this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2025
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Upgrading ungrounded two-prong outlets to grounded three-prong? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)
submitted 2 weeks ago by compostgoblin@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/homeimprovement@lemmy.world
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I’ve recently become the owner of a home that was constructed in the mid 1950s (in the US). As such, not all the outlets are grounded, three-prong receptacles, since that wasn’t code-required at the time. It looks like a few have been added or upgraded over the years, but there are still many that are ungrounded. What is the best way to go about converting those receptacles to be grounded? Will that require a professional? It seems like probably the kind of electrical work that I am capable of doing myself, but I am also very much not an electrician.

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[–] Shimitar@downonthestreet.eu 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Setting up a ground system isn't that hard, it involves bury a few rods and do some wiring. I did it for my house, but I had an electrician expert tell me what to do and how yo do it properly.

Said so, get ground wires absolutely and a ground "stuff" (not native English speaker don't know the correct word).

[–] sj_zero@lotide.fbxl.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

In many jurisdictions, connecting to the copper cold water line is acceptable. The copper line runs through the ground and so is essentially the same as a grounding electrode.

[–] mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Until someone does a repair using a non-conductive replacement part. If your ground is running through your sink, and your sink springs a leak, there’s a non-zero chance that the new install will be PEX instead of copper. Still up to code from a plumbing standpoint, but now people in the upstairs shower are getting shocked because the upstairs outlets are tied into ungrounded plumbing.

[–] sj_zero@lotide.fbxl.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

Ideally the ground should be as close to the cold water pipe entering the house as you can get, yeah.

Honestly, I wouldn't want to just use my cold water line well into the house as a ground for exactly that sort of reason.