Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The assessment normally costs $189+GST and we are running it free through the pre-season period. There is no catch and no obligation to book any work afterwards.

We inspect your pump, filter, chlorinator or salt cell, automation, heating, plumbing and fittings, pool lights, cleaning equipment, surfaces, waterline tiling and safety equipment, then test and report on your water balance.

We would rather you be there but its not essential. As long as we have safe access to the pool and equipment we can complete the assessment while you are at work.

It goes in the report with a recommendation and a price, along with whether it needs doing now or can wait. Nothing is repaired without your approval.

Not at all. Plenty of people take the report and carry on looking after the pool themselves. If you do want us to take it off your hands, we have no lock-in contracts.

Concrete, fibreglass, vinyl liner and tiled pools, plus spas. Salt, chlorine, ozone, mineral and UV systems are all covered. Older pools and unusual set-ups are not a problem.

No, and you will not get a lecture. Green, tired and long-ignored pools are a normal part of our week. The report will tell you honestly what it will take to get it swim ready.

Swimming pool resurfacing is usually recommended when the interior feels rough, looks stained, starts flaking, becomes chalky or no longer responds well to regular cleaning.

A pool pump moves water through the filtration system so debris can be removed and treated water can circulate back into the pool.

The TVS Pro comes in 1, 1.25, 1.5 and 1.75 hp. As a rough guide, pools up to around 40,000 litres suit the 1 hp or 1.25 hp, mid-sized family pools suit the 1.5 hp, and larger pools or systems with long pipe runs, solar heating or in-floor cleaning suit the 1.75 hp. Sizing is driven by pool volume and plumbing resistance, not pool size alone. Send us your pool dimensions and we will confirm the right model.

The MX8 has been discontinued by the manufacturer and replaced by the Zodiac AX20 Activ, which is the current model in this part of the range. If you already own an MX8 we can still help with parts, servicing and accessories while stock remains. If you are buying new, talk to us about the AX20 Activ.

The FloPro SS range covers 0.75 hp (WP000070), 1 hp (WP000071), 1.5 hp (WP000072) and 2 hp (WP000073). Smaller courtyard and plunge pools usually suit 0.75 or 1 hp, standard family pools suit 1.5 hp, and larger pools or those with solar, heating or in-floor cleaning generally need the 2 hp. Flow requirements are set by your plumbing and equipment as much as pool volume, so we confirm sizing before you buy.

The CTX range runs CTX 280C (1.0 hp), CTX 360C (1.25 hp), CTX 400C (1.5 hp) and CTX 500C (2.0 hp), delivering 280, 360, 400 and 500 litres per minute respectively at 8 m head. Match the model to your pool volume, pipe size and any equipment that needs a minimum flow rate. Send us your pool dimensions and equipment list and we will confirm the right size.

The XP range starts at 1.5 hp and goes to 3 hp, with flow rates from 440 to 635 litres per minute at 8 m head. It suits larger residential pools, pools with long pipe runs or significant elevation change, and light commercial installations. For a standard family pool, a smaller pump will usually do the job for less. We will tell you honestly if the XP is more pump than you need.

The Ecolite range covers four capacities: IHP120, IHP160, IHP180 and IHP240. Sizing is not just about pool volume. Site exposure, wind, shade, whether you use a cover and the water temperature you want to hold all change the answer. Undersizing means the pool never reaches temperature on cool days. Send us your pool dimensions and a description of the site and we will size it properly.

Filter sizing is based on your pool volume and the flow rate of your pump. An undersized filter runs at too high a face velocity, which means poorer water clarity and more frequent backwashing. An oversized one is money spent for no gain. Give us your pool dimensions and pump model and we will specify the right tank size.

COP is coefficient of performance, the ratio of heat output to electricity consumed. A COP of 22 means the unit delivers 22 units of heat for one unit of power under favourable conditions. Real world COP varies with air temperature and target water temperature, so treat 22 as a best case rather than an average. Even at more typical conditions, the Pinnacle is one of the most efficient ways to heat a pool in Auckland.

It controls up to four colour changing LED lights across two zones, and includes four programmable timers for your filtration pump and pool or spa equipment. It also has two 240V outlet ports so you can run additional equipment on a schedule. In practice it turns a manual pool into one that runs to a program without you touching anything.

