S&H Heating & Air provides lifetime service and support for our customers in Arvada, Highlands Ranch & Lakewood, CO and the greater Denver metro area. Father and son owned and operated for three generations, we recognize the importance of affordable, long-term, and trustworthy solutions to indoor temperature control and air quality. Through exceptional heating and cooling products and dedicated job performance, we answer any challenge with results that satisfy your goals for budget, comfort, and reliability. Contact S&H Heating & Air at (303) 835-3598 for a full range of heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality services, including custom design and installation for new home construction, rooftop replacement, retrofit projects, seasonal maintenance, and prompt repair across Arvada, Highlands Ranch & Lakewood, CO.

Serving Arvada, Highlands Ranch & Lakewood, CO and the greater Denver metro area for 69 years, S&H Heating & Air is first and foremost a family company. Through a more personalized approach, we tailor our recommendations to suit your specific needs and deliver superior rewards throughout the years. Our in-house sheet metal fabrication shop allows us to manage every stage of even complex jobs, guaranteeing top quality materials, no delays, and customization.

As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, we are trained, regularly updated, and knowledgeable in a wide range of award-winning heating and cooling products, which exemplify energy efficiency, innovation, and control. We provide our customers the safest, healthiest, most comfortable and economical indoor comfort system. And when installation and upkeep is handled by our NATE-certified team of professionals, youll enjoy quick turnaround, tidy job sites, and the higher standards of customer service that has earned us a complaint free A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Call (303) 835-3598 for heating and air conditioning services in and around Arvada, Highlands Ranch & Lakewood, CO.

S&H Heating & Air

December 20, 2016

2017/09/22

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816 Flat Top Road, Shady Spring, WV 25918

Anti-Microbial Sanitizing can improve your quality of life by reducing respiratory allergens and pollutants. Read more...

304.763.3821

Our clients and their needs are the driving force of our business.

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Whether its old or new, big or small, our skilled technicians can repair, remove, and/or replace! Customer service is our #1 priority. Read more...

Proudly Serving Southern West Virginia

Call us today and receive a $500.00discount ona new system replacement or $1000.00discount on a new system install!

A word from the owner...

We are large enough to handle all your needs from residential to industrial, but small enough to hear your voice. For example: how many times have you been put on hold and waited weeks for a return call? When you call Heating & Cooling, Incorporated you will reach a voice and we will do everything we can to accommodate you in a timely and professional manner. We will put you first!

Welcome to Heating & Cooling, Incorporated; we want to take this opportunity to thank you for visiting our site and considering us for your HVAC needs.

We make every job a priority! Our philosophy is: APROFESSIONAL APPROACH, EFFICIENT WORK AND GETTING IT DONE ON TIME!

We take pride in and stand behind our work. We realize how important repeat business is to our success. We look forward to working for you and making you a customer for life!

Emergency? We've got it covered! We are available for after hours emergency calls. 304.763.3821

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DENVER -- A Denver judge signed off on a court motion to temporarily shut down a Westminster business with a history of racist and deceptive business practices.

The FOX31 Problem Solvers first investigated Mile High Heating and Cooling in April 2015 after a viewer sent in a tip about racist policies.

Undercover cameras caught an employee explaining the company didn't cold call the Montbello neighborhood because in Mont-Ghetto," which they also called the colored neighborhood," customers dont pay.

While race discrimination is hurtful, its also illegal.

Attorney Genera Cynthia Coffman prompted a larger investigation into the companys alleged deceptive business model.

It is completely unacceptable for businesses to compromise the safety of Colorado consumers, Coffman said. My office will continue to crack down on companies that skirt the law and place Colorado consumers at risk.

According to court documents filed on Aug. 13, the investigation revealed Mile High Heating and Cooling has installed approximately 1,000 HVAC systems in customers homes but refused or failed to obtain necessary building permits to complete the work.

The company is also accused of hiring technicians who were deemed unqualified by their own supervisors. The documents allege the technicians lacked sufficient training to properly install new equipment.

A judge granted a temporary restraining order that bars Mile High Heating and Cooling, as well as its owner, Kevin Dykman, from engaging in any kind of HVAC operations, citing serious concerns about the dangers posed to customers.

Allowing [Dykman and his company] to continue to engage in the HVAC business creates a risk that a consumer would be exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning or that their home would blow up, the court documents say.

The HVAC company has also operated under the names Mountain View Heating and Cooling, and Pikes Peak Heating and Cooling.

