top of page
Search

WHY? ELECTRICITY NEED TO BE GROUNDED.

Updated: Feb 27, 2023

WHY DOSE? ELECTRICITY NEED TO BE GROUNDED. Electricity is a vital resource for everyone. People can’t power their electronic devices, cool or heat their homes, or even perform basic activities without electricity. That said, electricity is very powerful and it needs to be used properly. If not administered properly it can be dangerous. Read on to learn why. But it can be affordable. Cost to Ground A House.

grounded connections

OVERVIEW OF ELECTRICITY

Most people understand what electricity is but can’t really give a textbook definition of what it actually is. Every component of electricity is made of particles called atoms. The center of the atoms contains sub-features called protons and neutrons. Floating around in the nucleus are electrons.


However, electrons escape an atom’s orbit and can freely move into other avenues until they join protons. Charges can develop when negative and positive particles attract. When enough charge is created, different forms of electricity can be developed or used.


For most people, current electricity is the one they use. It enables charges to consistently flow through the circuits that power devices needing the energy to operate effectively.

WHY DOES ELECTRICITY NEED TO BE GROUNDED?

Electricity travels to the ground because the earth is charged with particles with positive charges. This is even truer when the atmosphere is not stable. When it is not properly balanced, the air can be filled with particles with negative charges, also known as ions.

This phenomenon is often seen during thunderstorms. The lighting produced airstrikes next to the ground.

GROUND ELECTRICITY

A lot of residential properties are safe because of grounded electricity. This protects the property and the people living in it from dangerous consequences caused by excessive electrical charges.


Sometimes, during or before electrical storms, circuitry and wiring could be exposed to excess electricity. Surplus amounts could pose severe dangers in improperly grounded locations.

WHAT A GROUND WIRE DOES

Luckily, ground wires installation reduces a residential property’s chances of encountering such dangers. Ground wires are installed into the earth outside the property and attached to electrical panels and construction outlets. This wiring has the potential to absorb excess electrical charges, preventing it from penetrating interior locations.


Ground wires also serve as surge protectors. For example, sometimes a Tv or a computer gets destroyed by lightning its electrical surge. A surge protector eliminates the chances of this happening.

IMPROPER GROUNDING CONSEQUENCES

Homes that are not properly grounded put the people living in them at high risk for electrocution and other bodily harm.


Excess electricity will use pretty much anything it can find to reach the ground. Therefore, in locations that are not grounded, a common appliance could serve as a conduit. The power passing through them could charge through the people using them, causing severe damage or even death.


In addition, charges that go unchecked can result in electrical fires. Electrical fires can spread really quickly, and could also result in physical harm, death, and property damage.

SAFELY GROUND YOUR HOME

According to the National Electrical Code, every electrical component in residential buildings built today has to be sufficiently grounded.


However, is common for older homes do not to have these safeguards. Unfortunately, people trying to save some money when building their homes overlook these needed protections. Therefore, every homeowner is highly encouraged to have an electrical home safety inspection.


A trained, experienced, and licensed electrician will inspect your home to ensure grounding is done properly and safely during this process. Additionally, they will do other actions like inspecting the electrical panel, examining the safety and effectiveness of outlets and switches, identifying electrocution or shock hazards, etc.

CALL US TODAY!

We can’t stress enough how powerful electricity is and how you should now take it for granted. Therefore, our experienced team of expert electricians begs homeowners to undergo an immediate and thorough electrical inspection no matter how old is their home.

If you’re looking to ground your home, we are the people to call. Super Electric will ensure your electrical installation is done up to code. Call us now at (775)230-7006.

313 views0 comments
bottom of page