can a water heater still explode if the pressure is released and its off? the water heater was leaking earlier and we turned it off and released the pressure. can it still explode? i mean, is there ANY chance at all? if so, why?

It is highly unlikely that a water heater would still explode if the pressure has been released and it is turned off. However, there is still a very small chance of an explosion if there is a catastrophic failure of the water heater tank or if there are other unforeseen factors at play. It is always best to err on the side of caution and have a professional inspect the water heater to ensure it is safe to use. Additionally, if the water heater was leaking earlier, it may be a sign of larger issues that need to be addressed to prevent future problems.