Continue reading here:
State shuts down business after Problem Solvers investigation - FOX31 Denver

Peter Pan Dry Cleaners has operated since the 1930s, according to the owner.

Peter Pan Dry Cleaners closes Sept. 2 after operating for decades on the corner of 38th & Grand.

The building changed hands in late July, and the new owner said hes investing in the building and changing the mix of tenants to include a coffeehouse or eatery on the corner.

Peter Pan owner Mary Poutinen said the new rent would be too expensive for her, and shes not interested in a proposal to operate a smaller dry store that would send clothing elsewhere for cleaning.

I wasnt about to stay in business if I didnt have the corner, she said.

Poutinen said she will consider the prospect of a new location after she moves out.

Its possible. But I really want to greet the customers and thank them for their patronage over the years and to do the work until the 2nd, she said.

Poutinen said shes sharing brownies and lemonade on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 12 p.m.-3 p.m. to thank the neighborhood for many years of support.

Tyler Avestini, the new building owner, said hes implementing market-rate rents to cover the cost of the building upkeep.

That building is over 100 years old, its falling apart, he said.

Peter Pans current rent for the 4,000-square-foot space isnt adequate to offset the buildings taxes, insurance and repairs, he said. Avestini said hes fixed a downspout to prevent water damage and next he wants to replace wood siding and install a more efficient heating and cooling system.

Avestini said he plans to subdivide Peter Pans storefront into smaller spaces. Hes interested in a coffeehouse or eatery for the corner, and hes talking to potential tenants like UP Coffee and FireBox Deli. He said he previously considered a franchise like Subway.

To open up a restaurant is really difficult, it takes a lot of money, it takes a lot of effort, and it takes two or three years for it to build up. But when you have a franchise, automatically you open the door, people start coming in, he said.

But his other tenants convinced him the neighborhood would prefer a smaller ma and pa operation, and Avestini said hes fine with that he already hosts Mykonos Coffee & Grill in another of his North Minneapolis buildings.

If I find somebody that can open up a nice restaurant over there or a coffee shop, why not? he said. As long as they can afford to pay the rent, something like that would be fine.

In addition to a caf, Avestini said he expects the building to hold a T-Mobile dealer, vintage clothing store, hair salon, tailor and dry store. (He owns Avestopolis Cleaners in North Minneapolis.) The toy store Kinoko Kids recently opened at 314 W. 38thSt.

Poutinen said founder Sally Swadden opened Peter Pan Dry Cleaners in the 1930s. Poutinenalways wondered if The Walt Disney Company would come around and take issue with the dry cleaners name and Peter Pan cartoon on the sign.

I thought, boy, can she really call it Peter Pan? Poutinen said.

Her fears were alleviated when Disney filmed The Mighty Ducks movie in Minnesota. Peter Pan cleaned jerseys for the shoot, and no one said a word about the name.

I stopped worrying about Disney, she said.

Poutinen started out as a counter girl working part-time. The former owners treated her like family, she said, and suggested that she take over the business. Poutinen said she also considered buying the building long ago, but decided against taking on a mortgage at her age.

The former ownernever adopted perchloroethylene, which the Environmental Protection Agency later deemed a likely human carcinogen and Minneapolis banned in new machine installations.

She wouldnt switch, because she was afraid and she had a good instinct, Poutinen said.

Instead the dry cleaner uses a hydrocarbon cleaning system and has received city recognition for green business practices.

Randy Loyd said hes pressed clothing at Peter Pan for at least 25 years.

Im retired, and I still come over and press just to help her out, he said. Its been here a long time. Its a fixture. I hate to see it go. But you know, everything changes.

Poutinen said although the businesswill close Sept. 2, she will stay onsite for a few extra days to help return clothing to customers.

Youre closing? Thats so sad, a customer said this week.

A staff member accepted the mans clothing.

We have time to get this done, she said.

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Peter Pan Dry Cleaners ends long run at 38th & Grand - Southwest Journal

By John Leggett, On Point Custom Homes

Photo: Courtesy Of On Point Custom Homes

This outdoor oasis features a pool with a fireplace.

This outdoor oasis features a pool with a fireplace.

GHBA Remodelers Council: Dip into coolest design trends for pool remodel

Pool season is in full swing, and in Houston, comfortable pool weather lasts well into the fall and sometimes even the winter. For those seeking to undertake a backyard remodel project - whether adding a pool to complete your relaxing outdoor entertaining space, or upgrading your current pool to include the latest features - here are four of the hottest trends in pool design.

