What to know
- Grounding connects your electrical system to the earth; bonding ties all metallic systems together so nothing can sit at a dangerous voltage.
- Without proper grounding & bonding, breakers and GFCIs can't reliably do their jobs during a fault.
- It's a focal point of four-point insurance inspections — deficiencies can affect coverage and home sales.
- Older Puget Sound homes frequently have corroded ground rods, interrupted water-pipe grounds, or unbonded gas lines.
Grounding vs. bonding, in plain English
Grounding is the connection between your electrical system and the earth itself — ground rods, a concrete-encased electrode, or a water-pipe electrode. Bonding is connecting all the metal parts that could become energized (water pipes, gas piping, metal ductwork, equipment enclosures) so they stay at the same potential and a fault becomes a tripped breaker rather than a shock hazard.
Why it fails in older homes
Ground rods corrode. Plumbing repipes replace the metal water line that served as the grounding electrode with plastic — silently disconnecting the ground. Renovations leave gas lines and ducts unbonded. CSST gas tubing installed without proper bonding is a documented lightning-related fire risk. None of this announces itself; it's only found by inspection.
When to have grounding & bonding verified
Four moments matter most:
- Before adding large loads — EV chargers, heat pumps, hot tubs, generators.
- After a repipe or major plumbing work that may have removed a grounding electrode.
- During a four-point or pre-purchase inspection, where grounding & bonding deficiencies are common findings.
- When adding surge protection — an SPD is only as good as the ground path it diverts surges into.
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Common questions
How do I know if my home's grounding is adequate?
You can't tell by looking at outlets — three-prong receptacles are routinely found on ungrounded circuits. A licensed electrician tests the grounding electrode system, verifies bonding jumpers at the water heater and gas line, and measures actual resistance. It's a standard part of an Eco electrical safety inspection.
My home was repiped with PEX — does that affect grounding?
Very possibly. If your metal water line was serving as the grounding electrode, replacing it with plastic can leave the electrical system without a proper ground. This is one of the most common grounding defects we find and it's straightforward to correct with driven ground rods.
Is bonding my gas line really necessary?
Yes — bonding gas piping (especially CSST flexible gas tubing) is a code requirement and a documented fire-safety issue. An unbonded CSST line can be perforated by nearby lightning energy. The fix is a simple bonding clamp and conductor installed correctly.