Richard Thomas — Fifteen years spent testing hoses, timers, and drip systems so your garden never runs dry.
Background
I have spent over fifteen years working in irrigation and outdoor watering equipment, starting on installation crews before moving into product selection and technical support. My focus has always been practical: matching the right hose, timer, sprinkler, or drip system to the actual conditions of a garden, not just the specs on a box. I have handled thousands of returns and repair calls, which taught me more about durability than any brochure ever could.
How I Test
Before any product reaches our shelves, I run it through real seasons in my own garden and test plots: freeze cycles, high water pressure, direct sun exposure on plastic fittings, and repeated coiling and uncoiling of hoses. I check connector fit under pressure, timer battery life in humid conditions, and whether nozzles clog with hard water. If a product fails under normal home use, it does not get recommended, regardless of the brand behind it.
My Commitment
My expertise covers drip irrigation, hose reels, sprinkler timers, nozzles, and rainwater collection systems. I focus on parts that hold up through multiple seasons and connections that do not leak or crack under pressure. Every recommendation I make reflects what I would install in my own yard, and I stay available to correct course if a product underperforms once it reaches your garden.
Get in Touch
Have a question about a watering setup or need advice before you buy? Write to me directly. contact@hosepipeshop.co.uk