Artificial grass vs. concrete or tile

Concrete and tile are popular materials used in pool-deck design, but unfortunately, these materials can become extremely hot to the touch, making walking around barefoot uncomfortable. To combat this, consider installing artificial grass around your pool instead. Artificial grass does not absorb as much heat as concrete or tile surfaces, making it much more comfortable to touch with bare feet. Additionally, artificial grass reduces the risk of slipping and falling on more slippery surfaces. The texture of artificial grass creates a slip-resistant surface while also eliminating the chance of water puddles accumulating on the surface surrounding the pool. Turf not only has incredible drainage capabilities, but it also adds a pristine aesthetic to your backyard space. There is a wide selection of turf options including multiple colors, textures and heights so you can customize it to your liking.

Cooling water systems

In Houston, heating pool water is almost unnecessary because of the short winter season. However, cooling water systems have become extremely popular in homes located in the South. During the scorching summer months, pool water can feel as warm as bath water, but with a pool chiller, you can lower the water temperature, making the pool more comfortable to swim or lounge. With a variety of pool-chilling systems available, your remodeler can install the equipment easily.

Sophisticated designs

During a remodel, consider adding aesthetically pleasing design features to the pool. Many homeowners enjoy adding luxurious, resort-style elements to enhance that area of the backyard. Some of these elements include cascading waterfalls from a spa or hot tub into the pool, tanning ledges at the water's entrance and fire features to add to the ambience. It's common to find elements like these in resorts or spas, so why not incorporate eye-catching features to transform your abode into a staycation escape?

Pool automation systems

Today you can easily control just about every system in your house, and that includes the pool. Work with your remodeler to install automation systems to control the pool settings, such as lighting, water features, spa jets, heating or cooling options, chemical levels, and more. Most pool and spa control systems will link directly to a smartphone, giving you ease of control.

There are endless options to upgrade or remodel your pool space, and thanks to the Texas heat, there are also endless opportunities for you to enjoy swimming, or simply relaxing poolside.

This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association. The Remodelers Council is dedicated to promoting professionalism and public awareness of the remodeling profession through education, certification and service to the Houston community. For information on this article, contact Lorraine Hart at lorraine@idealconsulting.net. To join the council or to find a professional remodeler in your area, visit http://www.ghba.org.

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GHBA Remodelers Council: Dip into coolest design trends for pool remodel - Chron.com

Do you want a heating and cooling system that keeps your home toasty warm in the winter and cool in the summer? Do you dream of a heating and cooling system that saves up to 50 percent on your utility bills? Do you want to decrease your carbon footprint? A Geothermal heating and cooling system can do all of this. In fact, thousands of homeowners across the country are reaping the benefits that an advanced HVAC offers. Continue reading to learn more about the numerous benefits that this type of system offers.

A geoexchange unit typically saves you up to 50 percent as compared to an oil or gas furnace or a heat pump system. A typical 2000 square foot home can be cooled or heated using a geoexchange unit for as little as a dollar a day. Additionally, geoexchange units can supplement a homes conventional water heater, which can save you as much as 30 percent of your water heating costs.

Geothermal systems only use a small amount of electricity to transfer heat to your home using the thermal heat from the ground. On average, this type of unit will produce four units of energy for every electrical unit needed to power the system. Even the best heating and cooling systems deliver less than one unit of energy for every unit of energy consumed. Homeowners typically receive a 30 to 70 percent savings compared to traditional systems. You can determine how much savings you will reap from a geothermal heating and cooling system by using the savings calculator.

Geothermal systems are listed as the most cost effective, environmentally friendly heating and cooling system by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Installing a geothermal system is equivalent to removing two cars from the road or planting 750 trees.

Geothermal systems cost more to install than a conventional system due to its buried loop system. Some homeowners consider the installation costs of this system to be too expensive. However, they fail to see the whole savings picture. Geothermal systems will net you lower utility bills and annual maintenance costs. The initial cost of a geothermal system can be financed through low interest financing options. The savings received from a geothermal system will easily cover the cost of this payment and give you extra money in your pocket. Within three to five years, the unit will have paid for itself in the savings your reap.

An added bonus of a geothermal system is the ability to produce some or all of the hot water you need at a much higher efficiency than a traditional water heater. When a geothermal system is properly installed, a simple connection will allow the system to deliver hot water to be stored in your hot water tank. Additionally, the heat that is removed from your home when the cooling cycle is run can be deposited into the water heater rather than the ground, providing you with free hot water.

