Why local details matter
Water damage cleanup follows the same basic steps everywhere: find the water, remove it, dry the structure and deal with anything that can’t be saved. What changes from one part of the Valley to another is why the water got in and what it’s likely to have soaked.
- Home age. Median home ages range from the 1970s in older Phoenix and Tempe neighborhoods to the 2000s and 2010s in parts of Gilbert and southeast Mesa, according to U.S. Census Bureau survey data.
- Water hardness. Every major Valley city reports hard water, and the exact level depends on the city and the water source.
- Storms and runoff. Monsoon storms from June 15 through September 30 can drop inches of rain in a few hours. Neighborhoods near washes, canals and mountain preserves see runoff that others don’t.
- Irrigation. Some older neighborhoods still receive flood irrigation, which puts water on yards on a schedule.