Hybrid's definitely the way to go. I did something similar a couple years back—sprinklers alone just weren't cutting it, especially with the runoff issue. Bit more upfront cost, sure, but the convenience and water savings make it worth it in the long run.
Interesting point about hybrid setups...though I'm curious, did you run into any maintenance quirks or unexpected hiccups? I've seen some setups that look great on paper but get tricky once they're out in the wild.
Hybrid setups always sound amazing until you actually have to live with them, lol. I haven't personally installed one yet (still crunching numbers and debating if it's worth the headache), but my neighbor did last year. Looked slick at first, but he's had a few weird glitches—like the inverter randomly resetting itself. Nothing catastrophic, just annoying enough to make me skeptical. Definitely seems like one of those "your mileage may vary" situations...
Yeah, totally get where you're coming from. Hybrid setups do seem great on paper, but real-world performance can be pretty mixed. I've seen a couple installs during roofing jobs, and homeowners usually start off super excited. But after a few months, it's always little quirks that pop up—like your neighbor's inverter issue—that kinda dampen the enthusiasm.
Still, from what I've noticed, most of these glitches tend to get ironed out over time with firmware updates or minor tweaks. Definitely annoying at first, but usually not deal-breakers. If you're still crunching numbers, maybe factor in how responsive the company's support is? Good customer service can make those headaches way easier to handle...
Totally agree with you on the customer support angle—it's honestly a lifesaver. When I first got my hybrid setup, I was pretty nervous about all the tech involved (and the price tag, lol). Sure enough, a couple months in, I had some weird battery calibration issues. Nothing major, but enough to make me second-guess my decision.
But here's the thing: the company's support team walked me through everything step-by-step. They sent me clear instructions, screenshots, even hopped on a quick video call to troubleshoot. Within a week, everything was running smoothly again. So yeah, those early quirks can be frustrating, but they're usually temporary bumps in the road.
If you're still weighing your options, maybe ask around locally or check online reviews specifically about their after-sales support? Knowing you've got reliable help if something goes sideways can really ease your mind—especially when you're trying to stick to a budget. Hang in there...it gets easier!
