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You depend heavily on the electricity that runs through your home. You may even take for granted this modern convenience, giving little thought to the intricate workings of the system when it runs correctly. Flip the switch to turn on lights, plug in a cord for charging, or turn a dial to heat the oven.
It’s all quite simple in day-to-day terms, but how about the processes happening behind the scenes? Electrical systems require a grounding setup to keep your entire system safe. At HR Phoenix, our technicians understand this necessity and work hard to ensure your home, family, and belongings stay safe through proper grounding.
What Is Electrical Grounding?
Electrical currents must have somewhere to go when they fault so that they do not cross back into your system and through your powered devices and appliances. A grounding system connects your electrical grid to the earth or ground, giving currents a safe pathway. The ground provides a low-resistance path for excess electricity to be absorbed. Excess electricity occurs from lightning strikes, surges related to power outages, and other faults in the electrical system. Without proper grounding, the current could track back through the system and exit through outlets and appliances.
Grounding systems rely on ground rods to conduct the electricity to the ground. Ground rods are metal rods, usually made of copper or galvanized steel. These rods are driven into the earth to provide a direct connection to the ground for the excess electricity to flow.
Ground wires run from your electrical panel to the outlets and switches in your home. These wires also connect to the grounding rods. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) help ground the electricity in your home. GFCI outlets have three prongs that indicate the presence of a grounding wire or conductor. These outlets ensure all fault currents are directed safely into the ground rather than coursing back through the system.
Circuit breakers and fuses in your electrical panel protect against overcurrents and surges. Grounding boosts the effectiveness of these circuits and fuses. The circuit breaker trips or the fuse blows when a fault occurs, which sends the electricity to the ground to prevent hazards. If you live in an older home, you may have a fuse box that electricity runs through. If so, you should consider upgrading to a circuit breaker panel. Circuit breakers offer improved protection from electrical faults and hazards.
6 Reasons Why Electrical Grounding Is Necessary
Electrical grounding is a necessity to keep your home safe from electrical hazards. Without a proper grounding system, you face numerous risks. A solid, reliable, and safe grounding system provides plenty of benefits to protect your home and belongings.
1. Safety Against Shock and Electrocution
The most crucial reason for electrical grounding systems in homes is to provide safety for you and your family. Electrical grounding prevents shock and electrocution by directing excess currents into the ground rather than allowing them to flow through your connected electrical devices. Electrical shocks and electrocution happen when you touch an exposed wire or live metal component. Shock and electrocution can cause personal injuries or even death in severe cases.
2. Protection of Electrical Devices
Proper grounding protects your electrical appliances and devices from damage caused by electrical surges and spikes. Lightning strikes and power outages are common causes of surges and spikes in your electrical system. Operating high-powered electrical equipment may also cause surges through the system. When a power surge goes through an ungrounded home, it could cause significant damage to anything plugged into an outlet or connected to the electrical grid.
3. Prevent Electrical Fires
Faulty wiring and overloaded circuits can cause electrical arcs or sparks, which could ignite materials nearby and lead to fires. Electrical fires are especially dangerous when they start in the wiring. Wiring is often hidden from plain sight, meaning an electrical fire can burn for some time without being spotted. Grounding prevents electrical fires by providing a safe pathway for electrical currents to flow back to the ground in case of a fault. Grounding systems reduce the risk of arcing and overheating and prevent sparks that may ignite a fire.
4. Compliance With Codes and Regulations
Because electricity can be extremely dangerous if not properly and safely installed and grounded, your system must meet certain codes and standards. For example, the National Electrical Code (NEC) mandates proper grounding systems in residential dwellings. The regulations provide safe electrical connections and pathways and are based on extensive research. These regulations must be met to avoid fines and penalties. You may also find yourself unable to inhabit your home if the electrical grounding does not meet regulation standards. Unsafe electricity poses a significant threat to safety, and your home may be deemed uninhabitable until a proper grounding system is installed. Your insurance company could raise your premium or deny coverage if electrical systems do not comply with codes and regulations. Finally, if you are looking to sell your home, you may be unable to find a buyer if you do not have a proper electrical grounding system installed.
5. Enhance System Performance
Proper grounding can enhance the overall performance of your electrical system. Grounding reduces electrical noise that can interfere with the operation of sensitive electronic equipment. This equipment may include computers, audio systems, and communication devices. Grounding provides a stable reference point and minimizes electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). This leads to a longer lifespan for your electronics and smoother operation.
Grounding also helps ensure the integrity of communication signals such as broadband internet and satellite television. Poor grounding may cause disruptions and poor performance for these signals.
6. Voltage Stabilization
Electrical grounding helps stabilize voltage levels within your electrical system. The grounding system ensures that your electrical system operates within safe and predictable parameters, preventing damage to electronics and devices that may be sensitive to voltage fluctuations.
Maintenance For Your Grounding System
Regular maintenance and inspection of the grounding system are essential to ensure that all parts are damage-free and operational. Over time, connections may become loose or corroded. Damaged system components are not as effective at grounding and could increase the risk of electrical hazards in your home.
At HR Phoenix, our mission is to ensure you have the convenience of electricity flowing through your home without hazards and safety risks. Our technicians work diligently to provide an array of electrical services, including electrical panels, generators, EV chargers, and electrical repairs.
We provide skilled rewiring services and installation of new electrical fixtures and can be relied upon when you have an issue that relates to electricity. We provide intensive hands-on experience to each of our trusted electricians, making sure they can safely and appropriately handle all electrical needs before we send them out in the field alone.
Keep your Dallas area home and belongings safe with electrical installation, repair, and maintenance when you call the trusted professionals at HR Phoenix.
