Compost Temperature Logger
Track windrow/pile temperatures against the 55°C pathogen-kill window (PFRP) — per-pile trends, turn scheduling and compliance records.
Pile / windrows
Log a temperature reading
Field guide: Compost Temperature Logger
Composting is fermentation with a paper trail: to legally call the output pathogen-safe (US EPA's PFRP — Process to Further Reduce Pathogens — and the equivalent expectations in most jurisdictions), a windrow must hold 55°C or hotter for 15 days with at least five turnings; static aerated piles need 3 days at 55°C. The thermometer log is the entire proof, and this logger structures it per pile: daily core readings flagged against the 55–70°C band, edge readings for uniformity, and the turn dates in notes.
The 70°C ceiling matters as much as the floor: past it, the thermophilic microbes doing the work start dying, the pile goes anaerobic and stinks, and (dry enough) spontaneous combustion stops being theoretical. A pile that won't reach 55 is diagnosable from this log too — the moisture squeeze-test field plus temperature trend separates 'too wet' (soggy, cool, smelly) from 'too dry' (won't heat) from 'too small/carbon-starved' (heats briefly, fades).
Field tips
- Probe 30–60 cm into the core at marked spots, same spots every day — surface temps are weather, core temps are biology.
- Log every turning in the note; PFRP for windrows counts 15 qualifying days WITH five turns, and inspectors check both.
- A sudden temperature drop right after rain is moisture flooding the airspace — turn it; a slow fade over days is the carbon running out.
Records are stored only in this browser (localStorage) — export regularly. This tool aids field documentation; it does not replace your agency's official inspection procedures or engineering judgment.
Compost Temperature Logger — Track windrow/pile temperatures against the 55°C pathogen-kill window (PFRP) — per-pile trends, turn scheduling and compliance records. Free, offline-first and GPS-aware: open it on any phone, log in seconds, and hand your GIS team clean GeoJSON.
About Compost Temperature Logger
Composting is fermentation with a paper trail: to legally call the output pathogen-safe (US EPA's PFRP — Process to Further Reduce Pathogens — and the equivalent expectations in most jurisdictions), a windrow must hold 55°C or hotter for 15 days with at least five turnings; static aerated piles need 3 days at 55°C. The thermometer log is the entire proof, and this logger structures it per pile: daily core readings flagged against the 55–70°C band, edge readings for uniformity, and the turn dates in notes.
How to use Compost Temperature Logger
- 1Set up each monitoring site once with its location and GPS pin.
- 2Enter readings as you take them — limits for this medium are pre-configured from the cited standard.
- 3Exceedances are flagged instantly and the compliance rate updates as you log.
- 4Export the period's readings and exceedance report for your compliance file.
Why use Compost Temperature Logger?
- ✓100% free, no sign-up — built for crews, not per-seat licences
- ✓Offline-first: records save to your device instantly and survive dead zones
- ✓One-tap GPS tagging with accuracy capture on every record
- ✓Exports CSV for asset systems, GeoJSON for GIS, and print-ready reports
- ✓Checklist and guidance aligned with US EPA 40 CFR 503 Appendix B
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does PFRP require?+
For windrow composting: maintain ≥55°C (131°F) for at least 15 days (not necessarily consecutive), turning at least 5 times during that period so all material cycles through the hot core. Aerated static piles and in-vessel: ≥55°C for 3 consecutive days. The daily log with turn dates is the compliance evidence — exactly what this tool exports.
Why won't my pile heat up?+
The big four, in order of frequency: too dry (below ~40% — microbes need film water), too wet (above ~60% — water displaces oxygen), too small (under ~1 m³ can't self-insulate), or carbon/nitrogen imbalance (C:N far from ~25–30:1; all browns won't fire, all greens go ammonia). The temperature-plus-moisture trend in this log usually names the culprit.
Is a pile over 70°C a problem?+
Yes — three ways. The beneficial thermophiles die back (slowing the process you're maximizing), excess heat drives ammonia loss (your nitrogen leaving as smell), and dry material at 80°C+ approaches the spontaneous-combustion pathway that destroys mulch yards. Turn it, water if dry, and consider smaller windrows.
How do home composters use this versus commercial sites?+
Same physics, different stakes: home piles hitting 55–65°C kill weed seeds and most pathogens and finish in weeks instead of a year — the log shows whether yours ever actually got there (most never do; that's why home compost has weeds). Commercial/regulated sites need the records for permits; homesteaders need them for honesty.
Embed Compost Temperature Logger on your website
Want Compost Temperature Loggeron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
<iframe src="https://tooljolt.com/tools/compost-temperature-logger" width="100%" height="640" style="border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;max-width:680px" title="Compost Temperature Logger — ToolJolt" loading="lazy"></iframe>Related GIS tools
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