What is the main cause of overheating leading to explosions in hot water systems?

The main cause of overheating leading to explosions in hot water systems is excessive temperature and pressure. In a hot water system, water is heated to a specific temperature, and if the temperature exceeds the system's designed limits, the pressure within the system increases significantly. Such conditions can lead to the failure of safety devices and structural components, ultimately resulting in an explosion or catastrophic failure.

Hot water systems are designed with safety measures like pressure relief valves or temperature controls to mitigate risks. However, if these measures are inadequate or malfunction due to excessive temperature and pressure, they may not effectively prevent dangerous conditions. Properly functioning components should keep the system within safe operating parameters, highlighting the importance of monitoring both temperature and pressure closely. This is why excessive temperature and pressure are identified as the primary concern for potential overheating and explosive failures in hot water systems.