Ordinary heating and cooling systems require routine maintenance of the furnace, air conditions and water heater. When a geothermal system is properly installed, little maintenance except for periodic inspection and filter changes are required. Because the geothermal unit is located indoors and out of the weather, the life expectancy of the equipment is prolonged. Most units will last more than 20 years when properly maintained.

Geothermal heating and cooling systems do not use fossil fuels like propane or natural gas, which means no combustion is needed. You will not need to worry about carbon monoxide, fumes, flames or odors with this system.

Installing the system is quite easy and there are numerous companies that can help you. Just ensure they have all the right training and safety gear to do so. Check to see if theyre wearing work clothes such as these from FROutlet and youll get an idea whether theyre suitable or not.

Geothermal system eliminate hot or cold blasts of air like a conventional system. It also helps to dehumidify the air during the warmer months, resulting in a cool, comfortable home.

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Pros of Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems - Blue & Green Tomorrow

Denver Business Journal

Metro Denver HVAC company ordered to temporarily shut down Denver Business Journal Any company, or even a homeowner, installing HVAC equipment in a residence needs a building permit from the local building department. The process includes an inspection by the building department to ensure safety. Coffman said her office also found ... and more »

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Metro Denver HVAC company ordered to temporarily shut down - Denver Business Journal

Computers generate heat when they are turned on. All the electric energy they receive eventually turns into heat: thats the rules of thermodynamics. And if you pack your IT load in tightly to save space, you have to get rid of that heat, or the whole thing will melt.

Thats a problem. But heat is not a bad thing in itself. We all use heat. Its been humanitys friend for millennia longer than the artificial brains we build in racks. We warm ourselves, we cook food, and enjoy the comfort of hot baths and showers.

Source: Nerdalize

In the data center, heat is a by-product. It is inevitably produced and it has to be removed. The drive to make data centers more efficient is a movement to get more computing out of a given amount of input energy. This means reducing the amount of heat produced if possible, as well as the amount of energy used in getting rid of it.

Even at the highest levels of efficiency imaginable, there is still heat to be expelled. Thats a problem - but some people want to see that problem as an opportunity. Why not treat that heat as a useful output? Why not harness it? The trouble was, data centers arent generally built amongst mass housing. They arent near to potential users of heat: so the heat has to be transported,

Most data centers are cooled by air, and air isnt great for transporting heat. By the time that hot air has been piped somewhere useful, its normally cooled down to a useless temperature. There are exceptions, such as the district heating systems available in some countries - for instance, Stockholm has one, which includes an H&M data center among its heat suppliers. But lets leave those for another time, because theres another, more radical idea for re-using the heat.

If you cant take the heat from the data center to the homes and offices where it could be used, why not take the data center into those places?

Microsoft coined the term data furnace in 2011, to describe a networked processor sitting in a home, providing heating and hot water while performing tasks sent to it by a service provider. A network of these systems could become a distributed data center. Its heat energy would be harnessed,

Its taken a cohort of enthusiastic start ups to begin to put this into practice, Cloud & Heat in Germany puts a rack in the basement of apartment blocks. Qarnot in France puts a heater on the walls of Parisian flats - inside it a processor does financial and image processing work, and the heat gets used in the building.

Edge processing could reconnect data centers with people, feeding our primal need for warmth

In Amsterdam, Nerdalize has a deal with a power utility to install similar units. Its just completed a successful pilot (see picture above). And back in France, Stimergy is heating a swimming pool while performing HPC calculations. These are small outfits, performing niche jobs. But so called edge resources, close to users and devices are necessary.

Edge facilities wont replace centralized data centers, running efficiently on renewable power. Qarnots business model accepts that - the company has had investment from French data center operator Data4 which offers Qarnot processing alongside its own. But its a mighty promising field, and it could lead to data centers reconnecting with people, as part of that resource moves into our homes and feeds our primal need: for friendly warmth.

A version of this article appeared on Verne Globalssite

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Turning heat into a friend - DatacenterDynamics

When people think of smart thermostats, the Nest Learning Thermostatis what typically comes to mind. But shoppers at the hardware store now have choices as a lineup of lesser-known competitors have hit the shelf recently. When the time comes for you to buy a smart thermostat, dont overlook the Ecobee4. With an interesting array of features including a built-in speaker and mic to embed the Amazon Alexavoice assistant into your HVAC controller as well as great temperature control capabilities, this product is literally bringing the heat. Learn what it was like to live with in our Ecobee4 review.