The Halo Lite2 controls two lights and the Halo Lite4 controls four, each delivering 12V AC output at a maximum of 1.3 Amps per light. Choose based on how many lights you have now and whether you are likely to add any. Most standard Auckland residential pools run one or two lights, while larger pools and pools with feature lighting often justify the four channel unit.

They extend what your Halo Chlor system can control. Both provide two 240VAC power outlets with a maximum combined output of 9.5 Amps. The Halo Hub goes further, adding four valve relays, one heater relay, dry contact connections and ports for water and air temperature sensors. In short, Xpand adds power outlets, Hub adds full equipment control.

The Naked NKD R is a hybrid freshwater sanitising system using OXI and ION electrode technology. Copper and silver ions handle sanitisation while titanium oxidation plates break down contaminants. The result is water without added salt and without the harsh chlorine feel, which is why it swims closer to fresh water than to a conventional pool.

The ES range spans six models from ES21 to ES36, with tank heights from 840 mm to 1,300 mm and filtration areas from 0.24 m2 to 0.64 m2. The right model depends on your pool volume and your pump's flow rate. Larger filtration area means slower water passage, better clarity and less frequent backwashing. Send us your pool dimensions and pump details and we will size it properly.

A top discharge unit exhausts air upwards rather than out the side. That means it needs far less clearance around the sides, which makes it the practical choice where the plant area is tight against a fence, wall or another piece of equipment. On many Auckland properties, plant space is the constraint that decides which heat pump you can actually fit.

The range runs SD 107, SD 125, SD 153, SD 217, SD 250 and SD 315 (product codes 78581 through 78586). Six capacity steps means you can size closely to your pool rather than rounding up to the next available unit, which saves both purchase cost and running cost. We size against pool volume, site exposure, cover use and your target temperature.

The EL25 (product code WW000264) is built for small and mid-sized residential pools. If your pool is larger, heavily used, or sits in full sun where chlorine demand runs high, the EL35 is the better choice. Undersizing a chlorinator means running it for excessive hours and still struggling to hold chlorine in midsummer. We will size it against your pool volume and usage.

The EL35 (product code WW000265) produces more chlorine per hour than the EL25 and is built for larger and more heavily used residential pools. If your pool sits in full sun, gets heavy family use, or is on the larger side, the EL35 is the right call. Undersizing shows up in January when chlorine will not hold. Give us your pool volume and we will confirm.

The FR200 (product code WR000679) is the entry point of the FreeRider range and is built for small and mid-sized residential pools. On larger pools you will find yourself running multiple cycles and recharging more often, which is when the FR800 or FR2000 make more sense. Tell us your pool dimensions and we will point you to the right model rather than the cheapest one.

The FR500 iQ (WR000630) adds app connectivity, so you can start the cleaner, select cleaning cycles and monitor progress from your phone rather than walking out to the pool. The practical benefit is that the cleaner gets used more often, because starting a cycle from inside the house takes no effort.

If you have a larger pool, yes. The FR800 iQ is built for larger residential pools, which means it is designed to cover more area per cycle. Running a smaller cleaner on a big pool means more cycles, more recharging and a cleaner that is working at its limit, which shortens its life.

The FR1000 iQ (WR000527) is built to climb the walls and clean at water level, not just cover the floor. The waterline is where body oils, sunscreen and airborne dust accumulate into the grey band you see on tile and above the water. A cleaner that reaches it saves you scrubbing by hand.

The FR2000 iQ (WR000508) is the top of the FreeRider range, built for large and complex residential pools with full floor, wall and waterline coverage and iQ app control. Complex means multiple levels, curved walls, beach entries, benches and unusual shapes, which is where lesser cleaners leave sections untouched.

A corded cleaner like the DX3000 (WR000481) draws continuous power through its cable, so it never runs out of charge mid-cycle and there is no battery to replace over time. A cordless unit is more convenient to drop in and lift out but has a finite run time per charge. Both clean well. It comes down to whether you value unlimited run time or no cable.

The DX4000 (WR000347) offers improved coverage over the DX3000, which in practice means fewer missed sections and better results on larger or less regular pools. Both are corded robotic cleaners running independently of your filtration. If your pool is standard and compact, the DX3000 may be enough. We will tell you honestly.

