Overheatedcompostpiles will likely kill many of these beneficial creatures. High temperatures are necessary to destroy pathogens and weed seeds in compostpiles. Compostpiles can get too hot due to a few key factors. Excessive nitrogen materials in the compost can lead to overheating. Your compostpile never gets a chance to cool down overnight. The combination of mild weather and active decomposition creates perfect conditions for overheating. If we know our overheatingcompost is due to excessive air space, we can compress the pile a little, reducing the insulation and increasing the mass of the pile. 2. Is Your Pile in Direct, Full Sun? Compostpiles need some sun, but too much will contribute to overheating in most climates. "Hot Composting" is a method to quickly compost by utilizing microbes within the pile. By turning it at regular intervals you can have compost in a month. Cooling an OverheatedCompostPile. When temperatures exceed 160°F, beneficial microbes begin to die off. Turn the pile immediately to release excess heat and add brown materials like... Meat and dairy: Meat, bones, fats and dairy can overheat the compostpile and create stinky compost that attracts animals. These fire cases are not common even in the case of overheatedpiles. If you have sufficient moisture in a pile, it doesn’t matter how hot it gets; it is still safe for composting. To maintain a hot compostpile, monitor soil temperature and moisture, and turn regularly. Add materials that are close to balanced, such as grass clippings and coffee grounds. ...be unable to maintain internally-generated composting temperatures of 120-140 deg F. Additional water is needed for evaporative cooling to prevent the compostpile from overheating. What Causes OverheatedCompostPiles? Overheatedcompostpiles can be caused by: Dry material: Dry compost doesn’t conduct heat well, which can lead to hot spots. The same phenomenon that causes overheatedcompostpiles to spontaneously combust has been causing fires in sushi restaurants. After overheating, the compostingpile will cool to a mesophilic state, requiring the activity of mesophilic microorganisms to return the pile to thermophilic conditions.
