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Ungrounded electrical outlet at a house in The Villages, FloridaWhen it comes to electrical outlets, there are two primary types: grounded outlets and ungrounded outlets. Though both provide the same amount of electricity, one is potentially much more problematic than the other. That “one” is the ungrounded outlet.

Are you interested in learning more about it? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. This The Villages electrician is going to explain everything you’ll need to know.

What’s an Ungrounded Outlet?

Simply put, an ungrounded outlet is an outlet with two prongs. These outlets were standard for decades. However, in the 1960s, that changed with the advent of grounded outlets.

Grounded outlets are much safer than ungrounded outlets. Why is this? Because they have an additional prong that catches stray electricity in the event of a power surge. Ungrounded outlets don’t have this prong, and therefore, they are not able to catch stray electricity.

Instead, they allow that electricity to overpower them. When this occurs, all sorts of things can happen. Most commonly, it causes the outlets to get exceedingly hot. In other cases, however, it produces sparks that can lead to fires.

In short, ungrounded outlets are much less safe than grounded outlets. They’re a fire hazard that could result in tragedy at any time. For this reason, it’s strongly recommended that you have replaced as soon as you can.

Though it’s certainly possible to replace your outlets on your own, it is much safer to hire a licensed electrician the handle the task. Outlet installation can be dangerous, and you don’t want to subject yourself to any form of injury.

What Kinds of Problems Can an Ungrounded Outlet Cause?

Ungrounded outlets can cause all kinds of problems. The most prominent issues brought on by ungrounded outlets include the following:

Electrical Shock

Perhaps the most common issue brought on by ungrounded outlets is electrical shock. It’s possible that, when plugging an appliance into this type of outlet, it could cause a power surge that leads to you being shocked.

At the very least, this could tingle a bit. At worst, it could kill you. That alone should incentivize you to make the switch.

Ruined Appliances

Not only can ungrounded outlets shock you, but they can also lead to the destruction of your electrical appliances. Should a surge of power shoot through an ungrounded outlet, it could cause the connected appliance to experience a surge as well, which could result in the appliance’s destruction.

By simply installing a grounded outlet and providing yourself with the best electrical system possible, you can avoid this problem altogether.

House Fires

As was noted above, ungrounded outlets can cause sparks. What can happen when sparks are flying out of an outlet? Fires can start. All it takes is a single spark to land on something flammable, and soon enough, your entire house could be in flames.

House fires are, as you know, extremely dangerous. Not to mention, they almost always lead to the destruction of possessions stored in the house. In short, you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid them at all costs.

Replacing your ungrounded outlets with grounded outlets is one way to ensure that your home remains safe.

Are You Looking to Hire a Licensed Electrician in The Villages, Florida?

Do you have ungrounded electrical outlets in your The Villages home? Are you looking to replace them? If so, the licensed electricians at All American Air & Electric can help.

Our The Villages electricians are well-versed in the replacement of electrical outlets. We can ensure that your outlets are installed in a safe and optimal manner.

Contact us today to get the process started!