About a year ago, we had a dual geothermal system installed in our 4000 sq ft 200 year old brick home in central KY. It has 6 vertical wells 150 ft deep, and both systems share the wells. We have two 3 ton waterfurnace "cubes" in the basement, and they are connected to two waterfurnace air handlers, one in the basement next to the cubes for the first floor, and one in the attic for the upstairs. The downstairs unit also has a Bryant high efficiency propane furnace attached as a backup heat source. We are zoned, with two zones downstairs, and two zones upstairs, with four Honeywell prestige thermostats. We have experienced the most comfortable winter ever in our 40+ years here, and likewise a comfortable summer, but it's been such a cool summer it hasn't really been a severe test for the a/c side. Previously, we had a window a/c unit in the bedroom, and heated one side of the house in the winter with propane. We typically spent about $3500 on propane during the heating season. We spent an extra $2000 on electricity during the past heating season, but our propane bill dropped to $300. Also, keep in mind that we now heat the entire house, where previously we used to suffer through each winter with only half the house heated. I just got July's electricity bill, and the extra electricity was about $50.00 to cool the entire house. It was previously that much for the window unit. (this has been a mild summer here) The bottom line is that we now heat and cool the entire house for about 60 - 70% of the cost to previously heat half the house, and cool two rooms. So, I'm more than pleased with our system, and would do it again with no hesitation. Yes, it was expensive, and payback will probably not come in my lifetime, (I'm almost 70) but the old house deserved it, and the loop field will last 100 years for my children and grandchildren. Nice to have this kind of comfort in my dotage....

Thank you for replying... I have researched enough to know how important the installation is, so I am leaning towards the company that has been installing them and I appreciate your reiterating that for me. Opinions from people in the business are exactly what I am looking for. I started out by looking for the shape and size that I wanted.... Trilogy had exactly what I was looking for. Then I researched other manufacturers for similar models so as to not eliminate anyone prematurely. I have been able to find out more about Trilogy's building process through the internet than other models. I love their granicoat surface, and I like their requirement to be put in gravel. I have also not found any negative comments from Trilogy pool owners in various forums, etc. I just wish that there were some already installed here in town, and there are none.... I have studied a little more about Aloha since speaking with the fiberglass installer here as they typically install Aloha pools. They do have a similar model, although the width is 2 feet smaller, which is not my preference. They look to be a well made pool, and they have a solid color surface that I could probably be happy with as well. As I understand it, everyone I have gotten a quote from so far has been through Trilogy training, but, so far, none have installed a Trilogy pool yet. Each would really like for me to be a "reference" for them since they do not currently have one to show in this area, and I think this helps me a little with the pricing they are giving me, but my main concern is that I do not want any issues due to installation at a later date...... As sure as I am that the other guy is a good builder, my instincts are still making me lean toward the guy who has been installing fiberglass for exactly the reasons you mention above.... Wow... this is kind of a scary process.... This is something I would really like to have, but its a huge commitment and alot of money to me..... I just want to make sure I am making the right decisions..... Thanks for your help. I would really love to hear from others... builders and owners who might be able to give me any insight about things I need to know. Also, can I get an idea as to the preferred HP for 2 speed pump on a pool this size? 28x14 = 7,000 gallons. (no heater, no infloor cleaner. Will probably have 2 deck jets).

biddy07, love2weed, geebeekc, We have a Viking Laguna that we just installed a few weeks ago. Sharla is dead on - your installer is key. Check them out with BBB and any contracting agencies that you have in your area...and then go see multiple references in your area. They will be happy to talk to you, if they had a good experience, and they are not the only reference in the area and just dead tired of talking with potential customers... We chose Viking because of the builder and because they had fabrication plant within a couple of hours of us. Their pools looked the best to us (compared to San Juan), but I did not see a Trilogy or Leisure - both of which look good on the web. We looked at 4 pools locally, including a 12 year old one which still looked good to me. In the process, we learned more from the other customers, and changed some of our choices, including opting for a larger pool. I haven't had to deal with Viking other than at delivery, and they seemed quite professional during that experience. They sent the pool on a large truck - by itself, and not with 5 other deliveries which just seemed a bit safer to me - and also had another driver in a "wide load" warning vehicle. Generally, I think all of the Fiberglass pool vendors are a little bit exposed by their installers, as I think there is a lot more that the installer can mess up than the manufacturer can mess up. That said, they authorize their dealers, and make their contact information available on their website. Viking's dealers checked out in our area. Some of the other's dealers did not. Trilogy and Leisure didn't have dealers in our area. Good luck and enjoy! Dave Here is a link that might be useful:

Beatriz, several of us here have read this trilogy. We even had a discussion of it several years ago. I own a copy of the original version (it has since been updated and re-published with language changes). I consider it a formidable, awesome reading experience, especially the ending. Did anyone here archive the discussion we had on this?