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If the two-wire system
functions as intended and efficiently as a three-wire system, why
complicate or real estate transaction by addressing the third wire? It's about life and death,
not to mention preventing damage to appliances, a safety
mechanism to protect against dangerous shock from faulty tools, appliances and currents, which can damage appliances. Do you
know that many, maybe even most, of the electrocutions in homes
occur from defective tools, appliances, etc. The third wire makes
the home safer by providing an intentional grounding path for
charges from defective appliances, etc. While it helps prevent stray currents and surges from damaging
expensive equipment, such as your $3,000 TV, the ground wires main
purpose is to cause the circuit breaker to disconnect when anything
defective is plugged into the outlet. This is the primary line of
defense from accidental electrocutions due to defective appliances
or tools. It also protects against potential damage to your
expensive appliances like that big screen TV, digital sound system
and your computer. Existing homes
which were built before the codes changed are grandfathered and
acceptable from a code standpoint (although some of your appliances
or equipment may be damaged under certain circumstances), that is
until some nut with a screwdriver changes the two prong outlets to
three prong and doesn't know that this change also requires the
addition of a ground wire. What was an acceptable, although not ideal
system, is now an unacceptable system which is now NOT FUNCTIONING
AS INTENDED. An electrical outlet with three
prongs, one being a ground, that has no ground wire is like a big
sign saying “this system is grounded” when in reality it is a
lie, no ground exists. There are three serious issues created by
this situation: One, it is deceptive (there is no ground). Second,
when you plug a three-prong cord into this outlet for an appliance
requiring a ground wire the appliance, such as that high priced
digital TV, it may be seriously damaged or even destroyed. Guess what,
the damage is not covered by your warranty. The operation manual
clearly states that you MUST USE A GROUNDED OUTLET. You really
wanted to purchase another TV, didn’t you? Third, this outlet will
not protect you from being electrocuted should something go wrong.
Do you get the picture yet? You list and sell homes, which
have less than two-thirds of a modern electrical system, and few of
the safety features now in common use but it is FUNCTIONING AS
INTENDED. Do you ignore the
issue and simply hope no one makes a big deal out of it? Don't you
really think that your unknowing client would appreciate knowing
what they are purchasing? What about those outlets which have been
changed to ungrounded three prong? Do you say: "Oh, those are
no big deal, they are all over Ardmore just like that!" In the Residential Disclosure Statement,
Item 4 is for electrical systems.
The owner is instructed to identify any “(malfunction or
defect).” An ungrounded three-prong outlet is a defect, not
functioning as intended and a
potential safety hazard. If the owner changed them, who is
responsible for the deception if this defect is not disclosed? If
you were to tell your client not to be concerned about them, does
the responsibility pass over to you? I
don't believe lack of knowledge is an acceptable excuse in most
court rooms. The prospective owner has the right to be informed and
to know that a home being considered has only two-thirds of a modern
electrical system and that the ungrounded three prong outlets are
deceptive, potentially damaging and dangerous. You can be assured
that I am going to tell them. The issue is, what will your response
be to that client who is looking to you for direction as to what
repairs should be requested? Recommendations Ungrounded 3-prong outlets should be repaired or at minimum replaced with two prong outlets. In some cases a ground wire may be present in the electrical box and simply needs to be connected. If no ground is present since having a ground increases safety, a grounded circuit could be strung to this outlet, or a separate ground wire could be connected. Some electrical codes allow the installation of a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) type outlet where grounding is not provided. In this case the GFCI may work but can’t be tested by normal means. Note: Appliances, equipment and tools which are required to be grounded should NEVER be plugged into an ungrounded outlet, that is of course unless you are tired of it, enjoy pain, hospitals or coffins. The use of an adapter which converts a plug into two prongs doesn't solve the problem. If you will look closely that adapter has a small copper connector extending out from it, guess what, the connector is for installation of a ground wire! You do attach one before using it, don't you? Conclusion When you, as an agent, are thinking about how you address the ungrounded three prong electrical outlet, think about it this way. How will your client feel about you when an outlet they thought was grounded fries their new TV’s circuits? Better than that, how much is the life of a child or for that much an adult worth? Let’s honor this National Electrical Safety Month by improving our attitudes about the seriousness of electrical defects like ungrounded three prong outlets.
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Thoughts for the week... Most Realtors and Home Inspectors are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited -until
you try to sit in
their pew. |
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