
Daylight Savings Time: Check Smoke Alarms to Prevent Fire Damage in Chicago, IL

Sam Simon
March 20, 2014Chicago, IL Fire Restoration by ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons
This past Sunday morning, all but a very few states set their clocks ahead one hour as
Daylight Saving Time
began. DST was started as a way to conserve energy by getting people to arise and begin their day earlier to use the available natural light. The tradition has continued for over 100 years and provides a great reference date for another bi-annual event: checking the smoke alarms in your Chicago home or business. Poorly maintained smoke alarms can allow a small, smoldering fire to quickly become a devastating inferno. If you experience
smoke damage
or
fire damage
, immediately contact the Chicago, IL
fire restoration
professionals at
ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons
.
Aside from marking a regular date twice a year, the beginning and end of daylight saving time usually marks the beginning of the spring and fall seasons. The transition seasons between the more extreme summer and winter seasons are a great time to check the smoke alarms in your home so that you don’t need
fire damage repair
. The National Fire Protection Agency offers some helpful tips for checking your smoke alarms each year and in general:
• Install
smoke alarms
in every bedroom, on every level of the house.
• Interconnect
smoke alarms
so that when one sounds, they all sound.
• Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm at least once a year, or when an alarm “chirps” in warning
• Replace all
smoke alarms
every 10 years, whether hard wired or battery-operated
• Smoke alarms that are hard wired must be installed by a qualified electrician and all alarms must include the label of a recognized testing lab.
• Smoke alarms that use strobe lights and vibrations are available for those that are deaf or hard of hearing.
• In addition to functioning smoke alarms, make sure you also have a home fire escape plan.
Fire safety
is a serious matter. These tips will help with the prevention of
fire damage
, but even the most prepared are still struck by disaster.
When you need
fire damage restoration
in your Chicago home or business,
call ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons
. Our emergency hotlines are ready to respond 24/7/365 to a variety of disasters. The faster the response, the quicker the cleanup and the less
fire damage
occurs. We are your #1 choice for
fire restoration
in Chicago, IL.
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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