Yavapai County Contractors Association (YCCA) is a professional association representing licensed, bonded and insured contractors, suppliers, distributors and business entities.  Welcome to our “ASK THE CONTRACTOR” column, your local referral source for all of your construction, building, sustainability and basic technology needs.  YCCA is pleased to be able to answer your questions and assist you in obtaining information from local reliable companies and business owners.  Thanks for taking the time to stop by our column. YCCA looks forward to hearing from you.  Contact YCCA for more information on hiring a contractor.
(928) 778-0040 or ycca@cableone.net.

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Appliances top
Are there rebates for gas-fired equipment?
- 325
Cleaning Dryer Vent
- 81
Dryer Taking Too Long To Dry
- 83
Dryer Won’t Dry
- 94
Is there a difference with dish washer products?
- 73
Should I buy a front-loading washer?
- 387
Should you unplug your refrigerator?
- 100
Attic Fans top
Do attic fans save electricity?
- 1185
Blue Stake top
Do I have to call for a Blue Stake?
- 133
I heard that I need to register with Blue Stake
- 115
What is Blue Stake?
- 104
Celing Fans top
Do ceiling fans keep rooms cooler?
- 537
What direction should my ceiling fan spin?
- 994
Cost vs. Value top
What are some percentages of value recouped for remodeling projects?
- 480
Counter Tops top
How do I care for my granite countertops?
- 504
Did You Know - General Helpful Little Tips top
Did You Know? General Helpful Little Tips - Part 1
- 427
Did You Know? General Helpful Little Tips - Part 2
- 416
Did you Know? General Helpful Little Tips - Part 3
- 456
Did you Know? General Helpful Little Tips - Part 4
- 411
Did you Know? General Helpful Little Tips - Part 5
- 395
Did you Know? General Helpful Little Tips - Part 6
- 339
Did you Know? General Helpful Little Tips - Part 7
- 312
Did you Know? General Helpful Little Tips - Part 8
- 290
Drainage top
What are issues of water entering my basement?
- 298
Driveway Materials top
Are paver driveways durable?
- 496
What type of driveway material should I use?
- 506
What type of driveway material should I use? - Part II
- 485
Drywall top
Are our drywall issues caused by cold wet weather?
- 542
Paperless Drywall
- 769
Electrical top
Can you install dimmer switches on halogen lights?
- 203
CLF light Bulbs
- 68
Closet light does not work
- 65
Do GFCI outlets ever wear out? How can I tell if they're working?
- 854
Do light bulbs save energy?
- 69
Flickering light issue
- 81
How do you know if you home electrical should be upgraded?
- 592
How important is it to have a whole house surge protector?
- 475
Possible Causes of Lights Not Working
- 380
Energy Audits top
Energy Audir on a Two Year Old Home?
- 101
Unisource Energy Audit vs. the APS energy Audit?
- 154
What is an Energy Audit & how do we get one?
- 61
What is an Energy Audit?
- 104
Energy Rebates top
Are there any green energy rebate plans for trees?
- 259
Energy Saving Tips top
Tips to make a home energy efficient for the winter.
- 251
I have heard of something called a Powershift plan.. What is that?
- 341
What are some easy things to do to help save money with my heating bill?
- 460
Will I really save money if I clean the back of my refrigerator?
- 488
Evaporative Coolers top
How to tune up your evap cooler.
- 402
Expansive Soils top
Why should I obtain a soils report?
- 70
Exterior Decking top
What is the difference between conventional wood and GREEN decking materials?
- 508
Exterior Doors top
What should I consider when buying a new front door?
- 575
Fire Prevention Tips top
Easy Tips To Prevent Home Fires
- 77
Fireplaces top
We want to install a fireplace and are so confused about the tax credits
- 367
Flood Control top
How do I Know if my Property is in a Flood Plain?
- 1208
Flooring top
How to remove glue from indoor/outdoor carpet
- 86
Acid stain concrete is peeling
- 90
How to Remove Nail Polish from Hardwood
- 2153
Is there a way to get the stain out, or must I replace the tile?
- 391
Pros and cons of cork flooring
- 94
Should you Replace Your Carpet?
- 254
We cleaned our grout with vinegar and it changed the color?
- 96
What if your carpet has wrinkles?
- 303
What is the tile PEI rating?
- 667
What to do if you have silver nitrate on your carpet
- 303
What type of new flooring do you recommend?