Ecobees latest smart thermostat costs $249 and comes with one remote sensor, though there are more expensive bundles that come with more wireless satellites. You also can buy them separately. These sensors, which can measure temperature, humidity, occupancy, and proximity, may be the smartest thing about the Ecobee, and we highly recommend using more than one. Their ability to gather information in multiple rooms greatly adds to the accuracy and efficiency of this smart thermostat.

For us, installation of the Ecobee4 was relatively painless; thats partly because of our familiarity with the Ecobee3, which has a slightly different footprint on the wall but a similar wiring layout. Whether youre familiar with Ecobee products or not, this model is easy for most people to install.

There are two installation issues worth noting. First, when we originally got the Ecobee3, we opted to have a professional install it because our testing home is heated via an electric heat pump and a gas furnace. The heat pump has a reversing valve, which can complicate thermostat installs. In this instance, however, because the Ecobee3s wiring is similar to the Ecobee4s, we did the installation ourselves. Also, some peoples HVAC wiring may require them to install a Power Extender Kit, and the Ecobee4 comes with one included.

Installing the Ecobee4 included tripping the breaker for the heat pump and the furnace (which also cut the power to the thermostat), removing the old thermostat, and following the colored wire schematics to reinstall the Ecobee4s backplate. The smart thermostat also comes with a trim plate that can conceal any unsightly holes left behind by your previous thermostat. Once the backplate is wired, you simply snap the thermostat onto it, and the device begins to boot up. Software setup is quick and easy, and an app connection to Wi-Fi gets the new thermostat online.

The Ecobee4 is an Android and iOS-compatible thermostat with an integrated color LCD touch display. It has a refined, modern look, but it wouldnt be out of place in more traditional homes. The apps and the thermostats slick touchscreen interface work identically, which is nice, and theres a web dashboard for taking deeper dives on settings and system monitoring.

It has a refined, modern look, but it wouldnt be out of place in more traditional homes.

The big, new feature packed into the device is a microphone and speaker so the thermostat can access Amazons Alexa voice assistant. In repeat and prolonged testing (within earshot of an Amazon Echo speaker, no less), it did its job very well. Despite being situated in a hallway between the kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom, it heard every request sent its way and relayed the response with crisp, clear sound.

The Ecobee4 is a thermostat with a speaker stamped into its backside, but temper your expectations on cranking out high-quality-sounding music. For listening to podcasts, news updates, controlling smart home gear, or asking random questions, however, it works great with two exceptions. First, you cant change its wake word from Alexa (a bummer if youve got a family member with that name). The second is that the voice assistant, oddly, doesnt control the thermostat very well. This isnt necessarily Ecobees fault. These are early days for voice-controlled hardware in general, and asking Alexa to control the lights or other smart home devices is spotty and requires the user to know the exact string of words to ask and even then, theres no guarantees it will do the job. For instance, we can ask Alexa what the temperature is in the bedroom, and the Ecobee4 will link up with the remote sensor and relay the information without a hitch. But if we ask the same question about the kids room, the reply is Kids room doesnt support that.

The Ecobee4 is also Apple HomeKitcompatible, a feature that, in theory, we love. But the reality is that we only had our Ecobee3 connected to it for a matter of weeks before it somehow lost its connection to the home network. We honestly didnt bother connecting the Ecobee4 to it, because if it works as well as it used to (which is about how well the Alexa integration works) theres little point. However, its worth noting that Apple is making changes to HomeKit all the time, and maybe the Ecobee4s iOS compatibility will be a worthwhile feature down the line. We do like this thermostat for the ways that it is future-proofed, even if they dont work particularly well together now.

But the biggest flaw in voice controlling the thermostat is that when the system is off, weve never been able to turn on the cool air (or heat) with our voices. We dont understand why Ecobee or Apple or Amazon havent enabled this, but some of us live in a house with windows, and if the window is open, we dont want the AC on so off is the default position. Maybe someday, connected home sensors will be smart enough to block the cool air from coming on if a window is open, but we are not there yet.

Otherwise, since the Ecobee3 and Ecobee4s interface and systems are identical, we can say in the years that weve used an Ecobee, weve had few complaints. It would be great if the Ecobee4 gave us the ability look at our HVACs performance via the app a minor complaint. Also, theres limited schedule-building capabilities in the app compared to the website. This might seem a minor point, but for those who would like comfort settings tailored to their tastes its a drag to have to go to the website to set that up.

