Want to replace water heater

[Bill11]

We just moved a couple of months ago. The water heater is located on the far side of the basement from the highest usage (kitchen, laundry, powder room, and pipes going up to master bath). The main issue is that it takes a few minutes to get hot water up to the master bathroom. Also, the existing water heater is 90 gallon electric installed in 2009. I'm thinking about installing a new water heater right under the kitchen that would reduce the hot water run by 40-50 feet of pipe. There are two bathrooms that are closer to the existing water heater that would increase the run by about 25 feet, but those bathrooms are rarely used (only when we have guests).

Question 1: Hybrid or electric? I'm leaning toward hybrid, but would like to hear some real world experiences. We do have propane, but not sure I want to go there for the new water heater. The water heater will be in an open basement and will be next to a dual fuel propane furnace.

Question 2: Would there is any issues if I left the old water heater in place as an emergency backup? The water shutoffs would be closed, drained, and power off.

Thanks.

 

[Jeff H Young]

question 2 Id be concerned with how to store the tank . bacteria etc. growth. look into that

 

[Sponsor]

 

[John Gayewski]

Would just add a recirc line and wait for the water heater to die a natural death.

 

[Bill11]

question 2 Id be concerned with how to store the tank . bacteria etc. growth. look into that

Yeah, I guess that could be an issue, unless the tank was completely drained.

I was thinking about just closing the shutoff valves and draining the tank.

 

[Sarg]

I will always stay with electric. They are much easier to maintain. You can replace the elements... vacuum out the tank through the bottom element hole with a wet vac and also monitor your anode rod through the same hole.