Crucial yet often-overlooked elements of your home or commercial facility are electrical outlets. It is not the case, though some individuals may think that all outlets are the same. It is important to understand what ungrounded outlets are, what they look like, and the hazards they can present for optimal electrical safety in any setting. The team at Peterkin Electric knows how important outlet safety is for all buildings as leading providers of commercial and residential electrical services. In order to help you spot ungrounded outlets and minimize the risk of electrical hazards around them, we at Peterkin Electric would like to share information.

Are Grounded Outlets Necessary

Through the presence of 3 openings, 2 vertical openings on the top and one circular opening on the bottom, grounded outlets can be identified. The two vertical slots represent a “hot” wire and a “neutral” wire. Acting as a failsafe, the ground wire in a grounded outlet ties into the circular slot. The electricity simply travels safely along the ground wire back to the panel should anything go wrong with the outlet. Electricity can channel into nearby materials such as fabrics, plants, or anything else near the outlet without the ground wire. Making them far more hazardous, ungrounded outlets lack this bottom ground wire opening and only feature the two vertical openings at the top.

Can an Ungrounded Outlet Cause a Fire?

They have since been identified as unsafe for modern homes, commercial facilities, and the devices we use though ungrounded outlets were a common choice for older homes and buildings. Ungrounded outlets present a much higher risk of the following safety hazards:
Electrical Fires. Your outlet may cause arcing and sparks that can cause a fire without the ground receptacle. If you have any dry materials near the outlet, this is especially true.
Property Loss. Causing severe damage to your property, undergrounded outlets can short out equipment and electronics. This damage can even render your devices inoperable and require you to replace them in some cases.
Electrocution / Shock. To individuals that are operating electronics and appliances plugged into the outlet, ungrounded outlets have a higher risk of shock.
Unsafe / Messy Wiring. The presence of ungrounded outlets typically means that the wiring behind them is messy and unsafe, unfortunately. Make certain to hire a professional to replace them with grounded units and organized wiring if you have ungrounded outlets in your home or commercial building.

Electrical Wiring & More in Laguna Woods, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Irvine, Lake Forest & Orange County, California

When it comes to the electrical needs of your home or business in Orange County, CA, the professionals of Peterkin Electric are readily available to provide electrical inspections, maintenance, installations, replacements, upgrades, and repairs. Our electricians are formally trained, experienced, and skilled to provide electrical services. We use advanced equipment and premium products to ensure long-term performance and safety. When it comes to electricity, you need to trust in expert to avoid property damage and bodily injury. With Peterkin Electric, you can trust that our professionals will ensure all electrical services are executed with quality workmanship. Call us today!