The DX4050 iQ (WR000348) is the app connected model at the top of the DuoX range. You can start and stop the cleaner, select cleaning cycles and monitor progress from your phone. The real benefit is that a cleaner you can start from the couch gets run more often, and a pool that gets cleaned more often needs less chemical correction.

The EX6050 iQ (WR000384) combines corded continuous power with iQ app connectivity and floor, wall and waterline cleaning. That combination means unlimited run time, remote control and full surface coverage in one unit, which is why it sits at the top of the corded range.

Spas have a completely different geometry from pools: deep footwells, moulded seating, tight corners and short walls. A pool cleaner is too large and too flat to work in that space. The Spabot SB1000 is purpose built to move around spa seating and footwells, which is where debris actually settles.

Yes. The MX8 has been discontinued and the AX20 Activ is the current model filling that role. It connects to your skimmer box, is powered by your existing filtration pump, and suits concrete, pebblecrete, tile, fibreglass and vinyl surfaces, which covers virtually every Auckland residential pool.

The MX6 is built for compact and mid-sized residential pools, which covers a lot of Auckland courtyard and townhouse pools. On a larger pool it will work but takes longer to cover the area, and the AX20 Activ or a robotic cleaner would be a better fit. Send us your pool dimensions and we will confirm.

Because it is simple and it lasts. The G2 uses a diaphragm drive mechanism with very few moving parts, which means there is almost nothing to fail. Replacement parts are readily available. For pool owners who want the least complicated cleaner on the market, the G2 has earned its place over many years.

It fits inline between your suction cleaner and your skimmer box and captures bulk debris before it reaches your skimmer basket, pump and filter. Instead of leaves clogging your skimmer within days, they collect in a high capacity canister that you empty when convenient.

It adds active scrubbing to the MX8's standard vacuuming action. Vacuuming lifts loose debris, but scrubbing works on the film that adheres to the pool surface, which is what causes dullness and gives algae a foothold. On a pool that is vacuumed clean but still looks flat, scrubbing is what is missing.

DAB rates the E.SWIM at up to 90 percent lower running costs than a comparable single speed pump. Real world savings depend on your current pump, your run hours and your power rate, but the mechanism is straightforward: the permanent magnet brushless motor runs at low speed for most of the day, and power draw falls dramatically as speed drops. At Auckland rates of roughly 35 to 40 cents per kWh, the saving is usually the single biggest lever on pool running costs.

Conventional salt pools run at a salt level you can taste and feel. Halo Pure operates at a substantially reduced salt concentration, which means water that feels softer and gentler on eyes and skin, without the salty taste. For families with young children or anyone sensitive to chlorine, it is a noticeably more comfortable swim.

Halo Chlor comes in 18g, 25g, 35g and 45g per hour chlorine output models. Larger pools, pools in full sun and heavily used family pools need higher output. Undersizing means long run hours and chlorine that will not hold in midsummer. Send us your pool volume, orientation and usage pattern and we will specify the right model.

The P320 XT draws 1,250W and delivers 303 litres per minute at 8 m head, with a 6.0 star MEPS rating and 514 kWh annual consumption. The P520 XT draws 1,800W, delivers 580 litres per minute, rates 4.5 stars and uses 734 kWh a year. The P320 suits most standard residential pools, while the P520 suits larger pools or systems with significant head pressure.

Simplicity. It connects to your skimmer box, runs off your existing filtration pump, and requires no wiring, charging or configuration. It uses a random pattern to cover the floor. For a pool owner who wants automatic floor cleaning without another device to manage, it is the most straightforward option available.

More than any other single thing you can add to a pool. Most heat loss happens at the surface through evaporation, particularly overnight and on windy days. A thermal blanket sits directly on the water and stops that loss, which means warmer water, lower heating bills and less chemical loss. If you have a heat pump, a blanket is not optional if you care about running costs.

The Pool Smith has been acquired by Sparkling Pools. The business now operates under the Sparkling Pools name, with the same team continuing to look after the pools it services.

Resurfacing renews the interior finish. Pool renovations can be broader, covering tile replacement, coping updates, plastering or other improvements around the pool.

