I had my hot water hand wash heater burst/leak last year; think a smaller version of an electric shower.
Fortunately, it blew the head off a self tapper, rather than splitting the plastic, so I was able to drill it out with a carbide bit on the high speed Meddings, and re-tap for some threaded rod.
I think that was probably caused by freezing water expanding.
I've just been out to that workshop, turned off the water feed, opened the adjacent cold hose pipe tap and the hand washer taps, and blown the standing water through by lung pressure.
You can see in the photo, the missing screw head and the gasket blown out.

Bill