Hybrid Heat-pump water heater install

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Hybrid Heat-pump water heater install

Author: pjm (NH)

My house built in 2005 is plumb entirely with Pex-A expansion pipe.
The plumber ran a hot and cold header or manifold down the middle of the house approix. 45 feet long. The manifold is 1" pex and all the tee's are 1/2" branch lines for all the fixtures throughout the house.
FYI: I have 6 bathrooms and 2 full kitchens so there are lot of tee's.

The issue I have is I have a oil fired Hot water heater all the way to one end of the manifold and the Master bathroom is all the way on the opposite end.

I am thinking about installing a Hybrid Heat-pump hot water heater located approx 10 feet from the master bathroom and install isolation valves on both heaters so I can choose which hot water heater I want to run. ( the hope is the hybrid unit will deliver and be efficient compared to the oil)

The question comes into all the new hot water heaters I have looked at are 3/4" inlet and outlet. My existing heater is 1" inlet and outlet.

How much difference in flow will the 3/4" compared to the 1" I have now?
Should I run 1" from the manifold to the new hot water heater then reduce down to 3/4" ??
Or
Should I install a 1"X 3/4" reducing tee into the manifold and run 3/4" pex to the new hot water heater??
Does any of this make a difference since all my fixtures lines are 1/2"??

I am leaning towards a AO Smith Voltex Smart Hybrid unit, anybody of experience with this unit or recommend something better??
From the reviews it seems all manufactures are have a % of bad units.

Thank You

Edited 1 times.

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Re: Hybrid Heat-pump water heater install
Author: packy (MA) a 50 gallon hybrid , forget about.. it will never serve 6 bathrooms a 60 only has a slightly better chance of getting the job done. an 80 gallon hybrid is the only chance you've got. and that depends on the usage of all that you have. the only way you'll get sufficient flow for 6 bathrooms is with a heater that has 1 inch tappings
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Re: Hybrid Heat-pump water heater install
Author: pjm (NH) Yes I have 6 bathrooms, but we are now only 2 people living in this house.
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