How to Solve the Most Common Electrical Ground Fault in Your Home

Ground faults are one of the most common electrical issues in homes. They occur when electricity escapes from its intended path and flows into the grounding system. This can create shock hazards and damage equipment. As a homeowner, it's important to understand what causes ground faults, how to detect them, and how to safely solve them.

What Causes Electrical Ground Faults?

There are a few common causes of ground faults:

Faulty Appliances

Appliances with worn or damaged power cords can allow electricity to escape to the ground. If the insulation breaks down or the cord is frayed, exposed wires can touch grounded surfaces. Faulty appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and kitchen gadgets often cause ground faults.

Faulty Wiring

Outdated wiring that lacks proper grounding is prone to ground faults. Aluminum wiring installed prior to the 1970s is especially problematic. As the wiring ages and oxidizes, loose connections are formed that allow electricity to escape. Underground wiring that has been chewed or damaged by animals can also cause ground faults.

Moisture

Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. If moisture gets into your home's electrical system, it can provide a path for stray electrical current to reach the ground. Faults often happen in bathrooms or basements due to condensation and water leaks. Outdoor wiring exposed to rain and irrigation water is also vulnerable.

Overloaded Circuits

When too many appliances run on one circuit, the excessive electrical load can overwhelm the wiring. This causes heat buildup which melts the wire insulation, enabling current to escape into the ground. Ground faults from overloads often happen in kitchens and laundry rooms where many appliances run at once.

Detecting a Ground Fault

Here are the most common signs of a ground fault in your home's electrical system:

• Tingling sensation when touching appliances - Current escaping to the ground can energize metal surfaces of appliances, causing a tingle.

• Frequent circuit breaker trips - The ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers will trip frequently as they detect the current imbalance.

• Flickering lights - As electricity leaks to the ground, voltage drops can cause lights to flicker or dim unexpectedly.

• Unexplained high electric bills - Ground faults waste electricity, driving up your utility bills.

• Odd buzzing or humming from outlets - You may hear unusual noises coming from outlets as current flows through the ground.

• Burning smell from outlets or switches - Faults that overheat wires cause a burning odor.

If you suspect a ground fault, the first step is to thoroughly check your GFCI outlets using the test and reset buttons. A GFCI that fails to trip or reset is a sure sign of a ground fault.

How to Fix a Ground Fault

1. Check the GFCI outlets

Press the "test" button on each GFCI outlet to trigger the internal breaker. This will immediately halt any ground faults. If any outlet fails to trip or doesn't respond when pressing "reset," the GFCI needs replacement by an electrician.

2. Inspect electrical appliances

Unplug appliances one at a time to see if the ground fault stops. Check the power cords for damage - replace any worn or cracked cords. Also inspect appliances for signs of electrical damage or overheating. Faulty appliances need professional repair or replacement.

3. Call an electrician

Don't attempt to fix ground faults in hardwired electrical systems yourself. The risks of shock and electrocution are extremely high. An experienced, licensed electrician can safely locate the ground fault using special testing equipment. They may need to replace outdated or damaged wiring in the home to permanently resolve ground faults.

4. Have the electrical panel inspected

Faulty grounding at the main electrical service panel can cause ground faults everywhere in your home. Electricians should thoroughly inspect the service panel for:

• Damaged or rusted ground rods/conductors

• Loose ground wire connections

• Faulty neutral-to-ground bonding

• Inadequate circuit grounding

Updating your panel can be pricey but resolves tricky ground faults originating here.

5. Address moisture issues

Prevent water intrusion by sealing basement foundation cracks, repairing leaky plumbing, and redirecting rainwater and irrigation away from where electrical wires enter your home. Proper sealing and drainage helps keep electrical systems dry.

Stay Safe with Ground Faults

Ground faults create a serious risk of electric shock, so take precautions:

• Never touch appliances or plumbing when a ground fault is suspected - current can energize metal surfaces.

• Avoid using electrical outlets or systems that exhibit signs of ground faults.

• Have GFCIs installed on all high-risk circuits like kitchens, bathrooms. and outdoor areas. Press the test button monthly.

• Have a qualified electrician perform a professional electrical inspection annually. They can detect and solve ground faults before they become a safety issue.

• Install arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) to halt dangerous electrical arcing that can cause fires.

Ground faults are scary but typically easy for electricians to resolve. Schedule inspections and repairs to keep your home's electrical system operating safely. With diligent maintenance and GFCI protection, you can rest easy knowing the threat of ground faults has been solved.