How can we help?

We design, install and maintain irrigation systems for residential and commercial customers. That includes new installs, expansions, repairs, spring startups and fall winterizations. We also do drainage work: downspout drains, French drains and grade work.

During our winter months (December 1 – March 1) we may offer other services. We let customers know at winterization time what we’ll offer that year.

No. We’re irrigation specialists, so we don’t do mowing, planting, mulching or hardscaping. We focus on irrigation and drainage.

Since 2001. Raindrop is a locally owned, family-run business.

We serve Knox and Loudon counties, including Knoxville, Farragut, Powell, Halls, Lenoir City, Loudon, Tellico Village and the surrounding communities.

No. At this time we can’t travel outside Knox and Loudon counties.

Our office is open 9 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday, all year. Technician appointments run from 9 am to 5 pm.

During our busy seasons (April 1 – June 30 and October 15 – November 30), appointments run until 6 pm.

There’s no extra charge for lake pump systems, and estimates for new installs are free.

No. We don’t require contracts, and we don’t offer them. We only come to your property when you call and schedule an appointment. We will never show up automatically, and we will never knock on your door to ask if you want service.

On request, we can set up a preset maintenance schedule for you. Contact the office for details.

Yes. We work hard to make quality repairs, and we back them with a 30-day workmanship guarantee. For example, if we repair a section of PVC and our glue fails, or we replace a head and that head fails, we fix it.

For new parts we install, the labor is covered for 30 days and the part itself is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Labor is not covered when old, existing parts fail.

If you’re not happy with our work, call the office at 865-922-8480 and we’ll set up a comeback appointment. New system installs come with a separate 2-year parts and labor warranty.

No, we don’t offer a referral program at this time.

At this time, we don’t offer discounts for multiple individual customers in the same subdivision. We do work with HOAs to service entrances and common irrigated areas.

We service professionally installed residential and commercial irrigation systems that run on city water (through a backflow) or lake water (through a pump). We don’t service homeowner-installed or hose-bib timer systems.

We also work on suction pump systems, though they can cost more to maintain.

A city water system draws water from the city’s supply through a backflow preventer. A pump system draws water from the lake, usually through a pump submerged in the water.

We use a mix of brands that have consistently given the best performance and longevity:

• Sprinkler heads: Hunter Pro Sprays and I-20 Rotors
• Timers: Hunter Pro-C and Hydrawise
• Valves: Hunter PGV
• Spray nozzles: Rain Bird VAN
• Rotary nozzles: Rain Bird RVAN and Hunter MP Rotator
• Pumps: Red Jacket Grizzly submersible pumps only

We also carry some Toro and Irritrol parts for repairs. Call our office with any other questions about our preferred brands.

We run background checks on all of our technicians and make every effort to hire only responsible people. We also stand behind our work with a 30-day workmanship guarantee.

Please make sure there’s a clear path to your timer, backflow or pump, unlock any gates, and keep dogs inside. We’ll take care of the rest!

In most cases, yes. If your timer and all of your irrigation equipment are outside, you don’t need to be home.

We’ve worked in East Tennessee irrigation for over 20 years, and the last frost and first freeze fall in a surprisingly consistent window each year. That’s why startups begin in mid-April and winterizations run from mid-October until the day before Thanksgiving.

Irrigation systems are like anything else in your home: they need maintenance. A professional startup catches problems early in the season, keeping your yard looking its best and your system running efficiently to save you money. A professional winterization makes sure no water is left in the lines to freeze, which can damage your system and cost a lot to fix. And with repairs, you get peace of mind that the problem is truly fixed, and you get your weekend back!

A startup is an assessment of your irrigation system. Appointments are scheduled for one hour.

Please note: To fit in all of our residential and commercial customers, we have to limit startup assessments to one hour. We can’t offer open-ended appointments, because our technicians are at a different property every hour on the hour. This visit is to find out what your system needs to be fully working, and in many cases one hour is enough to get it up and running for the season.

This appointment is not a backflow test (see Do you test backflows?). At your appointment, the technician will:

• Attach your backflow.
• Set your timer to your water company’s requirements.
• Run every zone, check every head and make adjustments.
• Do light maintenance within the hour. (Techs can usually replace a few standard heads that we keep stocked on our vans, repair minor pipe breaks, move a head a short distance, etc.)
• Note on your invoice your timer settings, an assessment of each zone, any maintenance done, and whether you need a return visit for more maintenance or service from a certified backflow company.

Please note: Our techs watch each head run through one rotation. Rotors are geared, so it’s common for a used rotor to turn through several cycles, then slip a gear and stop. A rotor may work during the assessment and fail on a later cycle. If an existing rotor fails later, the labor isn’t covered by our workmanship guarantee.

Please note: In rare cases, especially after work in the yard (a pool or patio installation, termite bait stations, tree removal, etc.), a system may need too much maintenance to run. We do our best to isolate the problem by turning off the affected zone(s) and running the rest. Some leaks won’t show up until the system has run through several cycles.

