The invention relates to a water heater and an electric leakage and dry burning preventing detection method of the water heater. The water heater comprises an inner container, a heating pipe, a pipe joint and a control unit, wherein the heating pipe is installed in the inner container through a heating tube flange, the pipe joint comprises an insulating piece and two metal pieces which are embedded in the insulating piece and are mutually insulated, the metal pieces which are arranged in the pipe joint and connected with the inner container are provided with conductive components, and the conductive components are led out from the insulating piece and are electrically connected with a current or voltage detection circuit in the control unit. Therefore, detection for whether electric leakage of the water heater exists can be achieved by means of the conductive components on the metal pieces contacted with the inner container, an achieving mode is simple, as long as electric leakage exists, timely alarming can be achieved, and safety and reliability are strong. Meanwhile, by means of judging whether the conductive components and conductive components on the heating tube flange are in a conductive state, whether the water heater is in a dry burning state can be judged, electrodes are not needed to be arranged inside the inner container, and structural design is simple, installation and maintenance are convenient, and cost is saved.