How we research and rank pool equipment

Every guide on Pool Gear Guide Australia follows the same process. We publish it so you can judge our picks for yourself.

1. We start with what Australians can actually buy

We only consider products stocked by Australian retailers, sold in Australian dollars, with Australian warranties. A product that is brilliant overseas but grey-imported here with no local support does not make the list.

2. We check the specifications that matter

For pool equipment that means the numbers the maker publishes and a retailer repeats. For robotic cleaners: the surfaces it is rated to clean (floor, walls, waterline), the pool size it is rated for, cable length or battery run time, filter fineness and the price of replacement filters. For heat pumps: heating output in kilowatts and the COP (coefficient of performance), both at stated air and water temperatures, whether it is inverter or on/off, rated noise and the power supply it needs. For salt water chlorinators: chlorine output in grams per hour against the rated pool volume, whether the cell cleans itself by reversing polarity, and the price of a replacement cell, which is the main running cost. For covers: thickness in microns, the sizes it is sold in and what the maker says about UV life and warranty.

3. We check certifications and Australian standards

Anything that runs on mains power should carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM), the electrical safety mark used under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS); where a listing is unclear we check the public EESS register. For equipment that sits in the water we look for the maker's stated IP rating. Heat pump COP figures are compared only when they were measured at the same air and water temperatures, because a figure measured on a warm day says little about a cold morning. Hard-wired equipment and new circuits are electrical work that needs a licensed electrician. A claim that appears only in marketing copy, with no test condition or certification behind it, is treated as unverified.

4. We read owner reviews for patterns, not scores

Star ratings are easy to game. We look for repeated complaints and repeated praise across retailer reviews and owner forums, and we weight long-term ownership reports more heavily than first-week impressions.

5. We re-check prices

Prices in each guide are what we found at named Australian retailers on the date shown at the top of the guide. Prices change, and sales come and go, so always confirm on the retailer's site.

What we do not do

• We do not accept payment, free products or other consideration for inclusion or ranking.
• We do not write fake reviews or present opinions as tests we have not done. Where a pick is based on specifications and owner reports rather than our own hands-on use, the guide says so.
• We do not make health, safety or performance claims that the manufacturer's own documentation or a recognised certification does not support.