Industrial Maintenance Technician Practice Test 2025 - Free Maintenance Technician Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct choice revolves around checking components that directly affect the operation of an electric hot water heater. The pressure relief valve is crucial for safety and helps prevent excessive pressure build-up in the tank. However, if the hot water heater is not heating at all, the focus should first lie on the thermostat, as it regulates the heating process. If the thermostat is faulty or set incorrectly, it might not signal the heating elements to turn on. Therefore, verifying that the thermostat is functioning correctly is a primary step.

The thermostat reset is also important if the unit has tripped due to overheating or other safety mechanisms. Checking these two components ensures that the system can operate effectively, thereby addressing the core issues associated with the heater not heating.

Other options may incorporate elements that are essential for the functioning of an electric hot water heater, but they do not directly address the initial troubleshooting steps for a heater that shows no heating activity. For instance, the checking of a circuit breaker is linked but is secondary compared to the immediate examination of the thermostat and safety reset mechanisms.