Expert: Master Bob - 12/27/2004

Question
I have a home built in 1964.  All of the outlets in the house are two pronged.  I would like to upgrade those to three prong outlets.  The metal boxes are not grounded.  Can I just run a new ground wire to the outlet box and hook it to a water pipe or do I have to do something different?

Answer
Hi Eric,

  Just getting back from Holiday vacation....a day later then we had planned.

 Based on your description...you've run into the typical scenario many wners of older homes have....and the only true solution is to upgrade all the wiring to 12/2 with ground romex...and retrofit with 3 prong grounding receptacle outlets.

 The running a "ground jumper from the water pipe to the outlet box" is NOT a viable option...and it is NOT a Code approved approach....too many problems can develop.I do not (and will never) recommend this approach.

 What we've typically done on some of these homes is upgraded only the circuits that need to have grounding receptacles....such as office areas, stereo/entertainment areas, etc....as well as bath and kitchen areas - so that the GFCI receptacles can be properly installed. Homes that have a basement are much easier to upgrade...it's easier to get at the old wiring and replace....but we've also done several homes that didn't - and it's a much more involved process.

 No one really wants to hear it...but changing out the wiring is the only approved method of upgrading an older non-grounded home. I've seen a lot of older homes for sale over the decades that claimed "upgraded electrical wiring"...when all they really did was take out an old 60 amp fuse panel and replace it with a new 100 amp breaker panel...leaving most (if not all) of the same old 2 wire non-grounded wiring in place. This is not a true electrical upgrade...it is only a panel or service change....yet they jacked up the price claiming an electrical upgrade had been done. It's clearly false advertising....but it's unfortunately done all the time by realtors.

 However....when you take an older home...upgrade the service and panel....along with the bulk of the wiring...then you DO add value (and safety) to the home....as well as it make it more Code complaint. It then becomes a home that was truly electrically upgraded....adding significant resale value to the home and justifying the costs to have the work done.

 So...if you want to upgrade this 1964 home to 3 prong grounding outlets...changing out the wiring is the ONLY solution I can recommend. It will not only bring the home more up to date electrically....but can legally increase the resale value down the road. It's a win-win investment.

 Hope this helps....if you need more details, please follow-up.

Best Wishes and Happy New Year,

Bob Osgood
Master Electrician

RKO ELECTRIC

www.rkoelectric.com