New pool pumps, salt and mineral chlorinators, filters and pool heaters, supplied only or supplied and installed. Clayton is a licensed plumber and gasfitter, so the plumbing and a gas heater connection can be done in one job, with the price agreed before work starts.
Electrical work beyond plugging equipment into an existing outlet, such as a new circuit or moving a pump onto an economy tariff, is a job for a licensed electrician.
Signs your pump or chlorinator is failing
Pool pump
Grinding, screeching or a rising whine from the motor usually points to worn bearings.
Water dripping under the pump, between the pump housing and the motor, is a typical sign of a failed shaft seal.
Humming without starting, tripping the power or running very hot: switch it off and have it checked.
Air bubbles in the pump basket or trouble holding prime: often a cracked lid O-ring or an air leak on the suction side.
Weak flow and cloudy water even after backwashing or cleaning the filter.
AstralPool puts the typical life of a pool pump at about 8–10 years, so on an older pump a failed motor is often the point to replace rather than repair.
Salt chlorinator
Low salt reading: the salt may be low, but the same warning can come from a scaled cell, a cell near the end of its life, or cold water (the colder the water, the more salt the cell needs).
White crust on the cell plates: scale, caused by high calcium, high pH or high alkalinity. Self-cleaning cells reduce scale but still need checking; Zodiac suggests every three to four weeks.
No-flow fault: the cell shuts off to protect itself when flow drops, usually because of full pump or skimmer baskets, a dirty filter or a closed valve.
Chlorine won’t hold even with the salt and settings right. AstralPool says cells generally last 3–5 years (roughly 10,000–20,000 hours of running), depending on water chemistry and care.
Mineral systems use magnesium and potassium minerals in place of plain pool salt, with a chlorinator made for that system. The water still needs regular testing and balancing.
Choosing the right size
Bigger isn’t better with pool equipment. An oversized pump costs more to run and can overpower the filter. Sizing starts with the pool:
Volume: length × width × average depth. A 10 m × 4 m pool averaging 1.4 m deep holds about 56,000 litres.
Turnover: AstralPool’s guide for a home outdoor pool is to circulate the whole volume in about six hours. That sets the flow rate the pump needs.
Resistance: pipe length, bends, valves and the filter all add resistance (called head). The pump is chosen from its flow chart at that head, not on wattage alone.
Match the filter and chlorinator: the filter must be rated for the pump’s flow, and the chlorinator’s output must suit the pool volume.
Heaters are sized on volume and surface area, how exposed the pool is to wind, and how often you want it warm. A pool cover makes any heater’s job easier.
Running costs and variable-speed pumps
Biggest power userThe Australian Government’s energy.gov.au notes the pool pump can be the single largest user of electricity in a home with a pool.
Variable speedThe most efficient pumps can run at different speeds: slow for everyday filtering, faster when more flow is needed, such as for backwashing or a pool cleaner.
Star ratingsSince 1 October 2022, new pool pumps sold in Australia must carry an Energy Rating Label (1 to 10 stars), so you can compare running costs.
Economy tariffEnergex allows pool pumps on its economy tariff (Tariff 33: at least 16 hours of supply a day, usually outside 4pm–9pm). A licensed electrician arranges the connection and your retailer sets the price.
A variable-speed pump costs more up front. Whether it pays back depends on how many hours your pump runs and what you pay for power, so compare the star ratings of the options you’re quoted.
Sand, glass or cartridge filter?
Sand: cleaned by backwashing. Standard filter sand traps particles down to about 20 microns and usually lasts 5–7 years before it needs changing.
Glass media: also backwashed, filters finer (around 5 microns) and can outlast sand.
Cartridge: no backwashing. The cartridges are lifted out and hosed off, with a deeper clean once or twice a year. They filter to about 10 microns, use far less water and work well at lower pump speeds, but need replacing every 1–3 years.
Figures are from AstralPool’s filter guide. Real-world life depends on how hard the pool works and how well the water is kept.
Pool heating: gas or heat pump
Gas heaters
A gas heater makes its own heat, so it warms the pool quickly and works in any weather. AstralPool quotes roughly 4 to 24 hours to heat a pool, depending on its size, which suits spas and pools used in bursts. Most Sunshine Coast homes run gas heaters on LPG, and a pool heater draws a lot of gas, so the bottles or tank, regulator and pipe size all need checking before installation.
