Your house wiring impacts your appliances, electrical equipment, and overall safety. As such, electrical grounding is an essential concept that should be addressed in every home. If you’re unfamiliar with this concept, here’s a guide to help you understand whether your wiring system needs to be updated.
What to Know About Grounded House Wiring
Why Grounding Is Important
Proper electrical grounding is key for personal safety and the longevity of all your devices that use electricity. It essentially provides a place for electricity to go when extra currents are produced. By running an extra wire through the system and into the ground, it acts as a safety net for any additional currents to travel through. If this wire is not in place, extra currents are forced to go somewhere else and may run through your appliances or devices. This could lead to power surges, overheating, or fires.
How to Tell If Your Home Is Grounded
If your house wiring isn’t grounded, contact an electrician to fix it right away. If you’re not sure, take a look at your outlets. If they only have two prongs, your home probably is not grounded properly. If there are three, there’s a better chance that your equipment is up to date, though it isn’t guaranteed. You can use a circuit tester to evaluate each outlet throughout your home, or schedule an inspection with a professional electrician. Older homes built before the 1950s are most likely to have outdated wiring, unless your home went through major renovations at some point.
If you’re looking for a professional electrician to evaluate or fix your house wiring, call McAtlin Electrical Corporation. Based in Grand Junction, CO, the company serves customers throughout Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. The licensed, bonded, and insured team is equipped to handle any emergency electrical issues. They work with both residential and commercial customers and always provide friendly and professional service. Call (970) 257-7414 or visit the company’s website to request an estimate.