Pool pump replacement may be needed if the pump is noisy, leaking, losing prime, struggling with circulation, frequently cutting out or no longer performing reliably.

Single speed pumps run flat out every hour they operate. The TVS Pro lets you filter on Eco for most of the day and step up to Med or High only when you are vacuuming or backwashing. Because power draw falls sharply as speed drops, most Auckland households running a variable speed pump see a meaningful reduction in pool running costs. At Auckland rates of roughly 35 to 40 cents per kWh, that adds up quickly over a swim season.

The Zodiac AX20 Activ. It fills the same role: a suction cleaner that connects to your skimmer box and runs off your existing filtration pump, with no separate motor or power supply, suiting concrete, pebblecrete, tile, fibreglass and vinyl surfaces. We can quote you on the AX20 Activ or on a robotic alternative if you would rather move away from suction cleaning.

Rated maximum noise runs from 56.4 to 64 dBA depending on model. The 0.75 hp is the quietest in the range at around 56 dBA, which is comparable to normal conversation. If your pump sits near a deck, bedroom or shared boundary, this is worth weighing up against raw flow rate, and it is something we discuss on site.

In floor cleaning systems and spa jets need sustained flow against high head pressure, which is exactly where the CTX performs. Many general purpose pumps deliver good flow on paper but fall away when working against the resistance of a valve driven in floor system. If you have in floor cleaning, tell us before you buy because pump choice matters far more than usual.

Single phase XP models (1.5, 2 and 3 hp) run on standard 240V supply and suit most residential properties. Three phase models (2 and 3 hp) run on 400V and are typically used where a property already has three phase supply, often on larger or commercial sites. Three phase draws lower amps per leg, which can matter on constrained switchboards. Our electrician can confirm what your property has.

An inverter heat pump moves heat rather than generating it, so it delivers several units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed. That makes it far cheaper to run than element heating. Your actual cost depends on target temperature, how long you extend the season, and whether you use a cover. A thermal blanket typically has the single largest effect on running cost, and we always recommend running one alongside a heat pump.

Fibreglass tanks resist corrosion, which is the main reason older steel filters fail. In a salt chlorinated pool, and in Auckland's coastal and humid conditions, corrosion resistance is what determines whether a filter lasts five years or fifteen. Fibreglass also handles the pressure cycling of regular backwashing without fatiguing.

Yes. The Pinnacle operates in outdoor temperatures down to minus 15 degrees C, which is far below anything Auckland experiences. Efficiency does reduce in colder air, so winter running costs are higher than summer, but the unit will continue to heat rather than shutting down. Pairing it with a thermal blanket makes winter swimming genuinely practical.

It is both, depending on how you set it up. Many customers start by using it to control their pool lighting, then add the pump and other equipment to the timers as they see the value. That flexibility is useful because you can begin with lighting control and expand without replacing the controller.

It is compatible with any single colour light brand, plus multi colour lights from AstralPool (SLX and FLX), Zodiac and Spa Electrics. That covers the majority of lights installed on Auckland pools. If you are unsure what you have, send us a photo of the light and the transformer and we will confirm compatibility before you order.

If you simply want to switch additional equipment on and off to a schedule, Xpand is enough. If you want to control valves, integrate a heater, or read water and air temperature into the system, you need the Hub. Most customers adding heating or in floor cleaning control need the Hub. Tell us what you want to control and we will specify it.

Naked rates the system at up to 50 percent lower running costs than conventional sanitisation. The saving comes from low chemical consumption rather than power alone, since the system does the work that chlorine and salt would otherwise do. At current chemical prices in Auckland, the reduction over a full season is substantial.

The fibreglass filter tank carries a 10 year manufacturer warranty, with fittings covered for 1 year. The tank is the part that determines whether a filter is a long term asset or a short term purchase, so a decade of cover on it is a genuine point of difference in this category. Your purchase is also covered by the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act.

The range covers IHPT127 at 13kW (code 78578), IHPT168 at 17kW (code 78579) and IHPT246 at 24kW (code 78580). Broadly, 13kW suits smaller residential pools, 17kW suits standard family pools, and 24kW suits larger pools or where you want fast heat recovery. Exposure and cover use shift these figures, so we size on site.

