What to Know Before Installing a Pool Heat Pump
Pool heat pump installation requirements trip up more buyers than sizing does. Most of the problems were decided before the box arrived.
Not sure what size you need? Try our heat pump sizing calculator. Enter your pool size and postcode and it shows the right kW, running costs and the models that fit.
The pool heat pump installation requirements come down to four things: a suitable electrical supply run by a licensed electrician, a plumbing connection into the filter return line, a level solid base, and a spot with open airflow away from bedroom windows. Get those four sorted before you order and the install is a half day job. Skip them and you end up with a $5,000 unit sitting on a pallet in the carport for three weeks while someone quotes a switchboard upgrade.
None of it is hard. It just has to happen in the right order.
Pool heat pump electrical requirements
Most pool heat pumps above about 9kW need a dedicated hardwired circuit from the switchboard, installed by a licensed electrician. A pool heat pump is a big continuous load that runs for hours at a time, so it does not share a power point with the filter pump, the chlorinator and the garden lights.
The circuit size depends on the unit's maximum current, which is on the spec plate and in our listings. Here is what the popular models actually draw.
Electrical supply by model
| Model | Supply | Connection | Max current | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian Platinum 9kW | 230V single phase | 10A plug | 6.48 A running at 100% | $3,046 |
| Fairland Aqua X Essential 17.1kW | 230V single phase | Hardwired | Input 0.32 to 2.51 kW | $4,607 |
| Guardian Platinum 20kW | 230V single phase | Hardwired | 13.31 A running at 100% | $6,290 |
| Guardian Eco Pro 20kW | 230V single phase | 15A hardwired | 14.79 A running at 100% | $4,940 |
| SensaHeat ES 20kW | 230V single phase | Hardwired | 19.5 A max | $4,700 |
| Midea M Series 20kW WiFi | 230V single phase | Hardwired, 25A minimum breaker | 23 A max | $3,799 |
| Guardian Eco Pro 35kW | 400V three phase | Three phase hardwired | About 17 to 18 A per phase | $9,451 |
Manufacturer figures from our product listings. Prices current as of September 2026, AUD including GST, unit only.
Look at the spread. Two units with the same 20kW label draw anywhere from about 13 amps to 23 amps. That changes the cable size, the breaker and sometimes whether your switchboard can take it at all. The Midea 20kW is our best seller and a good unit, but it wants a 25A minimum breaker, and an older switchboard that is already full may not have room.
Send your electrician the exact model before you buy. They can tell you in one site visit whether it is a simple circuit run or a board upgrade. That one question is the difference between a smooth install and a surprise bill.
Three phase units like the Guardian Eco Pro 35kW only make sense if the property already has three phase power. Most houses do not.
Can a pool heat pump plug into a normal power point?
Only the smallest pool heat pumps plug into a standard 10A power point; everything from about 13kW up is hardwired. The Guardian Platinum 9kW ships with a 10A plug and draws under 7 amps, which suits spas and plunge pools. Even then, the power point should be on a circuit that is not already carrying the filter pump and everything else in the pool shed.
Do not run a hardwired unit off an extension lead or a power point adaptor. We get asked. The answer is no.
Where a pool heat pump connects into the plumbing
A pool heat pump plumbs into the filtration return line, after the filter and before any chlorinator or salt cell. Water leaves the pump, goes through the filter, then through the heat pump, and only then passes the chlorinator on the way back to the pool. Putting the heat pump after the chlorinator sends concentrated chlorine straight through the heat exchanger, which shortens its life.
- Fit a bypass. Three valves around the heat pump let you isolate it for service, winter shutdown or backwashing without stopping the pool.
- Match the connections. Most units take 40mm or 50mm pool pipe. The Guardian and SensaHeat ranges use 40mm, the Midea 20kW uses 50mm and the Fairland Aqua X Essential 17.1kW uses 48mm fittings.
- Check the flow. The heat pump only heats when water moves through it. The SensaHeat ES 20kW asks for 120 to 150 litres a minute. The Midea 20kW is rated at 8.3 cubic metres an hour, about 138 litres a minute. A tired, undersized filter pump will trigger low flow errors.
- Keep the run short. Every extra metre of pipe to the heat pump and back adds friction for the filter pump and loses a little heat. Next to the existing pool equipment is almost always the right spot.
If your filter pump is old or single speed, it is worth looking at it at the same time. A variable speed pump like the Fairland InverPro runs the long, slow cycles a heat pump likes for far less power.
What base a pool heat pump needs
A pool heat pump needs a level, solid base such as a concrete pad, with the unit sitting on rubber anti vibration feet. These are heavy machines. The Fairland 17.1kW weighs 60kg, the Guardian Eco Pro 20kW 70kg and the Guardian Platinum 20kW 142kg. Pavers on sand settle under that and the unit ends up on a lean.
