TLC Lawn Sprinkler

We purchased a house about 5 years ago that had an irrigation system. We had never experienced a sprinkler system in our lawn, So we really leaned heavily on the company that the prior owners used, which was TLC incorporated. And we've never had any regrets since. From the wonderful voices on the phone when I call to the great people that have come out to open, close, change, move, and reconfigure everybody has been so helpful and wonderful.

Who knew that holiday lighting could improve your life - but TLC's professional and tasteful job did just that. No more ladder climbs to the rooftop, no more unsightly clips on the gutters, and no more tangled lights. TLC is now synonymous with the holidays from now on! Any Christmas without TLC is a Christmas not worth having.

These guys are true professionals. Previous homeowner had them taking care of the irrigation system, so I opted to use them as well due to the reasonable pricing. They have always been excellent about doing spring start-up, winterizations, and even servicing/repairs. Wilver was out this year for winterization and did a great job. In their office, Caitlin is always a pleasure to work with.

TLC has been caring for our sprinkler for years. They show up on time, they're professional, and keep things running for us.

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The crew arrived on time (window of noon-5pm). I recently purchased a home, which has a sprinkler system. TLC came out to winterize the system. A two-man team arrived. The person I spoke to was very knowledgeable. More importantly, he very helpfully answered the many questions I had - pointing out to me where the different sprinkler zones were, the settings on the control box, and where the sprinkler heads were and that several would need to be replaced the coming spring. I plan on using them again for spring maintenance and sprinkler head repair (unless I can replace/repair them myself).

Their work is excellent. I have used them for 25 years.

They said that the system was ready. Two days later, at 4:00 am I heard a loud noise. It sounded like a plane was landing on my roof. It was terrifying. It turned out that this was the water sprinkler.... two days after it was "serviced". I called TLC and Linda said, "well what happens when you turn the water back on?". I said, "it's quiet". She said, "well wait and see if it happens, again". I wasn't sure why I needed to be woken up at 4:00 am a second time but, silly me, I waited. And, it happened, again, at 4:00 am. I said, I think that you guys need to come out and see what's going on. You just serviced it and this began to happen. They came out and said, "we need to get a plumber". We'll set that up. I never heard from them again. No plumber. A few days later I called back and got, "Linda". Linda said, "we were looking into a plumber not sure what happened with that." I said, "you came out and said the system was in order, it clearly isn't." She said, "I'll get someone out there". .... I made several more attempts. Yesterday, I asked her to have the owner call me. And, I also asked, "are you guys trying to tell me that you'd like me to be serviced by someone else?" She said, "no". But, bottom-line, I never heard back. I'm on one of their plans and I am thinking that I need to get out of it. Very frustrating experience. Most troubling they seemed completely indifferent about it.

Two months after time to complete and still not done. Damaged property and ignored requests to discuss. Organization service not provided. In August 2013, I began working with TLC on detailed plans for a garage project. Finally, in mid Oct, we came to agreement on the detailed plans and work was to begin Nov 11th and take no more than a week according to their representative. Upon completion of the job they would charge me the remaining $8,610.66. They were to: - Grind down and replace the garage floor - Remove existing cabinets and dispose - Remove existing work bench - Install a duratop work bench and attach to wall - Install four wall cabinets, two of which with locks for paint and other dangerous items - Provide a tall cabinet - Organize the contents of the garage - Provide organization materials - Provide a POD storage unit and store contents of garage during project. The result: The contents of the garage were piled in the POD storage unit, damaging several items including two expensive bikes. The work bench was laid on rolling cabinets. When the floor was finished, the contents of the POD were simply emptied into a pile in the center of the garage. Paint and gasoline were spilled, damaging several more items. The brand new floor has a mild stain on it. Locks were not put on any of the cabinets. Without confirmation that the job was complete, on November 19th TLC charged my CC for the remaining amount. I texted and emailed pictures in stunned disbelief at the result of their work. On November 26th, I received confirmation that I did not feel the work was complete. On December 6th, a crew came out to finish the work. They did not have all the necessary materials to complete the work bench or install the locks on the cabinets. They organized some of the garage and did what they could to clean up. I was told they would be back in a few days to finish the work. Two weeks later, on December 23rd, the crew came to finish the work bench. It is attached and stable. I was told I needed to be home. The crew came unannounced and entered my garage, leaving the door open and tools exposed. Again on Jan 2nd, I asked about the damaged property and when TLC would be out to finish the work. I received no response. I asked about the amounts that were charged to my credit card and the promise to have this job complete within a week, yet two months later it is still not finished and I am constantly contacting them to get action. Despite emails directly to the owners (once copied in on emails by representatives) and the multiple representatives I've been given to work with, I continue to get responses asking me to be patient and that someone is talking to the owners to get resolution.

