
Burst Pipes? Flooded Basement? Evanston’s Trusted Water Damage Cleanup Experts — ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

Sam Simon
October 1, 2025When water invades your home — whether from a burst pipe, leaking appliance, or flooded basement — fast action is the key to preventing long-term damage. At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we’ve been helping Evanston and North Shore homeowners recover from water damage for over 40 years. As IICRC Certified Master Restorers, we respond 24/7, extract the water, dry the structure completely, and coordinate directly with your insurance company to make the process as smooth as possible. If you’re facing water damage, don’t wait — we’re ready to help.
When water enters your home — whether from a burst pipe, failed sump pump, leaking dishwasher, or unexpected storm runoff — every minute matters. Moisture doesn’t stay where you can see it. It spreads through subfloors, wicks into drywall, seeps behind baseboards, and creates the perfect environment for mold within 24 to 48 hours.
At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we’ve spent over 40 years helping Evanston and North Shore homeowners recover from water damage quickly, safely, and completely. As Master Water & Fire Restorers certified by the IICRC (verify at the IICRC Certified Firm Directory), we follow strict industry standards — not shortcuts — to protect your property and your health.
If you’re facing water damage right now, call us 24/7 at (847) 316-9145. We respond to Evanston homes within 2–4 hours, day or night.
Why Evanston Homes Are Especially Vulnerable to Water Damage
Evanston homes range from historic Victorians to 1950s ranches to renovated modern townhouses — but they share some common risks:
- Clay sewer lines common in older neighborhoods can back up during heavy rain.
- Basements are often finished, trapping hidden moisture behind walls.
- Lake Michigan humidity slows drying, even when surfaces feel dry.
- Detached garages and flat roofs are prone to leaking during freeze-thaw cycles.
And while DIY water cleanup may feel like the “fast” or “cheap” solution — shop vacs, towels, and box fans do not remove moisture trapped inside walls or flooring. Even a small untreated spill can turn into mold, odors, and structural decay.
That’s why Evanston residents rely on our professional water damage restoration services in Evanston leveraging commercial extraction systems, structural drying equipment, and moisture-detecting technology you won’t find at hardware stores.
Our Proven Water Damage Restoration Process
When you call ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we don’t “come take a look” — we show up ready to work. Here’s how our process protects your home from further damage:
1. Immediate Response & Moisture Detection
We inspect visible and hidden moisture using thermal imaging and non-invasive moisture meters. If water has traveled beneath flooring or up walls, we will find it.
2. Water Removal & Extraction
Standing water is removed using truck-mounted and submersible extraction pumps designed for emergencies — not shop vacs.
3. Structural Drying & Dehumidification
We install industrial air movers and low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers that pull moisture from deep within building materials.
4. Antimicrobial / Mold Prevention Treatment
Every affected surface is treated with EPA-registered disinfectants to prevent bacterial growth — a step many competitors skip.
5. Insurance Coordination
We document the entire process — photos, readings, reports — and communicate directly with your insurance adjuster to reduce delays or disputes.
Why Homeowners Trust ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons
Unlike national call-center chains that dispatch whoever’s available, we are a locally owned and operated restoration firm with deep roots in Evanston, Chicago, and the North Shore.
Here’s why our customers call us first — and only once:
40+ Years of Local Service in Evanston & North Shore Towns
Part of the Nation’s Oldest Restoration Brand — Founded in Chicago in 1929
IICRC Certified Master Water & Fire Restorers (Verify at https://iicrc.org/certifiedfirmverification/)
Award-Winning Reputation — BBB Torch Award • SB100 Best of Small Business • 2025 Inc. 5000 Honoree
We Handle Both Residential & Commercial Water Damage Cleanup
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Damage Restoration
How fast can water damage become mold?
Within 24–48 hours, according to the EPA. That’s why professional mold prevention treatment is included in every water loss we respond to — not sold as an add-on later.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage cleanup?
Most policies do cover sudden water losses like burst pipes or appliance failures. Gradual leaks may not be covered. We provide documentation and direct coordination with your carrier to help expedite water damage restoration claims.
Can I remove water myself?
You can clean standing water, but you cannot dry structural materials without professional equipment. If moisture remains trapped in walls, flooring, or joists, mold will form — even months later.
Do you handle sewage backups?
Yes. Category 3 / Black Water events, such as sewer backups or contaminated floodwater, require biohazard-level water damage cleanup. We follow IICRC S500 and CDC safety protocols in these scenarios.
Will you remove wet carpet, drywall, or insulation?
Only when it’s necessary to prevent long-term damage. We don’t tear out more than we need to — but we don’t leave behind materials that will rot or mold, either.
How long does the drying process take?
Most clean water losses dry in 2–4 days. Category 2 or 3 events (contaminated water) or deep structural saturation may take slightly longer.
Proudly Serving Evanston & the Surrounding North Shore
We provide rapid water damage restoration in:
- Evanston (60201, 60202)
- Skokie, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka
- Glenview, Lincolnwood, Rogers Park, Edgewater
Don’t Wait — Protect Your Home Now
If you have standing water — or even just suspect moisture — call us now at (847) 316-9145.
We’ll arrive fast. We’ll bring the right equipment. And we won’t leave until your home is clean, dry, and safe.
ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons
Evanston’s Most Trusted Water Damage Cleanup Company
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, 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 partner and CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:
- Inc. 5000 - 2025 Fastest Growing Companies in America (recipient)
- 2024 Chicago Star Award
- 2021 SB100 Best of Small Business Award
- 2020 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
- Stevie® Award for Business Excellence
- Skokie Business of the Year (Honorable Mention)
- ServiceMaster International Rookie of the Year (2017)
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Flooded basement? Burst pipe? Don’t wait—water damage spreads fast. ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons provides 24/7 emergency water damage cleanup for Chicagoland and North Shore homes. With 40+ years of local expertise and IICRC-certified crews, we’ll protect your property and start the restoration immediately.

