, such as the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, go beyond marketing claims by subjecting products to scientifically rigorous testing against published standards.
This certification is more than just a label. It indicates that the product has met stringent standards for allergen reduction, performance in real-world conditions, and overall effectiveness in improving indoor air quality.
Our Certified Partners: Kleenex® Air Filters and Filtrete™
We are proud to work with Kleenex® Air Filters from Kimberly-Clark and Filtrete™ Air Filters from 3M as Certified partners in the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program.
Kleenex Air Filters: Kleenex Air Filters joined the Certification Program in February 2025, bringing one of America’s most trusted household names into the family of Certified HVAC filters. On achieving the certification, Sharnell Weathersby, Associate Director of New Categories at Kimberly-Clark, said:
“Kleenex is already a household name dedicated to life’s moments, and with the addition of the new Kleenex Air Filters we support a healthier indoor environment for your home and family. We are especially proud of the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® certification that helps demonstrate our commitment to quality and helping improve indoor air quality.”
Since joining the program, Kimberly-Clark has continued to extend the reach of Kleenex Air Filters through initiatives that bring cleaner indoor air to homes and communities across the country, reinforcing the brand’s long-standing commitment to family wellbeing.
Filtrete: A trusted name in air filtration, Filtrete™ has been part of the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program for 12 years, making it one of the program’s longest-standing partners. With a strong reputation for quality and innovation, Filtrete™ offers a range of filters that meet the rigorous standards of the program. The 3M brand promise of “Science Applied to Life” is mirrored in our shared commitment to science, innovation, and consumer trust. Over the years, Filtrete™ has expanded its product range to include multiple Certified air filters designed to improve indoor air quality in homes nationwide.
Conclusion
Indoor air quality is a fundamental aspect of maintaining a healthy home environment, particularly for those with asthma and allergies. HVAC filters play a significant role in improving IAQ by reducing allergens and micro-particles, and by helping to ensure that the air circulating through our homes is genuinely cleaner, not just moved around.
By choosing independently tested and validated products, such as those Certified by the Asthma & Allergy Friendly®Certification Program, you can be confident that your HVAC system is supporting a healthier indoor environment for you and your family.
As we observe Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month alongside National Clean Air Month, we encourage you to explore Certified HVAC filters from trusted brands like Kleenex® Air Filters and Filtrete™, and to take proactive steps toward better indoor air at home.