So how did we end up replacing this home’s ground wire in Cumming? (Check out our service area.) Originally, this client contacted us about replacing the electrical panel. We always do an inspection during the initial phase of quoting a project. During this inspection we found this client’s ground wire system for his home was not up to date.
Code requires two 8ft ground rods saved 6 ft apart. This client’s home needed an additional rod and additional wire. Having an up-to-date ground wire system provides safety by helping to disperse lightning strikes, and quickly disperse high voltage events that might occur in your home. This helps guard against damage to your TV, computers, and other devices or appliances that depend on electricity.
Why Update Your Ground Wire?
When you don’t have proper grounding with your electrical system, overloads can fry circuits on your electronics, start a fire, or shock you. Grounding your electrical system is an important part to having a safe home. Correctly installed grounding wire can prevent electrical shocks or fires in your home or office.
A need to have more electronics. Cell phones, tablets, internet, in home offices mean many homes 30 or more years old need updates to the electrical system and potentially a new or upgraded ground wire system.
How Can You Know If Your House Has Faulty Ground Wiring?
Here are few common ways to diagnose whether your electrical ground wire is faulty:
Strobing lines on your TV or desktop computer monitor.
Humming or buzzing in your home stereo or TV audio system.
Unexpected shocks when you touch metal appliances, trim, or pipes.
What does it cost to update the ground wire for an entire house?
Costs range from adding a second grounding rod for around $699. If your house is in need of a whole new grounding system this can cost in the neighborhood of $2500. We are more than happy to offer a free onsite estimate.
Is installing ground wire necessary in residential wiring?
Electrical systems need grounding wire to prevent short circuits. During a short circuit, a ground wire connection provides current with a safe, low-resistance path, usually through a conductive material such as metal pipe, to prevent harmful discharges.