Fairland Pool Heat Pumps: An Honest Review
A Fairland pool heat pump review from the people who sell them and also sell the cheaper thing you are comparing them with.
Fairland pool heat pumps are worth the money if you heat in cool weather, and overkill if you only swim in summer. The pick for most pools is the Fairland Aqua X Essential 17.1kW from $4,607: full inverter, seasonal COP of 7.6, heating and cooling, with a 5 year warranty.
The premium Aqua X20 buys you a quieter unit, a stainless casing and a 15 year compressor warranty. Warm climate, covered pool, tight budget? A Midea 20kW from $3,799 is the better deal, and we will say so.
Short on time? See the Aqua X Essential 17.1kW or browse every pool heat pump.
Want your exact size? Our pool heat pump sizing calculator works out the kW your pool needs from its volume, your city and whether you use a cover.
This review is based on Fairland's published specifications and the live product pages. We have not run our own lab tests, and we sell these units, so weigh it accordingly.
Fairland pros and cons
Fairland's main strength is cool weather efficiency, and its main weakness is price against cheaper brands.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Published seasonal COP of 7.0 to 8.5 on the Essential range | Costs more than a Midea at the same output |
| Publishes output and COP at 15°C air, not just 26°C | Headline kW shrinks by about 30% at 15°C air |
| Heats and cools, handy in Queensland summers | Essential casing is ABS, not stainless |
| Sizes from 7.5 kW to 34.5 kW | Essential warranty is 5 years, not 15 |
| Spiral titanium heat exchanger, plus Wi-Fi control on the Essential and X20 lines | Price varies by state, and WA pays the most |
Fairland Aqua X Essential review
The Fairland Aqua X Essential is the sensible Fairland, giving full inverter efficiency and a 5 year warranty on the heat exchanger, compressor and parts from $2,645.
| Model | Seasonal COP | Noise at 1m, dB(A) | Supply | Connection | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5kW | 7.0 | 38.8 to 50.8 | 230V | 10A plug | $2,645 |
| 8.8kW | 7.1 | 40.0 to 52.4 | 230V | 10A plug | $3,186 |
| 11kW | 7.3 | 41.3 to 53.4 | 230V | 10A plug | $3,182 |
| 13.8kW | 7.6 | 41.8 to 54.2 | 230V | 15A plug | $3,706 |
| 17.1kW | 7.6 | 44.8 to 56.2 | 230V | Hardwired | $4,607 |
| 21.2kW | 7.3 | 45.1 to 57.0 | 230V | Hardwired | $5,242 |
| 28kW | 7.8 | 45.6 to 58.1 | 230V | Hardwired | $7,055 |
| 28.5kW | 7.8 | 45.6 to 58.1 | 415V | Hardwired | $7,456 |
| 34.5kW | 8.5 | 46.1 to 59.1 | 415V | Hardwired | $8,246 |
Prices current as of November 2026, AUD including GST, lowest state price. Prices vary by state: the 7.5kW is $2,645 in NSW, VIC and the ACT, $2,849 in QLD and SA, and $3,256 in WA. Specs from the live product pages.
Look closely at that table and one thing stands out. The 11kW is $4 cheaper than the 8.8kW, at the time of writing. Unless the smaller unit suits your site for a specific reason, take the 11kW.
The plug models are the quiet achievers. From 7.5kW to 13.8kW, you connect to a suitable outlet in place of a hardwired circuit, which can save real money on the install. From 17.1kW up, a licensed electrician hardwires it.
View the Aqua X Essential 17.1kW →
Fairland Aqua X20 review
The Fairland Aqua X20 is the premium range, and it earns the extra money through noise, casing and warranty, with prices from $4,482.
| Same 11kW size | Aqua X Essential | Aqua X20 AX20-40C |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3,182 | $4,482 |
| Noise at 1m | 41.3 to 53.4 dB(A) | 37.7 to 44.8 dB(A) |
| Casing | ABS | Stainless steel |
| Heat exchanger and compressor warranty | 5 years | 15 years |
| Parts warranty | 5 years | 7 years |
| Weight | 47 kg | 63 kg |
So $1,300 buys ten extra years on the compressor and a unit that runs about 8.6 dB(A) quieter flat out. That second number is the one to care about. Decibels are logarithmic, and a gap that size is clearly audible across a small yard. If the unit sits under a bedroom window or on a tight boundary, the X20 is an easy call. Coastal pool? The stainless casing helps too, and Fairland rates the X20 to keep heating down to minus 5°C air.
