What Is a Ground Fault?

If you’re scratching your head wondering, “What is a ground fault?” then you’re in the right place. It’s important to understand the causes and source of a ground fault so that you can prepare for them properly. Luckily, our guide will help you identify and manage this abnormal flow of electricity.

What Is a Ground Fault?

A ground fault is when electricity from a live circuit, like an outlet or a light fixture, travels to the ground accidentally. For this type of fault to happen, a live or hot wire makes contact with a ground wire or with a part of an appliance that is making contact with the ground, usually through a metal frame. Electricians may define ground faults slightly differently, as a situation where a hot wire comes in contact with the grounding wire or a grounded part of the system.

In rare circumstances, a person can act as the path of least resistance to the ground, causing electrical shock. Electricity will then flow without resistance to the ground, causing your circuit breaker to pop.

Common Causes of a Ground Fault

A ground fault can be caused by various types of damage or wear to your home’s electrical system or a device that’s plugged into the system. Some common causes for this type of electrical danger are:

• Damage or wear to an appliance

• Water damage to the electrical box or outlets in your home

• Wear to the insulation on your home’s wiring

• Loose wire within an outlet or a loose connection in a light switch

• Damage from pests

• Improperly installed wiring

How to Find the Source of a Ground Fault

Looking for the cause of your home’s ground fault? If you think an appliance is causing a ground fault, the first thing to do is to unplug everything from the outlets connected to the circuit with the tripped breaker. If any of your appliances show obvious signs of wear, that’s likely your culprit, but sometimes it’s difficult to see interior damage. 

If once everything is unplugged and switched off, the breaker still trips, the problem is likely within the electrical wiring itself. You should leave the breaker in the “off” position and check the outlets and switches to see if those have any loose wires or other damage. If the breaker stays on with everything unplugged, try plugging appliances in one at a time until you find the one causing the breaker to trip.

How to Resolve a Ground Fault

If you locate the problem with a specific appliance, outlet, switch, or fixture, you should be able to reset the circuit breaker once the appliance is unplugged or the switch or fixture is replaced. 

However, if all of the appliances are unplugged and your breaker is still tripping, you could have a more serious problem with your electrical system. A recurring ground fault that repeatedly trips the circuit breaker can be dangerous and cause other issues in your home, so you should hire a professional electrician near you to address it as soon as possible. While it’s possible to DIY ground fault fixes like resetting the circuit breaker, you should leave all major electrical diagnoses and fixes to a licensed electrician.

How to Prevent a Ground Fault

Now that you know what causes a ground fault, it’s time to put household measures in place to prevent one from occurring. Follow these prevention methods for best results:

• Install GFCI outlets: You should use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets to protect your home from ground faults, especially in areas that might come in contact with water, like kitchens and bathrooms. 

• Test ground fault equipment: If you want to ensure your home is protected from ground faults, consider hiring a professional electrician to inspect and test your ground fault equipment.

• Inspect appliances and wiring frequently: Staying vigilant for loose wires, water damage, and faulty appliances can help you prevent a ground fault and maintain a safe home.