Connecting a gas heater is gas work and must be done by a licensed gasfitter. Clayton holds a Queensland gas work licence (LIC-GWL-019585), so the heater, gas line and plumbing can be done and certified together. See gas fitting.
Heat pumps
A heat pump moves heat from the outside air into the water, a bit like a reverse-cycle air conditioner. Its efficiency is rated as a coefficient of performance (COP): the higher the COP, the more heat for each unit of power. Heat pumps suit Queensland’s climate but heat slowly. The first warm-up can take a couple of days, and they work harder in cooler weather. A pool cover cuts heat loss and running time.
Whichever you choose, keep the water balanced. AstralPool’s heat pump manual warns that excess chlorine, which a salt chlorinator can easily produce in a spa or covered pool, damages heater internals, and that corrosion from unbalanced water voids the warranty.
Salt air and where the equipment goes
Close to the beach, salt-laden air is hard on pumps, motors, heaters and fittings. A few things help equipment last and keep the install compliant:
Some shelter. Heat pump makers recommend protection from direct exposure even though the units are weatherproof, while keeping the clearances the manual sets for airflow and servicing.
Read the conditions first. Check the installation instructions and warranty terms before you buy, especially for a coastal site.
Stay out of the pool fence’s non-climbable zone. The QBCC lists plumbing fixtures and pipework among climbable objects, which must be kept 900 mm from the outside of a pool fence under 1,800 mm high (300 mm on the inside).
Keep electrical gear clear of LPG bottles. Gas cylinders need set distances from ignition sources such as pumps and power points, and a supplier can refuse to deliver gas if new equipment ends up inside that zone.
Backwash water and the Unitywater rules
Unitywater’s Domestic Swimming Pool Wastewater Disposal Policy (OP8130) sets out where pool water can go in its area:
Backwash: a licensed plumber and drainer can install a permanent connection from the filter backwash to your private sewer drain without Unitywater approval. A direct connection to Unitywater’s own sewer needs its approval.
Flow limit: backwash and maintenance water are accepted into the sewer at no more than 0.5 litres per second.
Draining for maintenance: water removed for repairs or resurfacing can only go to sewer between 10am and 5pm or 10pm and 5am, and Unitywater would rather it be used on lawns and gardens where possible.
Overflow: rainwater overflow from the pool isn’t accepted into the sewer. It goes to stormwater draining to an overland flow path, a storage tank or a seepage pit.
A cartridge filter avoids backwash water altogether. For the pipework side, see pool plumbing and heating.
What customers say
★★★★★
My Tradie mate highly recommended Clayton to help us out with gas and plumbing issues. Clayton's competence, professionalism, unflustered problem solving and general likeability makes this an easy 5 STAR review.
Ewan M. · Google review
★★★★★
We've used Clayton Cassel for our plumbing and occasional gas needs for the past eight years and have found him to be competent, reliable and easy to work with. He's highly recommended.
Can you supply pool equipment without installing it?
Yes. Pumps, chlorinators, filters and heaters can be supplied only, or supplied and installed. Phone or message with your pool size and current equipment for a free quote.
Why does my chlorinator say low salt when I’ve added salt?
A low salt warning can also mean the cell is scaled, the cell is wearing out, or the water is cold. Test the salt level first, then check the cell for white scale. If the warning keeps coming back with the salt right and the cell clean, the cell may be near the end of its life.
How long does a pool pump last?
AstralPool puts typical pump life at about 8–10 years. Bearings and shaft seals can wear out sooner and can sometimes be replaced, but on an older pump a new, more efficient unit is often the better buy.
Is a variable-speed pump worth it?
Often, if your pump runs many hours a day. Running slower for everyday filtering uses less power. Compare the Energy Rating Label stars on the options you’re quoted and check your electricity tariff.
Do I need a gasfitter for a gas pool heater?
Yes. Installing and connecting a gas pool or spa heater is gas work in Queensland and must be done by a licensed gasfitter. Clayton holds gas work licence LIC-GWL-019585.
