A Complete Guide to the Attractions and Events as well as the Restoration and Cleaning Services of Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ is located within the Sonoran Desert where the Salt and Gila Rivers meet and it is the biggest city in the state of Arizona. The Phoenix area is considered the Valley of the Sun which is located within the larger Salt River Valley and it is known for its hot desert climate. Phoenix was once a major center for agriculture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to an effective canal system and after World War II, the economy started to include more high tech companies and has diversified even further to include manufacturing, healthcare, tourism, and financial services. The city is also the center of culture for the Valley of the Sun region.
The desert climate and natural terrain of the Phoenix area draws many tourists and retirees and the city’s economy has bounced back nicely since the Great Recession to help boost available jobs and employment. People that live and work in the Phoenix, AZ area should know that there are local professionals who can help you protect your property with disaster restoration and cleaning services. If a disaster causes significant damage to your home or building, it is important to call these professionals right away for assistance to help prevent further damage and save money on insurance claims and repairs.
Moisture from the Monsoon: Water Damage Restoration in Phoenix, AZ
The Phoenix area is dry through much of the year but the monsoon season which lasts from mid-June to late September has higher humidity levels and rainfall which increases the potential for severe storms and floods. Local residents and business owners should be on alert during monsoon season for storms and if rain or flooding causes water damage in your home or building, make sure to contact a local water damage restoration professional immediately. These professionals work quickly to remove excess water and moisture from homes and buildings using advanced drying equipment and they can also cleanup and repair the resulting damage. Ignoring water damage will only lead to bigger problems and possibly mold growth.
Controlling Fire in the Valley of the Sun: Fire Damage Restoration in Phoenix, AZ
Fires are always a threat to cause damage in a home or building as they can start unexpectedly and the dry climate of the Sonoran Desert makes fires much more likely to spread. It is important for your personal safety and for the protection of your property to contact a professional to provide fire damage restoration services as soon as the fire is put out. The corrosive byproducts and soot from fires can cause property damage after the fire has been put out and the fire damage professionals in the Phoenix area can limit the spread of the damage before beginning the restoration process. They can also effectively remove soot damage and odors caused by smoke.
Mold Removal Services in Phoenix, AZ
Mold spores are an ever present part of the natural environment and when they meet the right conditions, moisture and a food source, they will form into mold. Mold growth is a threat to completely destroy the surfaces it grows on and it can spread quickly through a building, raising the risks of allergies and infection. Mold must be removed by certified professionals and there are professionals in the Phoenix area that can provide mold removal services for homes and commercial buildings. These professionals can keep the mold growth contained to prevent further damage or health effects and they have the right cleaning products and equipment to completely remove the mold. They will also take the right precautions to prevent mold from growing back.
Heat, Sunshine, and Monsoons: Phoenix Weather
The weather in Phoenix is typical of the Sonoran Desert region with very hot and dry conditions through the summer and mild temperatures through the winter. The average summer temperatures in Phoenix are the highest in the U.S. and approach the levels of some of the hottest cities in the world with the temperature reaching at least 100 degrees on over 100 different days annually. The temperatures do not drop much at night as the urban heat island effect in which heat from the sun is absorbed into pavement and building materials and radiates out at night prevents the temperatures from dropping below 80 degrees.
Phoenix experiences sunny days for about 90 percent of the year with very little precipitation except during monsoon season which according to the National Weather Service starts June 15 and ends September 30. During monsoon season, the Phoenix area experiences higher levels of moisture and humidity which increases the chance of thunderstorms, flooding, hail, wind storms, sand storms, and occasionally tornadoes. The sand storms can sometimes develop into haboobs which are very intense wind storms caused by atmospheric gravity currents.
The winters in Phoenix rarely drop below freezing and frost is also rare except along the outskirts of the city. Snow is even more of a rarity in the Phoenix area with the last reported snowfall occurring in December 1998. The area does tend to experience graupel which resembles small hail.
The heightened moisture and humidity of the monsoon season leads to an increased risk of water damage and mold growth while the dry climate throughout much of the year creates an environment in which fires can easily spread. While it is important for homeowners to be aware of these threats and know to take the right actions, severe storms present a more immediate threat of destruction of property. Many of the storms that are common in the Phoenix area such as sand storms and haboobs involve strong winds that can destroy buildings and knock over large objects such as trees and power lines.
If your home or building is damaged by a severe storm, it is important to have the building secured and rebuilt right away. There are professionals in the Phoenix area that provide construction services to restore and rebuild heavily damaged homes and buildings. Failure to secure your building immediately after sustaining storm damage can lead to more extensive structural damage and costly repairs.
From Agriculture to Diversified Services: Economy in the Valley of the Sun
In the early 20th century, the completion of the Salt River Project provided a water source that allowed agriculture to grow in the Phoenix area. The agriculture was originally focused on alfalfa, citrus, and cotton as its main crops with cattle as another important part of this industry. As the market price of cotton dropped in the early 1920s, grain production in the area increased as well as cattle ranching which made Phoenix a major hub in the southwest for the meat industry. The railroad also reached Phoenix by the 1920s, sparking the beginning of what will become a major tourist industry for the city.
Phoenix experienced a big economic change immediately after WWII as the population grew and the economy became much more diversified. High-tech companies such as Motorola, Intel, and McDonnell Douglas came to Phoenix following the war and on the eve of the 2008 recession, the Phoenix area was leading the nation in employment growth and the largest sectors of the economy were real estate, financial services, manufacturing, and health care. Phoenix was hit hard by the Great Recession of 2008 but it has nearly regained all of the employment lost from the recession and in 2013 the city had the fastest job growth in the nation within several industries.
