![]() Childproof any outlets that children and pets can reach with plugs.Unplug devices slowly instead of pulling the cord out aggressively.Don’t power items with damaged electrical cords.Some of the basic things to remember include: Many electrical outlet travesties can be avoided if you follow proper electrical outlet usage. However, old houses may still have some ungrounded outlets. If your home was built recently, it likely always had grounded outlets. In 1968, the US National Electrical Code (NEC) updated its policies to require all new construction to install grounded outlets. The third prong in the outlet represents the ground wire. You can quickly identify an ungrounded outlet due to its two prongs as opposed to the three prongs now customary in modern houses. If you can sell the home as is because it was built before 1968, many buyers won’t show interest in a home with ungrounded outlets or will request a discount on the price. Unfortunately, you won’t get clearance to sell your house with code violations. If you have ungrounded outlets in your home, it can lead to code violations for homes built after 1968. The extent of the medical expenses will depend on the severity of the shock.Ĭhildren experience 20% of electrical shock injuries, usually occurring at home. If someone finds themselves on the receiving end of an electric shock, it can cause anywhere from mild to severe damage. In most cases, warranties won’t cover the cost of damage if they learn it happened after plugging the item into an ungrounded outlet. Occasionally, an electrical fire can occur, creating even more damage. If you plug an electronic device into an ungrounded outlet and a surge occurs, the power sent to the device can damage it. Some of the possible costs of not getting your outlets grounded include: Not getting your outlets grounded can cost more in the long run than paying to get the work done. If the electrician needs to ground the circuit breaker panel as well, the work will cost another $100 to $150.Ĭosts Of Not Getting Your Outlet Grounded To ground the outlet, the electrician will run a ground wire from the outlet to the circuit breaker, which also needs to be grounded for the outlet to function properly. You will also need to pay the electrician’s hourly fee for roughly 30 to 60 minutes of work. On average, it costs $200 to ground a standard 10A, 120V outlet, which includes the receptacle and the cost of labor. How Much Does It Cost To Ground An Outlet? ![]() Learn the cost of hiring an electrician to ground the outlets in your home and why it will pay off in the end.ĭo not attempt to ground the outlet yourself under any circumstances! Of course, that comes with a nominal charge.ĭon’t be shocked with the electrician’s bill after the fact. If you live in a home with an ungrounded outlet, you need to enlist the services of a professional electrician to bring your home up to code. On top of keeping you and your electronics safe, the federal government requires homes built after 1968 to have all outlets grounded as part of the local building regulations. from plugging in too many appliances) they can deliver an electrical shock, heat up and cause a fire or damage the plugged in appliances.Grounded outlets guide surplus electrical energy into the ground instead of the device. And both wires are designed to handle only a certain amount of volts (usually 120 volts).īut if those wires receive more electricity than they’re designed to handle (i.e. Your hot wire delivers electricity to the outlet while the neutral wire sends the electricity back to the main electrical panel. You see, every outlet has a hot and neutral wire. Well, a ground wire is basically a wire that acts as a shortcut and directs any surge of excess electricity to safely flow into the ground. The main difference between a two-prong outlet and a three-prong outlet is that a three-prong outlet has a ground wire, while a two-prong outlet doesn’t. Two-prong vs three-prong outlet: What’s the difference? Need a professional to change a two-prong outlet to a three-prong? Just contact us and we’ll send over an electrician right away. Let’s take a closer look at these two different types of outlets. And without that extra protection, you’re at a higher risk of experiencing: If you have an older home (one built before 1962) that has two-prong outlets, your safest option is to have those outlets rewired to a grounded three-prong outlet.īecause two-prong outlets are “ungrounded outlets”, meaning they don’t have an extra “ground” wire that protects you from possible surges of electricity. ![]()
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