By Sara Poirier Correa
Sentinel Correspondent
When Bill Gallagher started Summer Rain, he said it was to fill a void in the marketplace.
Thirty-five years later, combining customer service with design, installation and maintenance, the landscape lighting and irrigation company offers a total package, striving for excellence and giving back to the community it serves.
“We started from one used pick-up truck and between lighting and irrigation crews, we now have 70 trucks on the road,” said Gallagher, company president and the business’s principal owner.
Serving the Fairfield and Westchester county areas, Summer Rain Landscape Lighting & Irrigation has been recognized nationally as one of the top 100 irrigation companies in America. It has an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau, and testimonials on its website, summerrainsprinklers.com, and an Internet search of customer reviews, all turned up comments about the prompt attention the company gives.
“Our custom-designed systems are the primary choice for award-winning landscape designers, commercial contractors and residential homebuilders,” the Summer Rain website said.
The company started its lighting and electrical division about 15 years ago, according to its president. Whether it’s lighting for gardens, walkways, patios or even lighting for special occasions, such as illuminating a temporary ice-skating rink in a customer’s back yard, Summer Rain provides service.
“As lighting became more visible on the landscaping scene, it became evident to us that it was something we had to be a part of,” Gallagher said of adding this division to the company.
“We try to be subtle with the lighting, but effective in terms of security,” he added of the landscape lighting projects. “We try to highlight specimen plantings.”
As business has evolved in the past few decades, services that once were outsourced by Summer Rain have been brought in-house to make the company more efficient, Gallagher said. Trade workers such as plumbers and auto mechanics, for example, are on staff to handle the needs of the company, including its own fleet of vehicles and any issues arising with irrigation systems. Its electricians are also available to customers, as needed, for any problems.
“Instead of relying on others we just created divisions for that purpose,” Gallagher said. “Efficiency is the key word.”
In that same vein, the Summer Rain headquarters building stays energy efficient, using solar panels to lower its electricity consumption. This move, Gallagher said, has not only been good for the environment, but also helped save the company money.
“We want to make our current irrigation systems that our customers have more efficient,” he said of where Summer Rain is headed. “Technology is constantly changing and water prices are increasing. We want to make sure we’re putting down the necessary water needed for a particular property.”
The cost of an irrigation system or landscape lighting project varies, based on the size of the property. As technology changes, the company will work to offer the most efficient service, Gallagher said, referring to systems being controlled by mobile devices and new sprinkler technology.
When it comes to the product, he said that working with clients doesn’t stop once an irrigation system is installed.
“We take over hundreds of systems a year, continuously discovering not only from the new customer but also by reviewing the new properties, that the previous providers didn’t have their client’s best interest in mind, finding poor designs and complete lack of service,” Gallagher said.
“We’re always installing new systems and extending current clientele’s lawn systems,” he said. The company also winterizes its systems to prevent pipes bursting during freezing temperatures.
For those not sure whether to go the extra mile and get a professional water system, Gallagher said homeowners should think about the long term and curb appeal.
“It’s an investment, and [having an irrigation system is] only going to increase the value of their homes,” he said.
The increased value to the community is also of importance to Gallagher and his team, as employees are actively involved in the community, and work as a whole to make it better.
The list of nursing homes, churches and synagogues with donated irrigation systems and service includes: St. Mary’s; Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich; the Junior League; William Street Park; Riverside School; Stanwich School; Bible Street Community Center; Temple Sholom; St. Roch’s Church; River House (GADC); Kids in Crisis, and Christ Church, to name a few. The company also works with garden clubs such as the Knollwood Garden Club, and even donated an irrigation system to the Seaside Garden at Greenwich Point.
“We take great pride in giving back to the community,” Gallagher said. “It’s just a good feeling to contribute back in a small way.”
For more information about Summer Rain, visit the website, e-mail info@summerrainsprinklers.com or call 203-489-2014.
