Skip Navigation

Maryland’s Premier Residential and Commercial Electrician
Also Serving DC, Northern Virginia and Southern Pennsylvania

Schedule an Appointment Today! Generac Authorized Dealer See our Blog! (410) 799-5791
or (301) 384-8880

Dealing with Ungrounded Outlets

Dealing with Ungrounded Outlets

If you look around your home, you will see a combination of two-prong and three-prong outlets.

Ungrounded outlets are dangerous. However, many homeowners might not recognize the danger that they present. If you look around your home, you will see a combination of two-prong and three-prong outlets. You’ve probably never cared to look up what the difference is. Either way, it’s something that is important to learn, especially if you are thinking about becoming an electrician. 

What Are They?

Whenever an overload happens, the grounding wire absorbs it and deflects that excess energy. This safety measure can prevent electrical fires and random sparks spraying out all over your carpet, your furnishings, your pets, and your children. The third prong is what provides the grounding wire. Two prong configurations often do not have this feature, which means that whenever an overload happens, they are less effective at sending the extra energy away. 

Appliances, organic matter, and the air are all likely targets for where the electricity will go. In every case, all three are extremely dangerous. Until the 1960s, ungrounded outlets were common in almost every home and every building. Eventually, they were replaced by grounded outlets that could handle the larger electricity demands of ordinary homes as technology progressed. 

These days, any ungrounded outlets are not considered safe and up to code. That’s why updating and upgrading the outlets in your home, even the grounded ones, remains as important five years from now as it was five years ago. You will also need to account for it when you are planning to move. When it’s time to design a custom home, make sure to put in grounded outlets instead of ungrounded outlets. 

Can They Be Replaced? 

Replacing ungrounded outlets isn’t difficult. Even so, you should leave it to a professional electrician. After all, you can never be too careful, especially if the wiring in your home is old, faulty, and unstable. 

For ALL of Your Residential or Commercial Electrical Needs, Call TriStar Electric!

No matter the job, big or small, the professionals at TriStar Electric will be happy to discuss your project and answer any questions or concerns you may have. We offer free in-home consultations, plus an after-hours and emergency phone line for advice or service!

If you have any questions about our electrical repairs or upgrades, please contact TriStar Electric, Maryland’s premier residential and commercial electrician, by calling 410-799-5791 or 301-384-8880. Or, you can fill out the contact form on our website.

Are you looking for a quality electrician in Maryland, Washington DC, Southern Pennsylvania, or Northern Virginia? Take a look at TriStar Electric’s online reviews and ratings on Angie’s List, Yelp, Google, Facebook, Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland,  and Better Business Bureau Greater Mid-Atlantic. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 26th, 2019 at 10:47 am. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Contact Us Today