Keep the inspection safe
Avoid damaged wiring, exposed parts, and wet areas near electrical equipment. If reaching a disconnect requires approaching a hazard, leave isolation to emergency responders or a qualified electrician.
Tell the service provider about the apparent burn damage when arranging help. Request water-heater inspection and qualified electrical review if electrical parts or wiring may be involved.
If it is a gas heater, identify that before the visit so the combustion and venting concerns receive the appropriate review. Do not assume every dark mark is an electrical burn.
Preserve what you can see
Take photographs from a safe location without opening compartments. Save the model and serial number, purchase inspection, seller records, and any previous service report.
Note when hot water stopped and whether a breaker tripped, a control displayed a fault, or someone adjusted the equipment. Do not reset anything to reconstruct the event.
Find the cause and extent
For example, the manufacturer-hosted residential electric guide 321249 requires electrical supply to be disconnected before servicing. Its instructions do not establish repairability of your damaged heater. Manufacturer-hosted residential electric guide.
Ask the qualified providers to document which parts are damaged, what caused it, and whether the installation and circuit meet the exact heater's requirements. Request manufacturer direction if heat damage affects insulation, wiring, controls, or the tank assembly.
An element replacement alone is not a complete answer to visible damage. A replacement heater also needs a plan for any defective circuit or installation.
Your next step is to arrange the coordinated inspection while keeping the equipment out of use. Request a written repairability finding, related electrical scope, and the verification needed before operation resumes.