Grounding Electrical Outlets in Colorado Springs
Two-prong outlets • Ungrounded circuits • Code-compliant repairs
Licensed & Insured | Colorado Springs & the Pikes Peak Region | Free Estimates
Bourland Electric provides grounding work throughout Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. If your home has two-prong outlets, or a home inspection just flagged your outlets as ungrounded, you have a few options for getting this fixed. This page explains what grounding does, how to tell what type of wiring you have, and what it takes to address it.
Call today to speak with our licensed electrician 719-641-0841
Why Electrical Grounding Matters for Your Home
Grounding exists for one reason: to help protect you from electric shock.
The requirement to have a dedicated grounding wire in residential wiring was slowly added to different parts of the electric code during the 1940s – 1960s as more and more research was done concerning electrical safety. If your home was built during or before this era, there’s a good chance the information on this page applies to you.
The purpose of the grounding wire is to prevent metallic surfaces in your home from becoming a shock hazard during an electrical fault. It connects to every conductive surface in your electrical system: outlet boxes, light fixtures, appliance housings, metal cable sheathing, metal piping, etc.
When an energized wire contacts any of these surfaces, the grounding wire provides a low resistance path for current to flow back to the panel to trip the breaker. Without it, that surface becomes energized, waiting to shock whatever touches it.
Identifying Ungrounded Outlets
These simple checks will help you evaluate your system today without needing to call a licensed electrician. If you prefer a professional assessment, we are always available to help.
Check Outlet Configuration
Two-prong outlets are easy to spot and do not provide a grounding connection. Three-prong outlets for dryers & ovens do not have a dedicated grounding wire.
Use an Outlet Tester
A plug-in receptacle tester can show if ground connections are present and can be purchased from any hardware store for under $20. Note: Basic testers can’t detect bootleg grounds, so professional verification may still be needed.
Consider Your Home’s Age
Pre-1960 homes almost certainly have some ungrounded wiring. Post-1960 homes should have grounded circuits.
Get Professional Verification
When in doubt, call us for a professional assessment. We can give you a complete picture of your entire home’s grounding status.
Understanding Your Grounding Options
There are two options to fix ungrounded circuits: installing a GFCI protective device or rewiring the circuit entirely. Both approaches are code-compliant, but the choice depends on what is being plugged in and the overall scope of the project.
GFCI Protection
How it works: A GFCI device is installed to protect areas where ungrounded outlets are located.
✓ Code compliant solution
✓ No new wiring required
✓ Most cost-effective
✗ Not compatible with surge protection
✗ Does not provide a grounding wire
New Circuits
How it works: A new cable is installed to replace the old wiring from the electric panel to each outlet on that circuit.
✓ Surge protectors work correctly
✓ No special labeling
✓ Brand new wiring & device
✗ Higher cost
✗ May require opening walls
Grounding Electrical Outlet FAQs
What is a Bootleg Ground?
Bootleg Grounds refer to a code violation where a jumper wire is used to connect the neutral terminal to the ground screw on a receptacle. This tricks basic plug-in testers into reading a “Correct” light pattern even though no actual ground wire exists.
Though uncommon, this wiring shortcut is used by unscrupulous installers to “fake” a ground rather than fixing it the right way.
Will a surge protector work after GFCI installation?
A whole home surge protector YES. A point-of-use surge protector NO. GFCI protection does not create the equipment ground that a surge protector needs to function correctly.
My panel is grounded but my outlets are not. How?
This is common in homes with older wiring. Your electrical panel has its own means of grounding, separate from the branch circuits. If the wiring running through your walls is original two-wire cable, those circuits are ungrounded.
Is it safe to keep using ungrounded outlets?
Grounding exists to help protect you from electric shock, and eliminating that risk is worth doing.
Will ungrounded outlets show up on a home inspection?
Yes. Ungrounded outlets are a standard inspection finding and frequently become a negotiation point in real estate transactions.
How long does this work take?
GFCI replacements can typically be done in a single day across an average home. Running new circuits varies based on home size, wall construction, and how accessible the wiring routes are.
Can I do this myself?
Colorado permits homeowners to perform electrical work on their residence, but permit and inspection requirements still apply. Electrical work involves real safety risks during installation, and improperly completed work can create more hazards than you started with. For most homeowners, professional installation with proper testing and code compliance is the right call.
Schedule Your Free Grounding Assessment
Ready to find out what your home needs? Call our office or contact us online to talk with our licensed electrician. No pressure, no upselling.
