Pool products and equipment
The four pieces of pool equipment worth thinking hardest about are the pump, the heater, the cover and the barrier. In 2026 Thursday Pools puts heaters at $1,200-$6,000 ($2,000-$6,500 for solar or heat pump), winter covers at $75-$250, manual retractable covers at $1,500-$6,000, automatic covers at $8,000-$20,000 and fencing at $10-$45 per linear foot. ENERGY STAR certified variable-speed pumps use about 20% less energy and pay for themselves in under two years.
Pumps. The cheapest meaningful upgrade. ENERGY STAR reports certified inground pool pumps use about 20% less energy than standard models and save around $50 a year, with above-ground models at 11% and about $20 a year, up to $290 over a lifetime and payback in under two years. Halving pump speed cuts energy use to roughly one-eighth, which is the whole argument for variable speed.
Heaters and covers. Heaters are $1,200-$6,000 standard, or $2,000-$6,500 for solar and heat-pump systems, per Thursday Pools. Covers span a huge range: $75-$250 for a winter cover, $1,500-$6,000 manual retractable, $8,000-$20,000 automatic. If you are heating, a cover is the companion purchase - it retains the heat you paid for.
Safety products. Not accessories. CPSC's guidance points to power safety covers complying with ASTM F1346-91, removable mesh fencing addressed by ASTM F2286-05, fencing generally by ASTM F1908-08, and door alarms meeting UL 2017 Section 77 - sounding for 30 seconds or more within 7 seconds of the door opening, at least 85 dBA at 10 feet. Ask for the standard the product meets, in writing, before you buy.
Choosing pools products
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Buy the pump on running cost, not sticker price ENERGY STAR's under-two-year payback means the cheaper single-speed pump is usually the more expensive choice.
- Ask which safety standard a product meets A cover is only a barrier under CPSC guidance if it complies with ASTM F1346-91. 'Safety cover' on the box is marketing; the standard number is the claim.
- Price the cover alongside the heater Heating an uncovered pool means paying to warm the sky. Budget them together.
- Get fencing quoted per linear foot and measured At $10-$45 per linear foot the total depends entirely on your perimeter. Have it measured before you accept a lump-sum number.
- Do not buy an automatic cover as a safety substitute without checking Automatic covers run $8,000-$20,000. Confirm the specific model's ASTM F1346-91 compliance and your local code before treating it as your barrier.
All pools products
Pool Pumps
Pool Filters
Pool Heaters
Pool Heat Pumps
Pool Automation Systems
Pool Lights
Pool Cleaners Robotic
Pool Covers
Pool Fencing Barriers
Pool Water Features
Sun Shelves and Baja Shelves
Pool Steps and Ladders
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- ENERGY STAR - Pool Pumps · retrieved 2026-07-25
- Thursday Pools - Inground Pool Cost in 2026 · retrieved 2026-07-25
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools · retrieved 2026-07-25
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