I often meet people who are preparing to do a home inspection, and yet they have no idea that electrical grounding analysis is a crucial step when conducting a home inspection.
Electricity grounding ensures the safety and correct functioning of residential electrical systems. As a current or potential homeowner in Tampa, Florida, understanding more about electrical grounding will help you keep yourself and your family safe from any potential hazards or harm.
In this article, I’ll explain what electrical grounding is, and give various reasons why it helps contribute to a safe and well-maintained home.
What exactly is electrical grounding?
Electrical grounding is a process that refers to how an electrical system is connected to the earth or a conductive body, so that electrical currents flowing through the house are safe. In order to ground your electricity, you’ll need to connect the electrical circuit from your house to the ground, using various wires, rods, and/or plates. Once you create this link, any excess electricity can safely dissipate. This is done to prevent damage to your appliances or devices and stop any fires or shocks in the house.
Proper grounding protects against electrical shocks
When your electrical grounding is done properly, it will protect you against electrical shocks. Sometimes there are faults in an electrical system, such as a short circuit or malfunctioning equipment. When such a fault happens, electrical grounding creates a pathway for the excess current to flow safely into the ground. It does this to prevent the buildup of dangerous voltages inside the electrical system. It also reduces the risk of people getting shocked. The quicker we can identify issues with the electrical system, the quicker we can deal with the issues.
It keeps you safe from electrical fires
Electrical fires are unfortunately more common than we’d like to imagine. Another crucial reason to get proper grounding is to reduce the chance of electrical fires. This is done in order to divert fault current away from components in your equipment that can quickly overheat, and potentially explode. We aim to prevent any sparks that can ignite and lead to a rapid and dangerous fire.
It protects the equipment in your home
People spend lots of money on the equipment and appliances in their homes. One way to properly protect them is through electrical grounding. Grounding helps to stabilize voltages within your house and also prevents any surges or transients. Sometimes these things are caused by natural causes, such as lightning. At other times, they could be due to an issue with the power utility or an issue with the wiring. Grounding keeps yourself and your appliances safe and sound.
There are laws about electrical grounding compliance
Florida has specific laws and regulations that govern the electrical standards for electrical conductors and equipment. For a full breakdown, you can have a look at the NFPA 70A: National Electrical Code® Requirements for One- and Two-Family Dwellings. NFPA publishes more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. Ensuring that your home is compliant with these regulations is crucial, and needs to be done by a certified professional.
Book your Tampa home inspection today
If you’re a current or potential homeowner in Tampa, Florida – getting a home inspection is a sure way to check that your home is compliant with all the laws, regulations, and safety standards. I have seen time and time again, that getting a home inspection done, helps people uncover and rectify issues that could’ve been even more difficult to solve at a future point in time.
Click here to book your Tampa home inspection with BetterView Home Inspections today.