Creative Irrigation & Lighting

Janice H.

We've used Creative Irrigation & Lighting for 20 years. They installed our sprinkler system and have done Spring turn-on and winterization as well as repairs during that time. They have excellent customer service and competitive pricing.

Esther K.

We are terminating our relationship with this company as we have had too many billing discrepancies. If you choose this company, get everything in writing, including when the technician comes for spring turn on and fall turn off.
Demand a written report on the day they come where they state exactly what they have done that day. As for estimated work on replacing valves, their written estimate was $1129. We had the work done by a different company for $580.
We have been long time customers. What a shame to be treated so badly.

Hannah R.

UPDATE #3: The owner updated his response to my Facebook review, acknowledging that the problems I experienced were, in fact, the fault of his technician.

UPDATE #2: The owner, after actually speaking to his tech, finally called my husband to apologize and let him know that I was correct. He has not updated his comments on my Facebook review to reflect this.

UPDATE: The owner felt the need to respond to my identical review that I posted on Facebook, attempting to gaslight me on an entirely separate issue.

We initially engaged Creative Irrigation and Lighting last year to help us get an older irrigation system running because their predecessor company had originally installed the sprinkler system in the house we bought, despite their low online reviews. We had them winterize our system last year and then turn it on this year. I don't know what happened after the last time we touched the controller (which was before Creative Irrigation and Lighting winterized it and subsequently turned it on last month), but their techs Kevin and Jose were the last people to do anything with our system, and when I turned it on from my app after their service on April 11, all of the zones that my husband and I had set up last year had been erased. I emailed them on April 12th and let them know that I needed someone to address the unsatisfactory service, and no one responded. I ended up speaking to Brian, the owner, several days later about an unrelated problem with our system, and he happened to be on the phone with me while I tried to set our previous zones back up. I asked him to look into this, and he said he would. He never responded. Upon receiving their invoice, I emailed on April 21st to let Creative Irrigation and Lighting know that I was still waiting on some kind of resolution about all of the time I had to spend fixing their error. When Brian finally got back to me, he claimed that there was no way his staff could have erased the zone labels on our system, despite the fact that they were the last people to touch it. I told him that I would appreciate him taking a portion off our bill for the reactivation service, as a consideration for the time I had to spend fixing their unsatisfactory service. He told me he would speak with his employee, Kevin, and get back to me. He never got back to me. As we approached the due date on the invoice, I contacted the billing office so that they would understand that, while it was our intent to pay on time, we were still awaiting resolution from Brian. Their billing representative, Beverly, emailed me today to let me know that Brian refused our request. Brian has not contacted me directly.

The communication from Creative Irrigation and Lighting is wildly inconsistent, and their accountability and customer service are lacking entirely. Our system leaks from the places they purported to fix last year. We have severed our relationship with them, and will engage a company with higher online ratings in the future.

David L.

We couldn't be happier with our decision to have Creative Irrigation and Lighting install and maintain our irrigation system. We have been customers since 2018.

Communication is clear, and customer service is efficient and friendly. If you are in the market for irrigation and/or lighting, you would be remiss if you didn't contact Creative Irrigation and Lighting.

Jim T.

After they did the spring start up the tech noticed a leak in the main shut off valve. They quoted a repair job needing about 1-2 hours with both a tech and a supervisor, which seemed excessive. I reached out to another firm who sent one guy, did the job in 40 minutes for about 1/3 the price. Never again.
BTW - Creative said their schedule was swamped so they couldn't give me a date to come and repair the system. Problem solved. Now they don't have to come at all.

F. W.

I'm done with these guys. If you don't take the day off and stay outside watching them, you get screwed. This last fall was the last straw, when they were supposed to perform winterization for $175. Next thing you know I get a bill for over $700, including a dozen parts, foreman and a service tech. We weren't aware of any broken or leaking sprinklers, but according the CI&L there were several. Additionally, when they do jobs, it sure seems like the ""foreman"" is just standing around doing nothing for almost $200. Finally, CI&L typically just shows up at the house to winterize or activate and if you're not there, you're back at the end of the queue. How about coordinating in advance? Not everyone sits at home all day...

Dena V.

