What winter does
Salt Lake City averages about 60 inches of snow a season, falling roughly November 6 to April 18, and Spanish Fork about 66 inches. A stack in a yard collects snow on top, drifts at the sides, and meltwater at the bottom. That water soaks into the wood.
Four rules
- Keep the stack off the ground: stand it on spacers so air passes underneath.
- Cover the top: a tarp or a roof stops the biggest load of snow.
- Let air move: even slight air velocity of a few feet per second helps prevent mold.
- Do not seal it: a tight wrap traps water inside.
Heat does not cure it
Pallet Enterprise notes that heat-treated pallets loaded into trailer vans while still hot are susceptible to mold; heat treatment does not make wood immune. So the stamp is no substitute for dry storage.
| Sign | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| White or green fuzz | Active mold | Keep apart from food freight |
| Dark staining | Old moisture | Check stringers for softness |
| Heavy, cold feel | Wet wood | Dry before use |
| Frozen to the ground | Meltwater refreeze | Free carefully, do not pry at stringers |
If you are buying
Ask how a stack was kept. For food, ask for stock kept dry; see food plant pallets. If you are clearing a wet pile, say so in the request, because wet stock loses value; what used pallets are worth explains.
Does cold hurt pallets?
Cold alone does little. Water, then freeze and thaw cycles, do the damage.
How do I measure moisture?
A pin-type wood moisture meter reads it; a damp feel and weight are the quick signs.
Send a description of the pile through the quote form.
A winter checklist for a yard stack
- Walk the stack after each storm and clear the roof snow.
- Check that spacers still hold the bottom pallets off wet ground.
- Look for ice bonding pallets together at the edges.
- Re-tarp where wind has lifted a cover.
- Rotate the oldest stock out first.
Telling a buyer what you did
If you are selling or clearing stock that stood outside, say how long and how it was covered. Dry-covered stock reads as a good yard; uncovered stock reads as a risk, and honesty helps both sides. The difference between a stack under a roof and one under a tarp can be the difference between a buyer taking it and walking away.
Should I wrap a stack in plastic?
Not tightly. A sealed wrap traps water inside; use a cover that lets air move.
Is snow on top a problem?
It melts into the wood. Keep the top covered and brush off snow after storms.
How can I tell if a stack has gone bad?
Look for white or green fuzz, dark staining, soft stringers or a cold, heavy feel.