How to Insulate Your Home with Leaves and Save Money on Heating

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By Limowreck
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Article Rating: (8 Ratings)

As the leaves begin to fall, do you worry about home heating costs? Put those leaves to good use as additional insulation! Leaves can serve as a fantastic insulator for basements and crawlspace drafts. It's an old New England tradition and it saves money bit time!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Leaves
Plastic Lawn Bags

Step 1

Gather Leaves ~ Autumn leaves make great home insulation. You can rake them or collect them by a bagging mower. Either way, collect as many leaves as you can.
Step 2

Dry Them ~ If weather conditions have been moist, your leaves may need to dry in the sun for a day or two. Simply build your leaf pile in a sunny spot. Turn every day to allow for as much drying as possible.
Step 3

Bag the Leaves ~ Fill your plastic lawn bags with the leaves you've gathered. Do not use paper lawn bags as they will break down and compromise your insulation. As you bag the leaves, remove sharp sticks and debris that could poke holes in your bags. Seal the bags by knotting or tying with string.
Step 4

Line them Up ~ Line the perimeter of your home with the bags of leaves. The bags should rest against your house and cover as much space as possible. Once you have covered the entire perimeter of your home, you may continue piling your bags for added insulation.

Comments

psychonurse said

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on 11/2/2008 This DOES work!I've raked 19 barrels of leaves, so far! (I try to look@ itlike it's a good work-out) Be sure that the bags cover the foundation--AND the areapast where the concrete meets the shingles.VERY GREEN of you, limowreck
5 stars!

Limowreck said

on 10/12/2008 Fletchny.. I would recommend bagging the leaves. A Large part of the insulating value of bagged leaves lies in the air trapped in the bag with the leaves. Leaves exposed to the elements will travel, decompose, make a mess, allow wind to pass through. MOST IMPORTANTLY... unbagged leaved will get wet and grow mold and fungus. The leaves will then trap that mold against your home. The combination of moisture and mold WILL damage your house and can spread disease. Also, that loose debris will make an attractive home for animals.

Fletchny said

on 10/12/2008 Do you have to bag them? What's the down side to piling the loose leaf against the house and removing in the spring? Other then them blowing around...

projectmgr said

on 8/13/2008 This does work and is very inexpensive. Better check with your house insurance agent though to see if fire damage is covered using this highly flammable method of insulating.