Pool equipment explained: pump, filter and chlorinator
The equipment line in a pool quote is where two quotes can differ the most, because a pump, filtration system and chlorinator can be described in one word or specified exactly. Pumps for pools and spas over 680 litres must meet a federal energy standard. The filter and the chlorinator cell warranty move the running cost you budget for, on a fibreglass or concrete pool alike. This page explains what each piece of pool plant does, the one piece with a federal energy-efficiency rule (the pump, which must carry an Energy Rating label), and gives a spec table of what each quote should state so you can compare them line by line.
A pool quote's equipment is the pump, filter (sand, cartridge or glass media) and salt chlorinator, plus optional heating, lighting and automation. Since 1 October 2022, new pool pumps must carry an Energy Rating label and meet minimum energy standards under GEMS. Ask each quote for the pump's star rating and kWh a year.
The short answer
- Pool pumps are federally regulated. Since 1 October 2022, pumps for pools and spas over 680 litres must be registered with the GEMS Regulator, carry an Energy Rating label and meet minimum energy performance standards.
- The label gives two numbers: a star rating and the estimated annual energy use. Compare stars only between pumps of similar input power; a 1,500W five-star pump uses more than a 600W five-star pump.
- Covered pumps: single-speed 600–1,700W, two-speed, multi-speed or variable-speed 600–3,450W, flow of at least 120 litres a minute. An older non-complying pump you already own is not illegal.
- Published Victorian replacement prices: single-speed pump $600–$1,100 installed, variable-speed $1,200–$2,500, sand filter tank $800–$1,600, chlorinator cell $400–$900.
- Suction outlets are a safety standard, not a preference. The quote should state the suction arrangement; the rules are on our pump and filter compliance page.
| Component | What the quote should state | Why it matters (verified fact) | Red flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pump | Make and model; single, two, multi or variable speed; nameplate input watts; Energy Rating stars and kWh a year from the label | Pumps supplied since 1 October 2022 must be GEMS-registered and labelled; stars compare only between pumps of similar input power (Energy Rating) | ‘Pump included’ with no model or star rating |
| Filter | Type (sand, cartridge or glass media), make, model and rated flow | Filter and pump must be matched: an oversized pump puts more pressure on the filter and shortens its life (Energy Rating) | A filter model not matched to the pump's flow |
| Salt chlorinator | Make, model, the pool volume it is rated for, and the cell warranty in years | The cell is the recurring cost: $400–$900 installed to replace, on one Victorian marketplace | No cell warranty stated separately from the controller |
| Suction outlets and covers | Number of suction outlets, their spacing and the cover standard | Covered by the suction-entrapment standard; see our pump and filter rules page | Suction arrangement not stated at all |
| Heating (optional) | Type (solar, gas or heat pump), make, model and output in kW | Heating is the line that decides the annual running bill; see pool running costs | ‘Heating ready’ with no heater priced |
| Lighting (optional) | Number of lights, type (LED) and position | Lighting carries no energy label and is a specification choice, so only the model makes it comparable | A light count with no model |
| Automation (optional) | What it controls (pump speed, chlorinator, heater, lights) and the app or controller model | Variable-speed pumps are programmed; automation decides how that is done | ‘Smart control’ with no list of what it runs |
| Allowance or fixed price | Whether each item is a fixed price or a prime cost allowance, and the dollar allowance | An allowance moves with the final selection; see prime cost items | Equipment listed only as a PC sum |
The pool pump, and the energy label it must carry
The pump is the one piece of pool equipment with a federal energy-efficiency rule attached. The Energy Rating program states that pump units for swimming pools and spa pools are covered by energy efficiency regulations, must meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards and must carry an Energy Rating Label, under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Swimming Pool Pump-units) Determination 2021. From 1 October 2022, covered pumps must be registered with the GEMS Regulator before they can be supplied.
What is covered, on the regulator's own page: single-phase pumps for pools and spas over 680 litres, capable of 120 litres a minute or more, and within input-power bands of 600–1,700W for single-speed and 600–3,450W for two-speed, multi-speed or variable-speed pumps. It also says it is not illegal to own a non-complying pump supplied before the rules began. The law applies at the point of supply, so an old pump does not have to come out.
The label gives a star rating and the estimated energy use in a year. The regulator says to size the pump first and only then compare stars, because the rating allows for size: a 1,500W five-star pump uses more energy than a 600W five-star pump. It also says a pump that is too large puts more pressure on the filter and shortens its life. Pool pumps use nearly 18 per cent of the electricity in the average Australian home with a pool, on the regulator's figure.