I agree with many of these other 1 star reviews. I loved Allen's Sprinkler, but since Creative took over, the service quality and customer service went out the window. Unfortunately, in my case, the person who was unprofessional towards me was someone who was from Allen's. I'm not going to mention names, but I don't appreciate being treated rudely after 20 years of loyalty to Allen's and then Creative. I got a new irrigation company that I love. (Long overdue). When Creative did my Spring 2019 turn on, they noted in their records apparently that the rain sensor was stuck on, but never bothered to inform us of that. Thus, our irrigation system wasn't coming on when it should, causing our lawn to die. Lots of $ later, I got the system fixed through a great customer oriented irrigation system, and got our lawn damage repaired. When I reached out to let Creative know that I thought there was a problem with the irrigation system, I got treated rudely by an office member like I said who came from Allen's. And she was rude and said it's in our notes that the rain sensor isn't working properly and I said it would have been nice if you told us that. When I called Creative to let them know we had another company, the office representative who answered just said we will make a note on the files. She did not ask why or anything after 20 years with them. It was the same person who came from Allen's. I think she knew why. Never again. So glad to be with my new company.

Nicholas W.

Got some drainage, lighting and irrigation work done. Work went according to plan was completed on time as agreed. Had one issue with lighting the next day, but they dispatched someone out the next day to fix it. Would recommend them to anyone and the customer service (Bev) is outstanding.

Ms R.

Creative Irrigation used to be a good company. They were always busy but the quality was worth the wait. Now their office staff is useless, I can't ever get a response, don't even think about emailing, and today they stood me up for a service that had been confirmed twice. I took the day off work and waited all day. Do not use this company. The old reviews that were good do not reflect their current service.

Jay R.

I also have experienced terrible service since Allen's Sprinklers was acquired by Creative Irrigation. I always had terrific service in the past and like clockwork, purchased my full service package (Winterization, Spring Turn-On and Backflow Inspection) with stellar service. I even came to know the service techs as they performed a few upgrades for me. I inherited (maybe) a 7 year old irrigation system and for four years with Allen it worked without issue.
But then came Creative Irrigation. (Probably called Creative for the ability to create problems). First I had a leak in my front yard in late summer/early fall. Ok, I said. Maybe its time for a system possibly 10 years old. Creative fixed the issue and winterized the system for winter. The following spring, the returned an installed the backflow - but they didn't do it right and it leaked. When I called to notify them, they came it and fixed it. They attempted to charge me but when I protested that I never touch the backflow, no one had touched it all winter, and the previous company replaced it every year with no leaks, they responded and said it was under warranty and covered. I never bought or knew of any warranty, but they didn't charge me and I was happy. But at the same time, they found a leak in my backyard. So now, I have a system with a new leak in a totally new area during a winter period of inactivity?? I know the most logical way for that to happen is ice freezing in the pipes (there's really nothing else) - Creative are the people that winterized my system, supposedly removing any water before winter!
Regardless, having my backflow now installed and working irrigation I began to enjoy the watering season and decided to deal with the leak later. But strangely, I never noticed a leak. I'm not a plumber, but I'm likely to be able to tell if a pipe is leaking 6 inches from the surface in my backyard. I chalked up Creative's assessment as a possible error. But one day, my wife calls me at work and says sprinkler guys are here they're doing some work. I had no idea they were coming and next thing you know I get an invoice in the mail for the leak in the backyard. I was mad. But it gets better.
Shortly after that, I have the water company come and turn off my water. Why? Because I had a irrigation leak, but this time in my front yard. Right near the main irrigation router panel. The water company said it was bad on probably going on for 2-3 weeks (about the time of Creative's last visit). I hadn't noticed because the area is steeply sloped plus we had a lot of rain. But this was definitely a leak. Confirmed by an exorbitant water bill I had to plea my way out of.
The season was over and I was determined to find a new irrigation servicer. But guess who shows up announced again and performs my winterization and backflow inspection. You got it, Creative.
I called and wrote letters attempting to gain some satisfaction. They offered a lead tech to come and discuss with me, but I wasn't in the mood for some company pitch about how pipes or glues break down - I just wanted out. I left Creative knowing I need leaks fixed, and I don't trust them to even attempt to correct it for free or a lesser rate. That should be all you need to know. Steer clear.