The base also has to drain. A heat pump pulls moisture out of the air as it works, and on a humid day that condensation runs out of the bottom as a steady trickle of water. That is normal, not a leak. Put the unit somewhere the water can run away, not into a garden bed against the house footings.
Where to put a pool heat pump
The best spot for a pool heat pump is outdoors next to the existing pool equipment, with open air on the intake and discharge sides and as far from bedrooms as practical. A heat pump heats by moving air across its coil. Box it in and it breathes its own cold exhaust, efficiency drops and the unit works harder for less heat.
- Airflow first. No enclosed sheds, no tight side passages with a fence a hand width from the fan. The installation manual gives the exact clearances for your model; follow them.
- Point the fan away from the neighbours. Our quietest pool heat pumps guide has the decibel numbers, but placement beats model choice for noise every time.
- Watch the discharge direction. Cold air blows out of the fan. Aim it at a lawn, not a window you sit next to.
- Top discharge units help in tight spots. The Guardian Lux-V 20kW blows air upward, which suits narrow side yards where a front fan would hit a fence.
Who installs a pool heat pump
A licensed electrician must do the electrical connection, and a pool technician or plumber usually does the pipework. In most jobs those are two separate trades. Some pool shops handle both; plenty of homeowners book the electrician themselves and have the pool tech do the plumbing on the same day.
The pipework is standard pool PVC and glue. Handy owners do sometimes plumb it in themselves. The electrics are not a DIY job, full stop, and doing it yourself puts your warranty and your insurance at risk.
Buying a pool heat pump online in Australia
Buying a pool heat pump online works well as long as you arrange the install locally, because the unit ships to you and your own tradespeople connect it. That is how we sell them. The unit comes on a pallet to your address, with the manual and the warranty pack in the box.
Before you click buy, have these ready:
- Pool volume and cover. Size from litres, not from a guess. Our sizing guide takes five minutes.
- An electrician's answer. Can the switchboard take the circuit for that exact model?
- A spot picked out. Level, drained, open airflow, near the filter.
- Someone to receive it. A 60kg to 142kg unit on a pallet needs two people and a clear path to the backyard.
- The warranty terms. Most manufacturers want proof of licensed electrical installation if you ever claim.
Warranties are worth reading before you choose. The Guardian range carries 25 years on the titanium heat exchanger and 5 years on the compressor. The Fairland Aqua X Essential has 5 years across the heat exchanger, compressor and parts. The Midea is 5 years on the compressor and heat exchanger for residential use.
Prices across the range sit on our pool heat pump prices guide, and every model is in Heat Pumps for Pools & Spas.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need an electrician to install a pool heat pump in Australia?
Yes. A pool heat pump must be connected by a licensed electrician in Australia, and most units above about 9kW need a dedicated hardwired circuit from the switchboard. Manufacturers also generally want proof of licensed installation before they will honour a warranty claim.
Can a pool heat pump plug into a normal power point?
Only the smallest pool heat pumps plug into a standard 10A power point. The Guardian Platinum 9kW is one, drawing under 7 amps. Units from about 13kW upward are hardwired on their own circuit, and some 20kW models need a 25A breaker.
Where does a pool heat pump go in the plumbing?
A pool heat pump goes in the filtration return line, after the filter and before any chlorinator or salt cell. Placing it after the chlorinator exposes the heat exchanger to concentrated chlorine. A three valve bypass lets you isolate the heat pump for servicing.
How far can a pool heat pump be from the pool?
A pool heat pump should sit as close to the existing pool equipment as practical, usually within a few metres. Longer pipe runs add friction for the filter pump and lose heat on the way back to the pool, so a short run next to the filter is the standard install.
Can I buy a pool heat pump online and install it myself?
You can buy a pool heat pump online and have it delivered, but the electrical connection must be done by a licensed electrician. Some owners plumb the PVC pipework themselves. Doing your own electrics is illegal, unsafe and puts the warranty at risk.
What does a pool heat pump need to sit on?
A pool heat pump needs a level, solid base such as a concrete pad, ideally with rubber anti vibration feet. Units weigh roughly 60kg to 142kg, and the base must let condensation water drain away, since heat pumps drip water from the bottom when running in humid weather.
Not sure your site is ready? Ask us
Send us your pool volume, whether it is covered, your postcode and a photo of where the pool equipment sits. We will tell you which unit fits, what circuit it needs and what to ask your electrician before you order.
Get a pool heating quote in minutes
This guide is general information for Australian pool owners and is not advice on your specific pool, site or electrical installation. Electrical figures are manufacturer specifications from our listings; always follow the installation manual for your model. Pool heat pumps are electrical appliances and must be connected by a licensed electrician. Circuit sizing, switchboard capacity and compliance are for your electrician to confirm. Prices are AUD including GST, unit only, current as of September 2026. Confirm final sizing with us or your pool professional before you buy.