I have used TLC since they installed my system 19 years ago. Over the past few years I have seen their responsiveness and service get worse and worse. And prices get more and more expensive! This year in September, after having been a customer for 19 years I called because my system would not run. This was particularly troubling to me because I had just had the lawn seeded. They scheduled me for an appointment 3 1/2 weeks later. After I explained that I really needed the sprinkler fixed because of the seeding was there any way to move me sooner, they explained it was the busy time of year and they couldn't help me. I then had to go out and buy hoses and sprinklers (which I didn't have since I have had the system for 19 years) and drag them around to ensure my seed wouldn't die. Finally I went on Angie's list and looked at recommendations and contacted another provider. They had someone out the next day and ordered the needed part and had the system up and running 3 days later. I used the other company to do my fall shut off and I will never look back!

I have moved on to other company. The price & customer service certainly lost my business!

Terribly. Worker sent out barely spoke English. Tore up yard, could not solve problem. Tried to convince me to hire him "on the side" in cash to fix the problem. Outrageous.

GREAT

I have a service contract for the irrigation system and the technician came on 22 March for the startup. The technician found that the controller was not working, but did work when we put in a fresh battery for the rechargeable battery. There was some discoloring around the outlet where the controller was plugged in, which suggests that the wiring was faulty. I called and told the office of the issues, and we scheduled another visit for 27 March. The crew arrived, I explained the problem and was immediately told the problem was the controller. They started to work on the replacing the controller, only to find that the new controller also did not work. So, on 4 May, the crew came again. The installed the new controller by splicing it on to the lightening system, and left the old wiring cut, exposed and still in the garage. The two technicians turned the system on without checking to see if the shut off valve in the basement was open. The first I knew of this is when they came to ask me to open it. I found the lower level of my house flooded, with over an inch of water on the floor in the basement and in the utility room containing my washer and dryer. There was water raining down from the ceiling. I called to them and they turned the system off. I was told to call the office to find out who was going to clean up the mess. There began an absurd travesty of repeatedly calling and getting inadequate responses. I was initially told that they needed to speak to the crew and “ would call be right back”. Half an hour later I am called and told that it was my fault because I had removed a cap on the flush valve for the system. Besides absurd (this is why I hire an irrigation company to turn the system on and off), I resent repeatedly accused of sabotaging my system. I was told repetitively that I would be called by a supervisor-and I never was. The two technicians used brooms to sweep up the water-they had no equipment to clean up the water pouring from the ceiling. Mopping up the standing water was felt to have solved the problem. Later I found that both the LCD screen on my solar hot water system and my sump pump were destroyed. I called the office and was told that these would be covered. But that does not address all the other problems. Here is a list of what I have found so far: 1. Solar hot water. Greenspring Energy inspected the hot water system. Fortunately the rest of the system was not damaged, but the LCD screen to control the system was destroyed and was replaced. The hot water heater sits in a 2 inch deep pan, which was overflowing with water. 2. Sump pump motor frozen and had to be replaced. 3. Binding machine sat in water for 24 hours 4. Bags of Christmas decorations soaked and thrown out 5. Three wool area rugs destroyed. 6. Box of Christmas wrapping paper soaked through and thrown out 7. Power strip under water and thrown out 8. Boxes of tax papers and letters soaked-hours of work to separate and dry out the paper. 9. Boxes of clothes soaked requiring washing and drying 10. Spare computer and printer in standing water and presumed destroyed. 11. Drywall soaked and continued to ooze out water for 12 hours. I used 4 fans and two dehumidifiers to try to dry out the area-but given the amount of water I remain very worried about mold and mildew. The brick wall of the basement is still stained with moisture. It needs to be resealed. 12. New hybrid furnace-heat pump system was inspected by Pipco and was found to be undamaged. 13. Washer and dryer appear to functioning but were in standing water. The water was so deep that it soaked through the wall between two rooms. 14. I personally spent the rest of Wed 4 April cleaning up. I spent all day 5 April and half of 6 April with repair men coming to inspect/repair the sump pump, solar hot water system, and hybrid furnace-heat pump system. 15. Exposed wire was left in the garage from the old controller. My assumption is that faulty wiring was the original problem and that the old controller was fine. 16. Antique furniture stored in the basement was soaked. The furniture was recently appraised and was being held for a friend. As many things were piled on top of this furniture, it is not possible to determine if there is damage. 17. Two irons and a new, never used coffee maker were soaked by the downpour. 18. Framed diploma soaked and destroyed.

