I never really timed it, maybe an hour. If all four of us are taking showers in the morning, I'll turn the propane and electric on, for a faster hot water recovery. I generally just use electric, due to its free. I have the same wall switches but also another rocker switch in the hot water service panel to turn it on, so I have to have both switches on for electric. Just because you have water in the freshwater tank doesn't mean there is water in the hot water tank. After filling the fresh water tank, turn the pump on to purge all the air out of the lines and it will fill the hot water tank also. I usually open the faucets up one at a time just to make sure there is water in all the lines and hot water tank. Then top off the fresh water tank, again.Also i think another problem could be for burning up elements is, draining the waterlines to early. The water will stay hot for hours in the hot water tank if not being used. So when packing up I may turn off the electric and/or propane, turn the hot water handle on the faucet to cool the element, bringing in cool fresh water. Or when I get home, drain it the next day.
Probably TMI