What a home, cottage, or commercial buyer needs to know about dealing with an ungrounded electrical system.
 

During our home, cottage, and commercial inspections in the Orillia, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, and Muskoka areas, we will often find some or all of a structure is supplied with an older two pin or ungrounded electrical system. They look like these ones found during a few of our inspections:

We do not always see two pin outlets as many home, cottage, or commercial owners replace them with the newer three pin outlets. However, by testing outlets with the proper tester they will show up as ungrounded outlets. The tester will show an ungrounded outlet like this:

We then have to test  other outlets around the room and then the structure to determine the fault is just at one outlet, one circuit. Are there just parts of the structure ungrounded or is the entire structures system ungrounded?

Replacing a two pin outlet with a three pin outlet could be a safety hazard and possibly fatal!

For many years now receptacles installed on 15 and 20 amp branch circuits must be of the grounding  type. Installing a three pin outlet in place of a two pin outlet does not add the ground conductor to the system wiring running back to the panel. The three pin outlet is still ungrounded. You can plug in equipment like carpet shampooers that require a ground to be safe to be used in the outlet. In that case water and ungrounded outlet together could be fatal. The grounding contacts of receptacles must be effectively grounded to the branch circuit equipment grounding conductor and return to the panel.

We write these defects up in our home, cottage, and commercial inspection reports.

When we find this type of defect we will write it up in our home, cottage, or commercial report as an electrical defect needing repair or replacement. We would inform clients that the electrical system has a  safety issue. We also inform them that there a couple of ways to address this issue.   

Safety Issue :

Our report would state: Some, as indicated in the photos, or all of the outlets are the older ungrounded two-slot type.  Where clocks, lamps, and other electrical devices with two-prong plugs are to be used, this should not pose a problem. However, for ultimate improved safety, properly grounded three-slot outlets should be installed in the kitchen, bathroom, garage, outside, and wherever newer grounded appliances with three-pin plugs are to be used.

The remedies are:

Electrical codes allow replacing a 2-wire ungrounded type receptacle where no ground exists in the outlet box with another 2-wire receptacle. Easy, low cost, fresh look, but no more protection than before. This is not a solution we recommend for our clients.

GFCI outlets can be used in place of a two pin outlet.   

 Rather than extensive rewiring, If only some of the outlets are ungrounded it may be cost effective to replace several ungrounded outlets with GFCI ( Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter ) outlets to ensure personal safety. GFCI outlets will trip when a fault, or short, between the white wire ( neutral ) and the black wire (hot ) is detected protecting you. Electrical code allows you to replace the 2-wire receptacle with a GFCI-type receptacle and mark the receptacle with the words “No Equipment Ground”. All outlets near sources of water should be changed as should all outside outlets and any where tools or heaver equipment may be used. It will not protect sensitive equipment such as expensive tv systems or computers. These should be used on grounded systems only and those circuits or pieces of equipment should be protected with a surge suppresser as well.

The structure may need all new wiring.

This building could need extensive rewiring of the structure.  Depending on the number of outlets you may need changed and the level of safety a rewire provides, you may find that the home, cottage or commercial structure is better off with all new wiring. From the ultimate safety viewpoint it is the best option. We at Done Right Home Inspections recommend our clients in Orillia, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, and Muskoka engage a qualified electrician to discuss the options and alternatives available for upgrading to grounded outlets. Repairs should be undertaken as deemed necessary by the electrician and please remember to obtain proper permits.