Single or variable speed? A variable-speed pump runs at the speed each task needs. A Victorian quote marketplace publishes $600–$1,100 installed for a single-speed replacement and $1,200–$2,500 for variable-speed. What that difference returns in running cost is worked through in pool running costs per year.
The quotable version: a pool pump quote without its Energy Rating stars and annual kWh leaves out the one number the law requires the pump to carry.
Sand, cartridge or glass media: what the pool filter does
The filter removes the particles the pump pushes through it, and there are three common types in Australian quotes.
- Sand. Water passes through a bed of silica sand and is cleaned by backwashing, which reverses the flow and sends the dirt out the waste line. A Victorian quote marketplace publishes backwashing when the gauge reads 50–70 kPa above the clean pressure, sand replacement every five to seven years at $300–$550, and a new tank at $800–$1,600 installed.
- Cartridge. A pleated element is removed and hosed clean rather than backwashed. It produces no backwash water, which matters where disposal is restricted. Element prices vary by model, so ask for the replacement part number and price.
- Glass media. Crushed glass used in a sand-type filter in place of silica sand. Performance claims for glass media come from vendors; we found no Australian regulator or standards-body comparison, so treat them as claims.
Backwash water has to go somewhere, and in some places the sewer is not an option. In WA, Water Corporation does not permit domestic pool backwash to sewer; see draining to the sewer in WA.
The quotable version: the right filter is the one sized to the pump's flow, and a quote should name both so you can check they match.
Salt chlorinator, heating, lighting and automation
Salt chlorinator. It turns dissolved salt into chlorine through an electrolytic cell. The cell wears out and is the recurring cost: a Victorian marketplace publishes $400–$900 installed for a replacement cell, and a pool service business publishes $500–$1,500 to replace a chlorinator, typically every 3–7 years. Ask the quote for the cell warranty separately from the controller warranty. Whether salt suits you at all is covered in saltwater or chlorine.
Heating. Solar, gas or heat pump, each with very different running costs. Ask for the type, model and output in kW rather than ‘heating’. See solar, gas or heat pump heating and whether you need a timer on your pool heater.
Lighting and automation. Neither carries an energy label, and both are specification choices, which is why quotes describe them so loosely. Ask for the number and model of lights, and a list of what the automation actually controls.
The quotable version: in a pool quote, anything described in one word, such as ‘heating’, ‘lighting’ or ‘automation’, is a line you cannot yet compare.
How to compare the equipment line across pool quotes
Use the spec table above as the request. Send the same list to every builder and ask for each row to be filled in: make, model, the measurable figure (stars and kWh for the pump, kW for a heater, rated flow for a filter) and whether the item is a fixed price or an allowance.
Three checks catch most differences:
- Is the pump on the register? The Energy Rating Registration Database lists registered pumps. A covered pump made in or imported into Australia since 1 October 2022 that is not registered should not be on sale.
- Is it a prime cost item? If the equipment is an allowance, the price moves with the final selection. See what a prime cost item is.
- Does the suction arrangement meet the standard? Don't take it on trust. Check it against our page on pump and filter rules and suction entrapment.
The rest of the quote comparison, beyond equipment, is in what differs between pool quotes. When you are ready, you can compare pool quotes from builders in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and elsewhere, and send each one the same list.
The quotable version: two pool quotes are comparable on equipment only when every item has a model number and a measurable figure beside it.
Common questions
Do pool pumps have to have an energy rating label in Australia?
Is my old pool pump illegal?
How do I compare pool pump star ratings?
What does a variable speed pool pump cost to install?
Which pool filter is best: sand, cartridge or glass?
Sources
- Energy Rating, Pool pumps (consumer information)
- Energy Rating, Pool pumps (industry: regulated products, GEMS Determination 2021)
- Energy Rating, New mandatory standards and labelling requirements for swimming pool pumps (17 January 2022)
- Published pump and filter pricing, thequoteyard.com.au (Victoria, April 2026)
- Published salt system pricing, theonepoolcare.com.au
- Water Corporation (WA), aquatic facilities and swimming pool discharge
General information only, current at 2026-09-24. Pool rules differ by state and by council, and penalty amounts are updated regularly. Confirm your own obligations with your council or a registered inspector before acting.
Thinking about a pool?
Compare quotes from builders who work in your postcode. One form, no obligation.
Get my quotes