Whether youre using the Ecobee4s schedules or geofencing to regulate your homes heating and cooling, the smart thermostat does a good job of turning systems on or off without an issue, saving energy (and money) if you configure and use it properly. Likewise, as an Alexa-connected device, it hears and responds well, rarely missing a request despite that its microphone and speakers are neatly tucked between the thermostat and the wall.

But the smartest tech baked into this system is the Ecobee4s remote sensors. These battery-operated satellites let you measure the temperature in rooms around your home. From there, you can perform a variety of heating and cooling-related fixes. For example, an obvious use is averaging the temperatures of rooms throughout your home, a function that helps ensure that one area isnt draftier than another. Also, through a follow me feature, the Ecobee4 can adjust your homes temperature based on where you go (so no need to measure the spare bedroom, if youre not spending time there). These two tricks alone make the Ecobee4 a great thermostat for older homes that may not have multi-zoned heating and cooling. With a nod to the voice assistant shortcomings and an eye towards its future maturation, we recommend Ecobee4, even if its big selling point is a bit of a bust. Due largely to its ability to connect with remote sensors, the smart thermostat performs extremely well, offering users an array of features and configurations that can make homes feel warmer and perform better.

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Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat hands-on review - Digital Trends

Q: How do I stop my wood-burning fireplace from smelling like smoke in humid weather? A faint smoke smell would be OK, but this is obnoxious. It seems worse when the air conditioner or even the washer and dryer are running. The smell wafts in from the chimney. We have a glass door installed, but it doesnt help.

A: Chimney smells stink up indoor air when the air pressure is lower indoors than out. Especially in a house built to be fairly airtight, this can happen when a dryer or other exhaust fan runs or if there are leaks in heating and air-conditioning ducts. To equalize the pressure, air moves down the chimney, into your house. Summer conditions add to the problem because the outdoor air is hot and humid, therefore heavier than drier, cooler indoor air.

In theory, closing the damper on your fireplace should stop the airflow where the air picks up the smell. But fireplace dampers often dont seal well. For a better seal, you could have a chimney sweep install a spring-loaded stainless-steel damper at the top of the flue. We called a company that estimated the job at $630.

Or, for $42.99 to $86.99, depending on the chimney width, you could install an inflatable device known as a Chimney Balloon, available at Amazon.com. It has mixed reviews, however, with some buyers reporting it punctures as easily as a water balloon. Filling a hefty plastic bag with insulation and stuffing that into the chimney opening at the base of the fireplace might work just as well and would cost less. Just be sure to remove it before you use the fireplace.

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If closing off the chimney doesnt stop the smell, call a heating and air-conditioning company to assess air balance in your home. It might help to pipe fresh air to combustion appliances, including the dryer if it is gas. Or you might benefit from a heat-recovery ventilator, which could introduce more fresh air in a way that its preheated or precooled so you dont waste energy. Sealing leaks in heating and air-conditioning ducts or balancing the system by adding more openings might also be part of the solution.

Q: Our KitchenAid Superba garbage disposal was installed in January 2011. For the past few months, it has failed to grind up and flush vegetable matter that it previously had no problem with. The blades rotate, chopping up the waste, but the waste does not exit the unit. I called the manufacturer for guidance. I was told to fill the disposal with ice to help with grinding. That helped some, but much of the waste remained in the disposal. Any ideas about why?

A: This is a three-fourths-horsepower model thats still sold. It has a five-year limited warranty that would cover a repair visit to your home if it were still in effect. But the warranty expired about 1 1/2 years ago, a sign that its probably time to replace the unit. The current cost is $279 at Lowes and perhaps even less from other retailers.

If youre reasonably handy, you could probably install a new unit yourself. KitchenAid provides installation instructions that appear straightforward. Lowes could install it for about $120, a spokesman said.

First, you might try repeating the ice trick a couple of times. Disposals sometimes work poorly because of a buildup of grease and other debris. Ice particles whip around in the mechanism and pick up the gunk, helping to clean it.

Also try another cleaning method that the manufacturer suggests in its care manual: With the unit off, place a stopper over the opening and fill the sink halfway with warm water. Mix one-fourth cup baking soda with water and dump it in. Turn on the disposal as you remove the stopper. If youre lucky, the force of the water, plus the bubbling action and grease-cutting properties of baking soda, will help restore the units performance, and eliminate any foul odors. After the sink drains, remove the sink baffle and clean it by hand or in the dishwasher. Replace it before you operate the disposal again.

Continued here:
Stop the fireplace smell from invading your home - The Oakland Press