My Water Heater Burst Open (help)

[Anomalocaris]

So, my water heater busted open at the seam and water was going everywhere. I turned off the valve and the leaking has stopped.

I'm going to call a plumber come in a few days (when I can scrape up the $$$) to replace the heater. But I'm gonna be using just cold water until then.

Anyway, here's the issue/question: There is no "off" switch on the hot water tank that I can find. I can turn the breaker off, but that also turns off half the appliances in my kitchen, including the oven. Is it okay to leave the hot water tank's power on? That would be much more convenient, especially considering I need to the stove to take a hot bath.

Is it dangerous to have the power on with the tank busted open? (It's off now.)

Most electrical water heaters uses 240v instead of typical household 120V.    Electric range, electric ovens and electric dryers also typically 240v.    It sound like your house wired most of the 240v appliances on a single breaker.     That is why flipping the breaker turns off the oven in addition to the heater.   I believe that is against code in most states.

This is because 240v appliances are typically high load and can draw a lot of current.    Have a breaker with the capacity to handle the current draw of several 240 appliance at once means it will probably not trip if one appliance develop a serious fault and starts to heat up.     You are typically required to have a separate breaker for each 240v appliance so the breaker capacity can be reduced and trip when a dangerous fault develop in one appliance. 

You may wish to consult a licensed electrician.

But that said, in my experience 240v appliances are not usually wired into the house.  There is usually a big circular 3 prone plug that the appliance plugs into.   At least in my state, it would also be against code to wire a 240v appliance directly into the house wiring without a plug.    Appliances are not meant to last as long as the house, and if something goes wrong with it, such as it shorting out, being able to unplug it is a wonderful option, especially if you have a high capacaity breaker on that circuit that also handles the current from several other appliances.      So you might look to see if your hot water heater can be unplugged.

If by any chance your hot water heater is wired into the house and share a breaker with several other 240v appliance, then I think it is a accident waiting to happen so definitely consult a licensed electrician.