Protect Your Raleigh Home With Proper Electrical Grounding
Dawson's Electric & Air is theelectricianto call for electrical grounding in Raleigh, NC. According to the National Electrical Code, your home’s electrical system must have a built-in path to the ground. It serves as a vital safety mechanism in the event of a lightning strike or other power surge. Without it, your home could catch fire from the excess voltage, or you could receive a fatal shock if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You can count on our electricians to see to your home’s grounding needs, protecting it and you from harm. Reach out to us online or call 919-887-8284 today!
Expert Grounding Services Keep Your Home Safe
When electrical service became common in homes here in Raleigh, ungrounded, two-pronged outlets were common. It wasn’t until the 1960s that electrical codes began requiring a path to the ground in homes. A ground path means exactly what it sounds like. It is a wire that connects your home’s electrical system to the ground.
In the early days, this was typically accomplished by running a wire to a home’s incoming water pipe. If you own an older home, this may be how your home’s electrical grounding works. However, this may no longer function as intended.
The replacement of water infrastructure over the years could have included the use of PVC piping. That would have interrupted your home’s electrical path to the ground. In that case, you would be vulnerable to fires and electrocutions from unexpected power surges. Plus, your home’s outlets wouldn’t be protecting your devices and appliances as they should.
Today’s electrical codes require that your home have a path to the ground with a resistance of 25 ohms or less. To accomplish that, we may install more than one ground rod outside of your home. A ground rod is a metal rod that’s between 8 and 10 feet long. It gets installed into the earth near your home and connected to your electrical panel via a wire.
Typically, a two-rod system will see each installed at least 6 feet from the other. That provides ample room for electrical dissipation in the event of a power surge.
If you're not sure that your home is properly grounded, give us a call at 919-887-8284 today!
Grounding FAQs
Yes, all metal electrical boxes must be properly grounded to protect against electrical shock and fire hazards. The ground wire connects to the box's grounding screw, providing a safe path for electricity if a fault occurs. Proper grounding is required by the electrical code and essential for your safety.
All modern electrical systems require grounding, including outlets, switches, light fixtures, appliances, electrical panels, and any metal components that could become energized. Three-prong outlets, major appliances like washers and dryers, HVAC systems, water heaters, and all metal electrical boxes must have proper grounding connections for safety.
A licensed electrician can test your grounding system using specialized equipment to measure resistance and verify proper connections. Signs of grounding problems include frequent breaker trips, tingling sensations from appliances, or two-prong outlets throughout your home. Professional testing ensures your entire electrical system is safely grounded.
Depend On Your Electrical Grounding Specialists
Dawson's Electric & Air is the place to call for your home’s grounding needs in Raleigh. We’re a small, locally-owned electrical contractor with deep roots in the community. We’re fully licensed and insured and can help you make sure your home complies with all relevant electrical codes. If you need help with your home's grounding, send us a message online or call 919-887-8284 today!
