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

By Limowreck

Rate: (5 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!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Leaves
  • Plastic Lawn Bags

Step1
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.
Step2
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.
Step3
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.
Step4
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.

Tips & Warnings

  • In windy areas, you may wish to anchor your bags by putting rocks in them.
  • Do not place your bagged-leaf insulation near open flame, ignition, or any fire hazard.

Resources

Comments

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projectmgr

projectmgr said

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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.

Meri

Meri said

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on 7/10/2008 Of course, if you live in the desert... this may not work for you [no trees]...hehe

Meri

Meri said

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on 7/10/2008 I witness that it works! Snug them up to the foundation. Then, in the spring toss the bags...

sexychef

sexychef said

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on 7/1/2008 What an interesting idea. *****

Hapworth

Hapworth said

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on 7/1/2008 New England ingenuity!

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

eHow Member: Limowreck

Limowreck

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Category: Home & Garden

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