A backflow preventer is a device on your water line that lets water flow in only one direction. Think of it as a one-way gate: water from the city’s supply can flow into your home’s piping, but it’s stopped if it ever tries to flow backward into the public water supply.

You’re required to have your backflow tested every year (see the next question).

No. Testing is typically done by your water company (call them for details). We’re only legally allowed to put the backflow on, take it off for winterization, and work on its PVC or plastic legs. If we see that your backflow needs maintenance, we’ll refer you to our preferred backflow company, though you’re not required to use them.

Tellico Village: The POA’s own company tests backflows automatically, or you can use a third-party company if the test is done by the POA’s deadline. Call your POA for details. Because of the POA’s inspection schedule, Tellico Village city water startups should be done before June if possible.

Yes. If your water company limits when you can water, we’ll set your timer to follow its rules.

For residential systems, 1–7 zones is $100, plus $5 for each additional zone up to 16. Systems with more than 16 zones are billed at our hourly rate of $100/hr. Commercial startups are $150/hr. (See all of our rates.)

A startup is an assessment of your irrigation system. Appointments are scheduled for one hour.

Please note: To fit in all of our residential and commercial customers, we have to limit startup assessments to one hour. We can’t offer open-ended appointments, because our technicians are at a different property every hour on the hour. This visit is to find out what your system needs to be fully working, and in many cases one hour is enough to get it up and running for the season.

At your appointment, the technician will:

• Hook up the pump wiring and turn on the pump breakers.
• Set your timer.
• Run every zone, check every head and make adjustments.
• Do light maintenance within the hour. (Techs can usually replace a few standard heads that we keep stocked on our vans, repair minor pipe breaks, move a head a short distance, etc.)
• Note on your invoice your timer settings, an assessment of each zone, any maintenance done, and whether you need a return visit.

Please note: Our techs watch each head run through one rotation. Rotors are geared, so it’s common for a used rotor to turn through several cycles, then slip a gear and stop. A rotor may work during the assessment and fail on a later cycle. If an existing rotor fails later, the labor isn’t covered by our workmanship guarantee.

Please note: In rare cases, especially after work in the yard (a pool or patio installation, termite bait stations, tree removal, etc.), a system may need too much maintenance to run. We do our best to isolate the problem by turning off the affected zone(s) and running the rest. Some leaks won’t show up until the system has run through several cycles.

The same as a city water startup. We don’t charge extra for pump systems. For residential systems, 1–7 zones is $100, plus $5 for each additional zone up to 16. Systems with more than 16 zones are billed at our hourly rate of $100/hr. Commercial startups are $150/hr.

No. Your water comes from the lake, not a utility company, so you can set your timer to run whenever you like.

No. Pulling a pump takes more time than a startup appointment allows. If your pump needs to be pulled, the technician will note it on your invoice, and you can call the office to schedule a return visit.

Winterizing removes the water from all pipes, valves and heads so nothing freezes and bursts over the winter. We use large, high-flow air compressors to blow out the system from the mainline through the valves and heads of every zone. On city water systems we remove the backflow, and on pump systems we make sure the pump can’t run during the winter.

If your system is already winterized, you don’t need to do anything.

Through the fall and into early December, it’s not unusual to get a night or two below 32 degrees. Underground pipes usually aren’t at risk during these short cold snaps, but a few simple steps can prevent damage.

Pump systems: Turn your irrigation timer to OFF. If the system runs during a freeze, the water can ice over your grass and plants and damage them.

City water systems: A backflow that sits above ground can be damaged by freezing temperatures. To insulate it:

1. Wrap the backflow in an old towel or blanket.
2. Cover it with a plastic bag.
3. Secure the bag with tape.
4. Turn your irrigation timer to OFF.

It won’t look pretty, but it can save your backflow. Questions? Call or text the office at 865-922-8480.

Winterizations are priced the same as startups, with no extra charge for pump systems. For residential systems, 1–7 zones is $100, plus $5 for each additional zone up to 16. Systems with more than 16 zones are billed at our hourly rate of $100/hr. Commercial winterizations are $150/hr.

Any work on an existing system, such as replacing bad heads, fixing leaks and pipe breaks, changing the system layout, replacing valves, repairing wiring and locating lost valves.

Residential maintenance and service calls are $100/hr, and commercial are $150/hr. Emergency calls are double those rates: $200/hr residential and $300/hr commercial.

No. We’re currently short-staffed and aren’t taking on sports fields.

Call either of our numbers, 865-922-8480 or 865-604-7246 (604-RAIN), and press 1 for the office. You can also text the office at 865-922-8480 or send a request through our contact form. For an emergency, press 2 instead (see emergencies).

Right now, our co-owner, Nickie Lewis, is the only person answering the phones, and during our busiest times we can get a call every 1–2 minutes. If you reach voicemail, please leave a message. We won’t know you called if you don’t. You can also text to schedule. We strive to return all calls and texts within 24 hours, in the order received.

