Interactive Troubleshooting Diagnoser
Answer a few questions about your pile and the diagnostician walks the decision tree to a likely cause and fix. It's based on the decision tree — the written chapter has the full detail for each step.
What is your pile doing?
It's not heating at all Cold to the touch, little change after weeks It heated, then stalled Was warm, now cool again before expected finish It heats fine but smells bad Sour, rotten, ammonia, or "that smell" It's fine on heat but too wet / too dry Squeeze test concerns, or visible puddles Flies, rodents, or maggots Vector trouble around the pile It seems too hot (80 °C+) or smoking Heat beyond comfort or smoke visible It looks fine but never finishes Months later, still woody / unchanged
Squeeze a handful. What does it feel like?
Crumbles, no dampness Too dry (likely) Drips water when squeezed Too wet (oxygen starvation) Damp, holds shape, no drip Moisture is fine — go to chemistry
What's the recipe / C:N story?
Mostly browns (straw, chips, leaves) Likely C:N far above 40:1 — nitrogen-starved Mostly greens (manure, food scraps) Likely too wet / N-rich — oxygen or ammonia problem Mixed, balanced (25–40:1) Then size or age may be the issue
When it stalled, what did it look/smell like?
Dry inside, powdery Heat dried it out — most common stall Moist but no reheat after turning Likely nitrogen ran out — food is gone Wet, soggy, sour-smelling Structure collapsed — anaerobic
What kind of smell?
Sour / rotten eggs / vomit Anaerobic decomposition Ammonia / sharp stinging Too much nitrogen, volatilizing Only at turning, earthy otherwise Normal-ish; or minor pockets
Which is it?
Too wet Soggy, puddled, anaerobic prom Too dry Crumbly, dusty, stalled
Where are the pests?
Flies / maggots in the pile Usually fresh food scraps exposed Rodents / repeated wildlife Meat/dairy or unmanageable scraps
How hot really?
Very hot (70–90 °C), no smoke Overheating, enzyme risk Smoke, ash, or internal glow Internal combustion — act now
What exactly is unfinished?
Woody bits still intact Normal for chips — screen & reuse Whole pile cool, barely changed Passive pile scenario — no managed heat ever