The X20 range runs from the AX20-40C 11kW ($4,482) through the 13.5kW ($5,231), 16kW ($5,876) and 21.5kW ($7,166) to the 26kW ($8,715) and the 415V AX20-105CT 31.5kW ($10,837). Our quietest pool heat pumps guide compares it with other low noise units.
Do not trust the headline numbers
Fairland's headline kW and COP are measured at 26°C air, so size and budget from the 15°C figures.
Every brand plays this game, and Fairland at least publishes the cooler figures. The Aqua X Essential 17.1kW delivers 17.1 kW at 26°C air and 11.8 kW at 15°C air. The 7.5kW drops to 5.3 kW. That is a fall of about 30%, right when you want the heat. The X20 16kW lists a COP of up to 22.2, which is real, but it applies at 26°C air on low output, and a pool in that weather barely needs heating. At the other end of its range, the same unit lists 7.3.
Here is the 17.1kW in dollars. Say a cool spring day needs 100 kWh of heat. At its 15°C COP of 4.7 to 7.3, that takes about 14 to 21 kWh of electricity, or roughly $4.80 to $7.50 at 35 cents a kWh. Our pool heat pump running costs guide has the full picture, and a pool cover cuts all of these numbers.
Who should buy a Fairland
A Fairland suits owners who heat outside summer, live in a cooler city, or need a size other brands do not make.
- Buy the Aqua X Essential if you swim in spring and autumn, live in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra or Tasmania, or have a small pool that suits a 7.5kW to 13.8kW plug in unit.
- Buy the Aqua X20 if noise is a real issue, you are near the coast, or you plan to keep the unit for a long time.
- Skip Fairland if you have a covered pool in a warm climate and heat only from spring to autumn. The Midea M Series 20kW from $3,799 does that job for less.
The head to head is in our Midea vs Fairland comparison, and the wider field is in the best pool heat pumps in Australia. Sizing is roughly 0.3 to 0.7 kW per 1,000 litres depending on climate and cover, so a 40,000 litre pool usually lands at 15 to 27 kW. The pool heat pump size chart narrows that down.
If your pool pump is also due for replacing, the Fairland InverPro IP20 variable speed pump ($1,290) is worth a look, since a heat pump needs steady water flow.
Frequently asked questions
Are Fairland pool heat pumps any good in Australia?
Yes, Fairland pool heat pumps are strong full inverter units in Australia, with published seasonal COPs of 7.0 to 8.5 on the Aqua X Essential range and 15 year compressor and heat exchanger warranties on the Aqua X20 range. They cost more than budget brands, so they suit people heating in cool weather.
How much does a Fairland pool heat pump cost in Australia?
A Fairland pool heat pump costs from $2,645 for the Aqua X Essential 7.5kW up to $8,246 for the 34.5kW, and from $4,482 to more than $10,000 for the Aqua X20 range, as of November 2026. Prices vary by state and installation is extra.
What is the difference between the Fairland Aqua X Essential and the Aqua X20?
The Fairland Aqua X20 is quieter, has a stainless steel casing and carries a 15 year compressor and heat exchanger warranty, while the Aqua X Essential has an ABS casing and a 5 year warranty. At 11kW the X20 costs about $1,300 more.
What warranty do Fairland pool heat pumps have?
Fairland Aqua X Essential pool heat pumps have 5 years on the titanium heat exchanger, compressor and parts, and Aqua X20 units have 15 years on the heat exchanger and compressor and 7 years on parts. The warranty applies when the unit is installed and operated in line with Fairland guidelines.
Do Fairland heat pumps need an electrician?
Yes, Fairland heat pumps from 17.1kW up are hardwired and must be connected by a licensed electrician. The smaller 7.5kW to 13.8kW Essential models use a 10 amp or 15 amp plug, but an electrician still needs to confirm or install a suitable outlet outdoors.
Still deciding? Tell us about your pool
Send us your pool volume, suburb, whether you use a cover and which months you want to swim. We will tell you straight whether a Fairland is worth it or a cheaper unit will do.
Prefer to talk it through? Contact us here.
This guide is general information for Australian pool owners and is not a substitute for advice on your specific site. Pool heat pumps are electrical appliances and installation must be carried out by a licensed electrician. Confirm final sizing with us before you buy.