- 398
Foundation top
Do I have a foundation problem?
- 545
Glass / Glazing top
What locations in a home require tempured glass?
- 489
Grab Bars top
What size grab bars should I use in my bathroom?
- 512
Granite Countertops top
Are granite countertops safe?
- 562
How to decide if you should install granite?
- 428
Green Building top
Green Building Products
- 264
Reduce your Carbon Footprint Calculator
- 78
Top Ten Green Building List
- 304
Gutters top
Why homes should have gutters?
- 549
Hard Water top
Should I purchase a water softener and what exactly is hard water?
- 410
Hiring a Contractor top
Be Cautious Of
- 72
10 Ounces of Prevention and More When Hiring a Contractor
- 69
A Licensed Contractor can Protect You......
- 408
Before you hire read this
- 78
Contract Requirements
- 75
Contractor Hiring Tips
- 270
Hiring Licensed vs. Unlicensed Contractors
- 512
Low Bids vs High Bids
- 514
Questions to ask Every Contractor
- 357
Red flags to watch for when hiring a contractor
- 97
The 'Unlicensed' Contractor
- 292
Verify the Credentials of Any Contractor
- 224
What should be included in a contract?
- 515
What type of contractor do I need?
- 530
HVAC Systems top
How do I know if my A/C system is the right size for energy efficiency?
- 497
How long does an average A/C system last?
- 825
Is an air cleaner a good investment?
- 71
Should I close the air conditioner registers in unused rooms to save energy?
- 2104
Should thermostats be turned up every time you leave the house?
- 348
What are Geothermal Heat Pumps
- 192
What can I do to maintain my HVAC system between annual tune-ups?
- 447
What is the best filter to use for allergy problems?
- 449
Insulation top
I want to use spray foam in our new home. What are your thoughts?
- 69
Interior Design top
Easiest & Least Expensive way to change?
- 327
What items in my home should I remodel based upon my budget?
- 454
Interior Toxicity top
Household Pest Control
- 268
How do you detoxify the interior a new home?
- 424
How to eliminate skunk odor?
- 305
Landscaping top
Can you recommend low-water plants that are colorful?
- 471
Clay Soil
- 588
Edging vs. Curbing
- 370
How can I make Compost?
- 306
Should I trim my roses now?
- 450
What are some signs and symptoms for ornamental diseases?
- 259
What can I plant in my yard to make it look better through the winter months?
- 512
What do the terms 'water wise plants' and 'Xeriscape' mean?
- 467
Latent Defects top
Can we get the stucco repaired by the original contractor?
- 1249
Liens / Pre-Liens top
Preliminary 20-Day Notices
- 98
Lighting top
Can you install dimmer switches on halogen lights?
- 69
CLF light Bulbs
- 69
Closet light does not work
- 88
Do light bulbs save energy?
- 76
Flickering light issue
- 64
Possible Causes of Lights Not Working
- 59
What is the difference between CLF bulbs and Incandescent bulbs?
- 61
Log Homes top
Fireplace in our log home?
- 115
Is a log home energy efficient?
- 100
Miscellaneous Issues top
Color of Hard Hats
- 522
How do I open a double-hung window that’s painted shut?
- 526
How do I select the right nails for the job?
- 334
Mold / Asbestos top
How can I tell if I have a mold problem?
- 350
I found a mold problem. How should it be addressed?
- 409
I have a black discoloration on my linoleom floor. Is this mold?
- 672
What to do if you have dark spots behind pictures
- 74
What's causing these blacks spots in my bathroom?
- 521
Why do I need to check for asbestos and get a NESHAP permit?
- 449
Painting top
Can we paint over non-green paint?
- 196
Can we paint over oil base paint with acrylic?
- 103
Difference between latex and oil paints when using “green paint”?
- 198
How do I open a double-hung window that’s painted shut?
- 462
What are VOCs in paint?
- 227
What is elastomeric paint?
- 475
What is Green Paint?
- 225
Who can help me select the proper colors for the interior of my home?
- 388
Pavers top
How durable are paver driveways?
- 485
How to remove a grease stain
- 72
Is it ok to install a paver patio in the winter?
- 264
Should I wait for spring before having a paver driveway installed?
- 393
What are permeable pavers?
- 408
Permits / City of Prescott top
Items not Requiring a Permit
- 139
Items Requiring a Permit
- 199
Pest Control top
How do I keep scorpions away from my home?