Side discharge units exhaust air horizontally, so they need clear space in front of the discharge face and around the unit for airflow. They suit open plant areas well. If your plant space is tight against a fence or wall, the top discharge IHPT range is usually the better fit. We check clearances during the site visit.

Salt is dissolved in your pool water, and the chlorinator cell passes a current through it to convert the salt into chlorine. That chlorine sanitises the pool, then reverts to salt, and the cycle repeats. You are not swimming in salt water at seawater strength, and you are not handling drums of liquid chlorine each week.

A higher output chlorinator reaches the required chlorine level in fewer running hours, which means less pump run time, lower power consumption and less strain on the cell. It also gives you headroom when demand spikes after hot weather, heavy rain or a busy weekend, rather than leaving you dosing manually to catch up.

No cable to feed into the pool, no tangling, and nothing to unplug or trip over. You lift the unit in, press start, and lift it out when it finishes. For anyone who has spent time untwisting a floating cable, that difference is the main reason people move to cordless.

It suits mid-sized residential pools, which covers a large share of Auckland backyards. Larger pools with longer perimeters are better served by the FR800 iQ or FR2000 iQ, which are built for the extra area and run time. We size the cleaner to the pool the same way we size a pump.

It is less about a single number and more about perimeter, shape and surface area. A long lap pool and a compact rectangular pool can hold similar volumes but present very different cleaning workloads. Send us your dimensions and a photo and we will tell you which FreeRider model fits.

Far less often. Full surface coverage handles the routine build up on floors, walls and waterline. You will still want an occasional manual brush in corners, steps and behind fittings where any cleaner has limited access, and that is included in our valet service if you are on a regular programme.

If your pool is standard rectangular and mid-sized, a smaller FreeRider will serve you well and cost less. The FR2000 iQ earns its price on large pools, complex shapes and pools where you want genuinely hands off cleaning. We will tell you straight which category your pool falls into.

No. The DX3000 runs completely independently of your filtration system, with its own motor and onboard filter canister. Debris is captured in the unit rather than passing through your skimmer, pump and filter, which reduces backwashing and extends filter media life.

No. It has its own motor and onboard filter canister and works completely independently of your filtration system. That means it does not load your skimmer basket, pump or filter with debris, and you can run it whenever you like rather than around your pump schedule.

Because you get app convenience without a battery in the equation. Continuous power means unlimited run time and nothing to degrade over the years. For owners who want smart control and long term simplicity, the DX4050 iQ sits in a useful middle ground between the DuoX and FreeRider ranges.

Yes, waterline cleaning is part of its coverage. The waterline is where sunscreen, body oils and airborne dust build into the grey band that most owners end up scrubbing by hand. A cleaner that works at water level removes that job from your weekend.

It is designed specifically for spas rather than swimming pools. Swim spas and plunge pools sit in a grey area depending on their depth and shape, so send us the dimensions and a photo and we will tell you honestly whether the Spabot is right or whether a compact pool cleaner would serve you better.

It plugs into your skimmer box and uses the suction created by your filtration pump to drive itself around the pool and vacuum debris. There is no separate motor, no electrical connection and nothing to charge. That simplicity is the main appeal: fewer components means fewer things to go wrong.

It connects to your skimmer box and runs entirely off the suction from your existing filtration pump. No separate motor, no power supply, nothing to charge or plug in. Debris is drawn through the hose into your skimmer basket and filter.

Water flow through the cleaner flexes a rubber diaphragm, which creates the pulsing motion that drives the unit around the pool. There are no gears, motors or electronics involved. The diaphragm itself is the main wear part and is inexpensive and straightforward to replace.

If you have significant leaf fall, yes. On Auckland properties with pohutukawa, liquidambar, plane trees or overhanging natives, a leaf catcher is the difference between a cleaner that keeps working through autumn and one that stalls every second day because the skimmer is packed.

It is compatible with the Zodiac MX8 suction cleaner specifically. If you have a different Zodiac model, it will not fit. Send us your cleaner model and we will confirm compatibility before you order rather than after.