Salesman (Richard) was great. I pointedly asked him about the previous negative customer service comments on Angie's List. He was not aware of the List, and told me that TLC had fantastic customer service. Richard was very professional in providing the estimate and explaining the process -- contract signed on 10/21/10. 11/4/10 -- Installation. Everyone was very professional. After installation was done, Richard came by the house as promised and showed me the system He also explained to me how to adjust the sprinkler heads and gave me a tool to use to do that if I ever needed to adjust. He also checked each sprinker head himself to ensure they could be adjusted. Two heads could not. Richard explained that he would have someone come out to take care of that and that someone would also contact me for the semi-annual service (Fall service) Late November -- I wondered if anyone would call me to schedule the Fall serivce; it was getting cold and I was concerned about freezing (as it turns out, for good reason). When I called TLC customer service, it was as though they didn't realize I was a customer. I asked when the Fall service normally took place - they didn't answer directly, but said that most of the services had been completed. I began to wonder if they even know that I had a system to service. Was my installation paperwork passed to them? Obviously, I was not on their schedule. They scheduled a service date for about a week later. Too late - a day or two later when I was at work the Back Flow Valve exploded (freezing) and water began pouring out of the side of my house. Thankfully my neighbor saw it. I was able to give guidance to someone at my house to turn off the main valve. TLC did get the plumber there within a few hours. He took care of it and said someone would be back to replace the valve. Richard (the salesman) called to say that he was sorry it happend and would TLC would "make it right." April 2011 - still no word from TLC about Spring service or replacement of the valve. I call them and explain that I had no backflow valve and Richard said back in November that I should get two new irrigation heads installed. They schedule the service. May 2011 - the new backflow valve is installed, but no indication that the two sprinker heads have been changed. Invoice is left for $178 for backflow valve replacement. I contact TLC customer service - they say don't worry about the invoice that was left. I won't be charged. 10 May 2011 -- Another invoice from TLC arrives in mail for the $178. I call customer service again. Once again, I'm told don't worry about it. I then ask - what about the two heads that need to be replaced? Customer Service asks me "what valves?" and asks me what was wrong. I refer them to Richard (salesman) who told me last Fall the valves should be replaced because he could not adjust them. Customer Service says they would send a supervisor to my house to check things out. That would happen on 12 May 12 May 2011 -- No one from TLC arrives.

Took several weeks of repeated phone calls to reach TLC; messages we left on their voicemail were not returned. After we finally reached a person, it took several more weeks for them to show up. Did not do adequate repairs nor adjust our system to cover the entire lawn. We fired TLC and contacted another company which fixed damaged sprinkler heads that TLC refused to replace which had been non-functioning from their original install. The new company also increased the efficiency/volume/accuracy of the system that TLC had installed poorly.

They do a good job. I gave them a negative comment at one point but now they do a very good job.

Although the response to initial request was timely and the representative seemed knowledgeable about putting in a French drain on our property we waited 5 days for additional call back about how to proceed and a price. Finally, the following Mon. we called with a promise he would call back. Wednesday another call. Friday another call and we spoke with the representative who said he would be by Monday with the written estimate. (He did give me an estimate by phone) Since we have not heard from them in 5 more days we will no longer be interested in their business. If they did not wish to take on this job if would have been better to just have said so.

This didn't go well. I scheduled an appointment, they showed up on time. I showed the employee where the system was and told him to knock on the door if there were any problems. An hour later, I come out and he's digging up my front garden. Then, he couldn't figure out what was wrong but told me he had to leave anyway. I called the office while he was still there, and the scheduler told me she would talk to the service manager immediately and call me back ASAP. I stood around waiting, but she never called back. The worker said sorry I'm leaving for another job and walked away. Three weeks later, I haven't heard anything from TLC. Last year there was a small problem with the system and was told they'd come back with the right fitting. They never did. When I finally called a couple of months later to do the job, they billed me for 2 people when only one showed up. I thought that this system opening job would be simple and they couldn't screw it up, but they did. I'll find someone else to do the work in the future.

John and his crew were wonderful! We are very happy with both the lighting (we wish we would have had more done) and the irrigation system although since it is a winter installation we have not been able to use it yet. The customer service we have experience from them so far is top notch, we are very happy and plan to have them do some more lighting for us in the spring. We had no idea the impact it has on the yard.

They do a great job. They always show up on time. If something goes wrong between visits, I can call and talk to the owner directly and he will send the service manager out. They are competitive in pricing and we have now used them for 10 years.

We felt that the work was well done, but that our system was out of the ordinary and therefore required more care than usual.

I THINK THEY WERE GREAT. THEY WERE VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR NEEDS. THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETE IN A VERY TIMELY MANNER, AND THEY MADE OUR LAWN LOOK GREAT AFTERWARDS.