When it comes to keeping your home safe, most people think about smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, locks or fire extinguishers. And while these are important, there’s another safety feature built into your home that you do not see every day that is equally as important…grounding. A properly grounded electrical system is one of the most important protections your home has against electrical hazards.
⚡ What is Grounding?
Grounding has gained popularity in the health and wellness space in recent years. In terms of your health, grounding involves walking outside barefoot. Grounding your home is a similar concept. It creates a safe path for electricity to be directed back into the earth if something goes wrong, like a short circuit or a power surge, instead of running through your appliances, your home’s wiring or even you.
Grounding your home is achieved through wires and rods or plates. Typically, a rod or plate (called a ground rod or ground plate) is buried outside your home near your meter. A bare copper wire is ran from the ground rod or ground plate to your panel where it connects to a ground bar. The ground wires from the circuits are connected to this ground bar creating a grounded home.
🔒 The Benefits of a Grounded Home
- Protects from Electrical Shock
Without proper grounding, a fault in the system could energize appliances or outlets, creating a serious risk of shock. Grounding provides a safe detour for that dangerous energy. - Reduces the Risk of Electrical Fires
Stray electricity can cause overheating and sparks. By grounding your system, excess electricity gets carried away harmlessly, lowering the chance of fire. - Protects Electronics and Appliances
We rely on TVs, computers and kitchen appliances every day. Power surges from storms or utility issues can fry sensitive electronics in an instant. Grounding helps absorb and redirect that extra voltage. Surge Suppression along with grounding is recommended to help reduce the risk of power surges frying sensitive electronics. - Keeps Power Flow Stable
Grounding helps regulate your home’s voltage, so circuits don’t fluctuate or overload as easily. This keeps your power consistent and your breakers from tripping unnecessarily.
Just like walking on the ground barefoot has many health benefits, it does not guarantee you will be 100% healthy. The same is true for a properly grounded home. While it provides many benefits, it does not guarantee you will never have a fire, power surge, tripped breaker or get shocked, but it does lower your risks of these things happening.
🚩 Signs Your Home May Not Be Properly Grounded
Grounding according to the National Electrical Code (NEC) has evolved over the years. The NEC now requires homes to be grounded but that was not always the case. If your home was built after the 1960s, your panel was replaced since the 1960s or you added onto your home since the 1960s, most likely it is grounded.
Unsure if your home is properly grounded, here are signs to look out for…
- Two-prong outlets (no ground hole): Some electricians will install three-prong outlets in homes that are not properly grounded so three-prong cords can be used but they do not rewire the home. If your home was built before the 1960s and you have three-prong outlets there is a chance, your home may have not be properly grounded.
- Frequent breaker trips or blown fuses: Just like a fever lets you know your body has an infection, breakers tripping and fuses blowing is an indication that something is wrong with the wiring in your home. If this happens often, consult a trusted electrician to determine the problem.
- Shocks when touching appliances: You should not get shocked when you touch appliances or faucets. If you are experiencing this, something is wrong and you want to contact a trusted electrician immediately to have this looked at.
👷♂️ What Should You Do?
If you’re not sure whether your home is properly grounded, it’s best to call an electrician. At Spring Garden Electric, LLC, we can test your system and make sure it’s up to modern safety standards. From adding grounding rods to upgrading outlets and wiring, we’ll give you peace of mind knowing your home is protected.