The E.SWIM 150 suits small to mid-sized residential pools, while the E.SWIM 300 handles larger pools, longer pipe runs and systems with heating or in-floor cleaning. Maximum flow reaches 708 litres per minute and maximum head 26 m depending on model. Send us your pool dimensions and equipment list and we will confirm which one is right rather than defaulting you to the larger unit.

Mineral Guard is a secondary sanitisation layer that works alongside the low salt chlorination. Because sanitising is shared across two mechanisms rather than relying on chlorine alone, the system runs at lower chlorine levels while still keeping the water safe. That is where the reduced chemical consumption and gentler water come from.

It is a full pool controller. Four programmable timers handle filtration and equipment, two lighting timers manage your lights, and it controls multiple Halo devices across the system. It is also compatible with Viron XT variable speed pumps, which means chlorination and pump speed work together rather than fighting each other.

MEPS is the minimum energy performance standard used across Australasia, and the star rating lets you compare pumps on a like for like basis. At 6.0 stars, the P320 XT sits at the top end of the scale. Its 514 kWh annual consumption is roughly half that of many conventional single speed pumps, which at Auckland power rates translates directly into a lower bill each month.

The cleaner moves in an unpredictable path rather than following a mapped route. Over a full cycle it covers the floor through sheer coverage rather than systematic navigation. It is less efficient than a mapped robotic cleaner, but on a standard rectangular pool over a normal filtration run, the result is a clean floor.

Evaporation carries away water, and UV breaks down chlorine. A blanket reduces both, so you top up less water and lose less sanitiser to sunlight. Over a full Auckland summer that adds up to a genuine reduction in chemical spend on top of the heating saving.

Yes. Your regular service continues on the same schedule, with no gap and nothing for you to arrange.

Yes. Pool refurbishment is often suitable when the pool structure is still sound, but the surface, tiles or finish have become dated, worn or harder to maintain.

Yes. An energy efficient pool pump may help reduce running costs and improve efficiency, especially for pools that need regular circulation throughout the year.

Eco is your everyday filtration speed and where the pump should spend most of its running hours. Med suits chlorinator operation, heating and solar circulation, which need a certain flow rate to work correctly. High is for vacuuming, backwashing, and priming after servicing. The variable speed buttons let you fine tune each preset so the pump matches your equipment rather than the other way around.

In most cases yes. Zodiac products are well supported through the local supplier network and common wear parts such as tracks, seals and hoses generally remain available for some time after a model is discontinued. Bring your MX8 details to us and we will check parts availability before you decide whether to repair or replace.

Rated models consume between 1,146 and 1,319 kWh per year. At Auckland electricity rates of roughly 35 to 40 cents per kWh, that puts annual running costs in the several hundred dollar range depending on model and run hours. If lowest possible running cost is your priority, ask us to compare the FloPro SS against a variable speed option such as the Viron XT before you commit.

Rated CTX models consume between 1,280 and 1,572 kWh per year depending on size. At Auckland rates of roughly 35 to 40 cents per kWh, that is a meaningful line on your power bill, particularly on the larger models. If your pool does not need high head performance, a variable speed pump will generally cost less to run. We are happy to model both options for you.

Yes. The XP range supersedes the earlier BX generation. If you have a BX pump reaching end of life, the XP is the natural upgrade path and our technicians can advise on which XP model matches or improves on your existing BX performance without oversizing.

From a cold start, expect a few days to bring a typical Auckland pool up to swimming temperature, depending on model, pool size and weather. Once at temperature, the unit only needs to top up the daily heat loss, which is a much smaller job. This is why heat pumps are best left running through the season rather than switched on and off.

This is a media filter, which is most commonly run on filter sand or a glass media alternative. Sand generally needs replacing every five to seven years as the grains round off and lose their filtering edge. Glass media typically lasts longer. We can advise which suits your water and handle the media change for you.

Multilayer acoustic insulation surrounds the compressor, and because it is a full inverter unit it spends most of its time running at reduced output rather than full noise. On Auckland sections where the plant area sits close to a neighbour's boundary or an outdoor living space, this is a meaningful difference over a conventional heat pump.

It is designed to control colour changing LED lights, and the specifics depend on the light brand and type you already have. Some retrofits are straightforward, others need light replacement. Send us a photo of your existing lights and transformer and we will tell you honestly whether it will work before you buy.