by Francis Jock

Created on: April 21, 2009   Last Updated: April 27, 2012

One item that should be high on your list of home upgrades is the electrical wiring of all ungrounded outlets. Ungrounded outlets are two-pronged outlets left over from post World War II home construction. Modern homes are now electrically wired for a three-pronged world. Three-prong adapters are a handy work-around, but they are unsightly and prone to sag under the weight of the power cord.

It's much easier to just replace every ungrounded old two-prong outlet with a new three-prong outlet. But first, two brief reminders about electrical safety.

1. Always treat electricity with respect. A 110-volt jolt can be nasty and even fatal under wet or damp conditions.

2. Always be sure to turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker or fuse box and then double check the outlet for the presence of stray voltage.

Replacing ungrounded outlets

Upgrading a two-pronged outlet isn't a difficult task and can be accomplished by anyone with a basic understanding of household wiring. Naturally, you will need a few tools to complete the job. A respectable electrician's tool box will include a straight slot screw driver, needle-nosed pliers, a wire stripper, and an electrical circuit tester.

Electrical circuit testers are very important to have on hand as they are used to test for the presence of electricity. A typical circuit tester is a two-prong plug in device that lights up when a probe is inserted into an outlet or connected to a wire. Some electricians use multi-meters or electronic induction testers to perform this task. An electronic induction tester doesn't require inserting a probe into the outlet, as it sounds a distinctive chirping sound whenever the plastic tip is positioned near anything that is "hot", or carrying household voltage.

If these devices are not available to you, you can plug in a lamp or a radio to perform the same test, although they will not provide an indication if any stray voltage is present at the outlet. This sometimes happens if the two-prong outlet is incorrectly wired or there is a wiring problem elsewhere in the home. Troubleshooting the reason for the presence of stray voltages can be a difficult task and should be left to a professional if at all possible.

Steps for upgrading an ungrounded outlet.

Once you are satisfied that the electricity is properly turned off, the ungrounded outlet is safe to remove and replace. Here's how to proceed:

Step 1. Remove the ungrounded outlet's cover plate.

Step 2. Remove the outlet by backing out the top

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