- 636
How to eliminate skunk odor?
- 444
How to select a pest-control company or do-it-yourself
- 270
What is a natural way to eliminate pests in closets?
- 433
Plumbing top
Can a toilet tank leak be repaired?
- 466
City's backwater valve letter causes quite a flap - Updated Feb 16
- 502
Cold Water Coming from Hot Water Faucet
- 260
Defective Water Heater?
- 135
Groaning Pipes
- 1075
How does a dual flush toilet work, and what are the benefits?
- 701
Our water heater seems to be on the way out.
- 380
Phantom Flushing Toilets
- 315
Plumbing Maintenance Tips
- 305
Replaced Shower Head Causes Water Pressure to Drop
- 231
Sink Back Up Issue
- 150
Think twice before flushing tissues down the drain.
- 402
We are considering buying a tankless water heater.
- 378
What are the biggest water wasters?
- 386
What are your recommendations to unplug a drain?
- 234
What exactly is a “Green Plumber?”
- 395
What is Polybutylene Piping?
- 136
What is the difference between a backwater valve and backflow prevention?
- 1056
Propane top
How far should a propane tank be placed?
- 883
I hear a hissing noise from my propane tank, what is this?
- 2049
Is there any secret to the color of propane tanks?
- 451
Pull-Out Shelving top
Can pull out shelves be added to my existing cabinets?
- 497
Roofing top
Do you recommend sealing the membrane on the perimeter of the roof?
- 425
How often should I have my roof inspected?
- 783
How often should roofs be replaced?
- 517
What are ice dams and how can they be prevented?
- 410
What are Prevention Measures to Take on our Roof for Winter?
- 226
What are the benefits of a tile roof?
- 74
What is the best color shingle to use for energy savings?
- 667
What is the most “Green” type of roofing material?
- 453
Will a new roof increase your tax assessment?
- 104
Septic Tanks top
Does my system need to be pumped?
- 340
Homeowner's Manual - Septic Systems 101
- 300
How often should I pump my septic tank?
- 665
Sometimes I get a backup in the tub. Does my system need to be pumped?
- 517
Sewage Ejection Systems top
What is a Sewage Ejection System?
- 1336
Smoke Detectors top
How long to smoke detectors last and how do I know if mine are working?
- 1340
Solar top
Can I still get rebates for a solar water heater?
- 410
How do we determine if solar power is right for us?
- 244
How does orientation of PV solar cells affect their efficiency?
- 492
Leasing
- 68
What are the benefits of solar power?
- 269
Synthetic Turf top
What is the right time and place and how do I get started?
- 386
Tight House top
What exactly does a "Tight House" mean?
- 581
Using Recycled / Green Material top
Can this be Recycled?
- 391
Recycled Glass Countertops
- 680
What are some rules for reusing and purchasing recycled / green material?
- 363
Wall Coverings top
Buying Wall Coverings
- 312
Horizontal or vertical?
- 157
Is wall covering hard to replace?
- 308
Water Heaters top
Hot water recirculation pump does not carry the hot water to faucets.
- 332
What does the rumbling sound of my water heater indicate?
- 474
What is the best setting for longevity of the water heater?
- 305
Water Pressure top
How can I measure my home’s water pressure?
- 677
Water Seepage top
How can I stop water from seeping into my house?
- 1319
Wells top
What can you tell me about wells?
- 524
What is YCCA? top
50 years of YCCA
- 238
Thanks to All Those Who Help Our Community
- 388
What is YCCA, and can you elaborate more on your association?
- 438
Why should I use licensed & bonded contractors?
- 1503
Window Covering top
Are we comparing apples to apples?
- 179
No Window Coverings. Could you please offer some helpful tips?
- 168
What does the private label mean?
- 416
Window Screens top
Solar Screens or Tinted Windows?
- 248
Why are sun screens important?
- 385
Windows top
Condensation on bath windows
- 61
How to Remove Window Film
- 321
I would like to know more about window replacement.
- 424
Solar Screens or Tinted Windows?
- 299
What is R-Value?
- 69
What is the best way to repair a broken window seal?
- 555
What to do if you have drafty windows
- 91
What to look for when buying windows
- 65
When to Replace Your Windows
- 347
Window Film – Is it a Good Investment?
- 71
Winter Weatherization Tips top
Helpful winter Tips for Your Home
- 77
How To Prevent Frozen Pipes
- 74
Ready for a Prescott Winter
- 70
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