There are four Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Phoenix that include Avnet, PetSmart, waste management company Republic Services, and the mining company Freeport-McMoRan. Other major businesses that have locations in Phoenix include U-HAUL, Intel, Best Western, and US Air/American Airlines. There is also still a military presence in Phoenix from the time of World War II with the Luke Air Force Base still operating in the suburbs.
Carpet Cleaning Services for Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix is one of the nation’s leaders in job growth which means that the city is attracting more businesses and workers. A healthy diversified economy helps immensely with running a business and those that have experience as business owners also know that maintaining your office or building is also important. Keeping a clean building or workspace not only improves the look of your space which reflects better on your company, but also provides a healthy working environment for your employees. Maintaining the carpet is one of the most effective ways to improve the overall look of your workspace and there are professionals in the Phoenix area that provide carpet cleaning services. Their advanced equipment allows them to deep clean all types of carpeting found in commercial settings and remove embedded soil to restore the original appearance of the carpet.
From Nature and the Arts to Resorts and Golf Courses: Fun Things to Do in Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix is the cultural center of the Valley of the Sun region with many art museums and galleries, interesting architecture, golf courses, natural landmarks, and many other attractions that are included in the Phoenix Points of Pride. The following are among the most popular events and attractions in Phoenix, AZ.
- The Arts: The art scene in Phoenix has a large presence between the performing arts, art galleries, and First Friday art exhibits. Phoenix is home to a performing arts scene that includes the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Opera, and Ballet Arizona which all perform in the Phoenix Symphony Hall. The Phoenix Opera as well as Ballet Arizona perform at the classic Orpheum Theater which once hosted vaudeville acts.
- Museums: Phoenix features a variety of museums such as the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting, the Phoenix Art Museum, the Arizona Military Museum, and the Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park among others. One of the most popular museums is the Musical Instrument Museum which opened in 2010 and houses the world’s largest collection of musical instruments.
- Architecture: The architecture of the homes and buildings around Phoenix is unique as several prominent and innovative architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Paolo Soleri, Al Beadle, Ralph Haver, and Will Bruder among others have designed buildings in the Phoenix area. The Taliesin West home that Wright built as his winter home in 1937 is now the main campus for the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.
- Phoenix Resorts and Golf Courses: Phoenix has been a tourist destination within the U.S. since the 1920s and it has a higher number of Five Diamond and Five Star resorts and hotels than most major U.S. cities. One of the most popular tourist activities in Phoenix is golf as there are over 200 golf courses in the metropolitan area including the Arizona Grand Golf Course, Troon North Golf Club, Kierland Golf Club, and the Raven Golf Club at Verrado.
- Parks and Outdoor Activities: Phoenix has an interesting array of plant and wildlife due to its location in the Sonoran Desert. Animals that can be found in the Phoenix area include coyotes, bobcats, jaguars, mountain lions, falcons, hawks, eagles, roadrunners, rattlesnakes, lizards, tortoises, frogs, scorpions and tarantulas among many others. Maricopa County has the largest park system in the U.S. in which visitors can take in the natural desert environment by hiking, biking, or taking tours in a hot air balloon, Jeep, or on horseback. The most popular parks in Phoenix include Camelback Mountain, Phoenix Mountain Preserve, and South Mountain Park and Preserve. Many tourists also use Phoenix as their starting point for an excursion to the Grand Canyon.
- Annual Phoenix Events: The nice weather and natural environment of Phoenix make it a great place to hold outdoor events and there are many that take place throughout the year to commemorate the different cultures and heritage of Phoenix. Some of the most popular Phoenix events include Gold Rush Days, Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, Pueblo Grande Indian Market, ZooLights, the Arizona State Fair, Matsuri: A Festival of Japan, Cave Creek Fiesta Days Rodeo and Parade, Polish Festival, Tohono O’odham Nation Rodeo and Fair, and the Chinese Week & Culture & Cuisine Festival.
- Sports: Phoenix has one team in each of the four major American professional sports leagues and has also hosted MLB spring training, college bowl games, and previous Super Bowls. The Arizona Diamondbacks are the only one of the four major sports teams in the Phoenix area to win a championship as they defeated the New York Yankees in 2001 to win the World Series. The Phoenix Suns of the NBA are the longest running sports franchise in the city and the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL have been playing in the Phoenix area since moving from St. Louis in 1988. The Arizona Coyotes of the NHL moved to the Phoenix area from Winnipeg in 1996. Several major NASCAR events are also hosted in Phoenix at the Phoenix International Raceway.
- Cuisine: The cuisine in Phoenix is largely dominated by steakhouses and Mexican food due to its history as a center for meat packing and the large presence of Mexican culture in the area. Today there are many dining choices throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area including barbecue, Greek, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Cajun/Creole, Indian, Thai, Tex-Mex, and others. A couple of the restaurants such as El Chorro Lodge and Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn are known as much for their views of Camelback Mountain as for their food. Two of the most popular Mexican restaurants in Phoenix are the Barrio Café and Los Dos Molinos and the city also has the world’s only Five Diamond Native American Restaurant, Kai.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix,_Arizona#Economy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Points_of_Pride
https://www.phoenix.gov/visitors
http://www.visitphoenix.com/index.aspx
http://www.visitarizona.com/places-to-visit/phoenix-central-arizona/phoenix
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g31310-Phoenix_Arizona-Vacations.html