How concerned should I be about this white mold?

[Llilith]

We just had a cord of wood delivered and there is alot of white mold (or fungi, I'm not sure). It is a mix of alder and maple. How concerned should I be?

 

[johneh]

I guess if white mold is bad I would have died some 50 years ago
Normally it is a by-product of wood decomposition it dies off as wood drys
in most cases

 

[stoveliker]

I'd not be too concerned about the mold, but if you have people that are sensitive to mold in the home, leave it outside, covered and off the ground, and bring in one load at a time that you put in the stove right away.

It is a sign though that the wood was.wet a long time . likely piled on the ground. It is likely not dry enough to burn...

 

[Llilith]

Thank you both for responding. I do have mold allergies so I suppose I shouldn't bring it in the house. My moisture tester needs new batteries and I'll be able to check the moisture tomorrow. I'm pretty bummed my husband accepted this, but I want to make sure I'm not making a big deal out of nothing. If this is normal, then ok. Is this to pretty common? I feel terrible cause he stacked it all and now I'm like nope... Maybe it's much ado about nothing?

 

[stoveliker]

Split a few pieces tomorrow and measure. Get the data before getting too harsh on your husband

 

[Llilith]

good advice! thank you. If it is good and dry, do you think that the mold is dead and not harmful?

 

[begreen]

Alder decays quickly, especially if damp and on the ground. Check to make sure the wood is not punky by resplitting a few. If it is still hard and solid then it's ok to burn. If the wood is mushy and soft, even though dry, I'd leave it out on the ground to return to nature. Punky alder burns very smokey and tends to smolder. I used to use it in my bee hive smoker.

 

[Llilith]

Thanks. I also have an update - the seller is coming back to replace the moldy pieces. We sorted it out and 85% was moldy.