What You’re Really Getting When You Buy a Pool or Spa Heat Pump in Australia
Let’s Talk About the Brands… and the Truth Behind Them
If you’re shopping for a heat pump for your pool or spa, you’ve probably noticed the explosion of “brands” on the market in recent years. A quick online search reveals what looks like an endless sea of options. But here’s the truth: most of these so-called brands are just stick-on labels slapped onto the same handful of units made by a few large manufacturers in China.
Some of the major OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) behind the flood of private-label heat pumps include:
- Aquark
- Fairland (now merged with Aquark)
- PHNIX
- Guangdong New Energy Technology
- Thermoplus
These factories mass-produce heat pumps and rebrand them for dozens — sometimes hundreds — of sellers. So you might see five “different” brands online that all came out of the same factory with nearly identical components.
Fake Output Ratings and Fantasy COPs
This is the biggest issue we see: wildly inflated output ratings and COP (Coefficient of Performance) numbers that simply aren’t grounded in reality.
That 20kW heat pump you’re looking at? That rating is usually based on lab-perfect conditions — specifically 28°C air temperature and 28°C water temperature. But let’s be honest: when are you running your heater on a 28°C day where the water is already 28°C ?!?
How Ambient Temperature Affects Output
Heat pumps work by extracting warmth from the air, so the colder the air is, the harder they have to work — and the less heat they can deliver.
Here’s what really happens:
- At 15°C air temp, output may drop by 40% or more.
- At 10–12°C, a "20kW" unit may only deliver 10–12kW.
- Below 10°C, many cheaper heat pumps struggle significantly.
This isn’t a defect — it’s physics. But the problem is, most marketing only shows the best-case scenario.
Always ask for performance charts showing heat output at a range of air temps. Reputable brands will provide these. If the brand won’t — it’s probably not a brand worth trusting.
Unbelievable COPs? Believe It’s a Lie
A COP of 4.5–6 is realistic for a decent unit under ideal conditions. But some sellers claim COPs of 8, 10, or even higher — which is pure fantasy.
No, your $999 eBay special is not producing 10kW of heat for every 1kW of electricity — especially not in the middle of a chilly Melbourne morning.
Electrical Safety Approvals: Don't Buy Without Them
This is a critical legal and safety requirement in Australia that many consumers don’t know about — and that many dodgy sellers conveniently ignore:
All electrical pool and spa equipment sold in Australia must have certified Australian electrical approval.
If a seller won’t provide proof of electrical approval (such as an RCM mark or ERAC listing), you should walk away. Here’s why:
- It’s illegal to import or sell unapproved electrical appliances in Australia.
- Your home insurance may be void in the event of fire or damage from an unapproved product.
- There have been real cases of injury and death caused by unsafe imported pool and spa equipment.
Always ask:
- Who imported this heat pump?
- Is it registered on the ERAC database?
- Can I see the Australian Electrical Safety Certificate?
We’re Brand-Agnostic – We Just Want You to Get the Right Heat Pump
At the end of the day, we don’t care what name is on the box. We’re not tied to one brand or trying to upsell you something expensive. We’re brand-agnostic because we care about what actually works for you.
Our goal is to help you choose a heat pump that is:
- Realistic in its performance claims
- Genuinely approved for use in Australia
- Supported locally with parts and warranty service
- Safe, legal, and built to last
You deserve something that’s not just a flashy number on a spec sheet, but something that will heat your pool or spa reliably when you need it.
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of high-quality heat pumps on the market — but the sea of rebadged, underperforming imports is growing fast.
Look for brands that:
- Provide clear and honest performance data
- Have genuine Australian electrical approvals
- Offer local parts, support, and warranty
- Have a real reputation — not just a good-looking website
Don’t gamble with safety, reliability, or efficiency. A heat pump is a major investment — make sure it’s one that delivers real heat, not just hot air.
So… What Brands Do We Actually Recommend?
Honestly, this is the tricky part — and we’ll be real with you.
We’ve been in this industry a long time, and we’ve tried just about every brand you can name. Many of them start out promising: the specs look great, the support team is responsive, the pricing makes sense… until something goes wrong. Suddenly, the support dries up, the warranty process becomes a nightmare, or the manufacturer starts making up rules about how, where, and who you can sell to. Some brands just become flat-out painful to deal with.
We don’t stick to a brand for the sake of loyalty or profit — we stick to what works.
Right now, the heat pump brands we confidently work with are:
- Sensaheat by Spa-Craft - the largest spa OEM distributor in Australia & New Zealand. They keep parts in stock and are very easy to deal with.
- Madimack - they have sorted any issues quickly, and we've had no issues with parts.
- Rheem - you also know them as Raypak. They're now importing heat pump,s but you can't deny they have a massive support network and know a thing about pool heating!
- Henden & Theralux by Reece - their gigantic support network and their genuine "we want to do a good job by providing a good product" attitude makes them great to deal with. The old Theralux brand was previously under a completely different owner. Reece has certainly done a good job at lifting the brand.
These brands have proven themselves through real-world experience. We’ve had no issues with warranty claims, no headaches with after-sales support, and no sudden surprises with policy changes. That doesn’t mean they’re perfect — it just means they’ve earned our trust so far.
We’re always evaluating. If something changes, we change too — because our priority is you, not the brand.