We recommend calling 4–5 weeks before your preferred date. Startups begin in mid-April and run through the summer. Winterizations begin in mid-October and run until the day before Thanksgiving.

Existing customers get a courtesy reminder postcard in mid-March. You don’t have to wait for the postcard to schedule; you can schedule at any time of year. We can’t guarantee the postcard will arrive, since things happen at the post office that we have no control over.

We don’t send appointment reminders at this time, but the technician can call ahead before arriving at your property. We recommend marking the date on your calendar and setting a reminder on your phone.

Please call or text our office at 865-922-8480, ideally with at least 24 hours’ notice. If you forget to let us know and the technician arrives but can’t perform the service, a $30 trip charge will be invoiced.

If we have your email address on file, you’ll get your invoice by email with the option to pay online. Otherwise, we’ll mail your invoice.

We prefer cash or check. We also accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express), Apple Pay, bank transfer, PayPal and Venmo, all through QuickBooks Online Payments. Online payments come with processing fees, so larger invoices paid online carry a small fee:

Yes, though it isn’t necessary. We work all over Knox and Loudon counties, and we do our best to schedule around what’s convenient for our customers.

If you’d like to schedule with your neighbor, please:

• Schedule for yourself and your neighbor(s) at the same time, since time slots fill quickly.
• Make sure your neighbor has agreed to the appointment time and cost. If the technician arrives and the service isn’t wanted, a $30 trip charge will be invoiced to the person who scheduled.

“If time permits” appointments are added to the end of our schedule in case the technicians finish their scheduled jobs early, so they don’t guarantee a visit that day. If the technician can’t get to you, the office will keep moving your appointment to the next day until it can be completed.

Return visits are appointments for maintenance needed after your startup. The technician notes them on your invoice, and you’ll need to contact the office to schedule one. We will never come back to a property automatically.

Comeback appointments are for fixing unsatisfactory work from a previous appointment. We don’t charge for the labor, but any parts needed will be invoiced. If the technician finds that the original problem isn’t directly Raindrop’s fault, a service call charge will be invoiced. (See our workmanship guarantee.)

No. We have a “no solicitation” policy for our technicians. If a customer asks a technician to work for them directly, outside of Raindrop, to get a cheaper price, we will no longer serve that customer. All vehicles, tools, parts and supplies belong to Raindrop, not the technician. If a technician agrees to work outside of Raindrop, there’s no warranty, Raindrop isn’t responsible for any damage that may occur, and the technician will be fired. Please don’t tempt our technicians in a way that could cost them their jobs.

Typically, an irrigation emergency is a problem that forces you to shut off your house water, a repair needed right away for a home inspection, or work that has to be done after regular business hours.

Call either of our numbers, 865-604-7246 (604-RAIN) or 865-922-8480, and press 2 at the menu. That rings owner Lesley Lewis’ cell phone directly and is the fastest way to reach him. If he can’t answer right away, please leave a message. For an emergency, call rather than text, since texts may not be seen right away.

Same-day service isn’t guaranteed, but we’ll do our best to get to you as soon as possible. Call us for details.

Emergency calls are billed at double our regular hourly rate: $200/hr for residential and $300/hr for commercial. They often fall outside regular business hours or mean rescheduling other appointments, and we pay our techs double time for them. We typically won’t schedule anything expected to take longer than an hour as an emergency call.

Yes! We design and install complete new irrigation systems. Please call our office with any questions not covered here.

Yes! We can add zones and heads to your existing system, whether it’s for new beds, a new patio or a dry corner that never gets water.

Every property is different, and a properly designed system has many variables, so we provide free estimates for every new install. Contact the office to schedule one.

Everything for a turnkey installation: water source taps, pumps and wiring, the controller, valves, heads, and anything else needed for a fully working system on completion.

Every new system we install, residential or commercial, includes a 2-year parts and labor warranty covering our workmanship and manufacturer defects.

No. Because of our workload, we can only install new irrigation systems from December 1 – April 1 and July 1 – October 1.

Yes. We offer discounts on new installs during our winter months, December 1 – March 1.

No. We take pride in installing the best irrigation systems and would never trust anyone else to install systems with our name on them.

Fill out our online application and attach your resume. You can also email your resume to [email protected], or mail it to: Raindrop Landscape, 6819 Highbank Lane, Knoxville, TN 37938.

• Reliable transportation to and from work
• Legally able to work in the United States / Tennessee
• A valid TN driver’s license
• Able to pass a background check
• Able to lift 50 lbs or more
• Professional with customers, coworkers and partners
• Able to work efficiently with minimal supervision

Some positions have additional requirements.

• Competitive pay
• PTO and paid holidays once work history is established
• Uniform and boot allowance
• Collaborative team environment
• Industry training
• Bonus opportunities
• Incentive structure for additional earnings
• Career growth opportunities

We’re currently hiring for a Lead Technician and a Technician Assistant. See our careers page for details.