
5 Winter Weather Safety Tips for Commercial Property Owners

Sam Simon
December 31, 2017
Winter is upon us, and with it comes snow, sleet and subzero temperatures. Chicago winters can be especially rough with all the wind coming off the lake and the fluctuation in temperature from day to day. But with ServiceMaster by Simons' top safety tips, commercial property managers can make sure their properties and customers stay safe this winter season.
- Inspect Heating Systems
Maintaining heating systems should be a top priority in cold weather. Make sure you are having your heating system inspected regularly and staying up to date on the maintenance tasks like examining flues for carbon buildup and removing and cleaning burners. Help keep your customers and employees warm in your building and safe from dangerous carbon monoxide leaks. In addition, if you have furnaces that are older than 10 years, consider replacing them for efficiency and safety.
- Calibrate Thermostats/Reduce Set Points
As a business owner/building manager, we know that you need to save money where you can to spend where it really matters! By calibrating your building’s thermostats, you’ll make sure your heating systems are operating efficiently, which saves you money on your heating bill. In addition, keep an eye on your thermostat to keep the temperature down, but still comfortable. Experts suggest a lowering of one percent per degree drop in thermostat temperature. The savings will add up!
- Inspect Doors and Windows
Doors and windows are prime entranceways for cold, water and pests to enter your building, and exit ways for warm indoor air to escape. The former can cause damage to your merchandise or interior infrastructure, while the latter causes upticks in your heating bill. It’s a good idea to use weather stripping to seal gaps you may discover between windows, doors, and exterior walls.
- Select Good Entrance Mats
Did you know 80 percent of the dirt found in buildings such as offices and shopping spaces was tracked in on people’s shoes? The cost to
remove dirt from floors
can reach up to $500 and $700 a pound – even more if it is ground into carpeting. A simple fix is to invest in mats to place both outside and inside entrances and exits. A good guide is that people entering should have three steps on a mat with each foot. The mats should give a little traction and should be rubber underneath to alleviate potential slip hazards.
- De-ice your sidewalks
It’s no secret that one of the biggest winter hazards is an icy, slippery sidewalk, which poses a slip risk for employees and customers alike who are walking outside of your building. You would be wise to consider de-icing options, such as rock salt or other alternatives, such as deicing liquid. Be sure to use whatever you choose correctly, otherwise you might end up damaging areas around your building.
Following these safety tips will help keep your building, employees and customers safe from tragedy this winter season, but sometimes the unthinkable does happen. If it does, the professionals at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons are always just a call away for all your
restoration needs.
Please call us at 773-376-1110 for help or to schedule an appointment.
ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons is a women-owned and family run company serving Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, and the North Shore. The business provides disaster restoration services for damages caused by water, fire, flooding, mold remediation, and a wide range of interior specialty cleaning (hoarder/clutter, post construction, carpet & upholstery) to residential and commercial customers residing in Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest and the North Shore. For more information, visit servicemasterbysimons.com.
Sam Simon
Sam Simon is the Co-Owner and Managing Director of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a certified MBE/WBE disaster restoration and specialty cleaning firm proudly serving Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties in Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in restoration project management, field operations, and emergency response, Sam plays a vital leadership role in overseeing service execution, technician development, reconstruction, and subcontractor coordination.
He holds the IICRC’s highest technical designation as a Master Fire & Water Restorer, a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of professionals in the restoration industry. His technical scope includes water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke recovery, mold remediation, and post-disaster reconstruction across both residential and commercial sectors.
Sam has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to helping communities in crisis. He has participated in large-scale disaster recovery efforts across the U.S., providing boots-on-the-ground leadership during Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as catastrophic floods, wildfires, and deep freeze events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and beyond. His dedication to serving distressed families and businesses in the wake of national catastrophes reflects both his personal values and ServiceMaster’s mission of restoring peace of mind.
In 2019, Sam was selected for the HACIA Contractor Training Program, a competitive six-month construction management cohort offered by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. The program delivers intensive instruction in blueprint reading, estimating, project management, and construction law—skills that support the company’s continued growth in emergency build-back and general contracting services.
Before co-founding ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, Sam built a successful creative career under the name Sam Zabadneh, contributing to notable film and television productions including Chicago Fire (2012), Juvies (2007), and Image Union (1978). His media and videography background continues to shape ServiceMaster’s marketing strategy, digital training resources, and brand storytelling.
→ IMDb Profile
Sam is also the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water, fire, and mold damage.
Under the direction of majority owner and President & CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:
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