Overview

A Homeowner's Guide to Troubleshooting Bootleg Grounds in Pittsburgh

A hidden danger might be lurking behind the walls of your Pittsburgh home, especially if it was built before the 1970s. It’s called a “bootleg ground,” and while it might sound like something out of a Prohibition-era speakeasy, it’s actually a serious electrical hazard that could put your family and property at risk. At the Pittsburgh Electrical Knowledge Center, we believe that an educated homeowner is a safe homeowner. This guide will walk you through what a bootleg ground is, why it’s dangerous, how to spot one, and what to do about it.

What is a Bootleg Ground and Why Does It Exist?

In simple terms, a bootleg ground (also known as a “false” or “cheated” ground) is an improper and hazardous wiring method where the ground connection on an electrical outlet is connected to the neutral wire. This is usually done to make a two-prong outlet appear to be a properly grounded three-prong outlet.

In older homes throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, the original electrical wiring often consisted of only two wires: a “hot” wire and a “neutral” wire. There was no separate ground wire, which is now a standard safety feature in modern electrical systems. As appliances and electronics with three-prong plugs became common, some homeowners or handymen took a dangerous shortcut. Instead of running a new, properly grounded circuit, they would simply install a three-prong receptacle and connect the ground screw to the neutral screw with a small jumper wire.

To a standard, inexpensive three-light outlet tester, this setup looks perfectly fine. The tester will light up to indicate a correct wiring configuration, giving a false sense of security. However, this bootleg ground violates the National Electrical Code (NEC) and creates a hidden and potentially lethal hazard.

The Dangers of Bootleg Grounds: A Serious Safety Hazard

A proper ground wire is a critical safety feature. It provides a safe path for electricity to flow to the earth in the event of a fault, tripping the circuit breaker and preventing electric shock. A bootleg ground defeats this safety system and, in some cases, makes the situation even more dangerous than having no ground at all.

**Correct-Polarity Bootleg Ground**

In this scenario, the hot and neutral wires are correctly connected, but a jumper connects the neutral and ground terminals. The immediate danger arises if the neutral wire somewhere on the circuit becomes loose or broken. When this happens, the electrical current will seek an alternative path back to the panel. Because the ground is connected to the neutral, this path can be through the grounding conductor. This means that the metal casing of any appliance plugged into that outlet can become energized with 120 volts of electricity. If you touch the appliance, your body could become the path to ground, resulting in a severe or fatal electric shock.

**Reverse-Polarity Bootleg Ground**

This is the most dangerous situation of all. It occurs when the hot and neutral wires are accidentally swapped, and a bootleg ground is also present. In this case, the hot wire is connected to the neutral terminal, and the neutral wire is connected to the hot terminal. The jumper wire then connects the ground screw to the now-energized neutral terminal.

The result is that the ground connection, and therefore the metal casing of any appliance plugged into the outlet, is constantly energized with 120 volts. It’s a ticking time bomb. Simply touching a metal lamp, a toaster, or a computer case could lead to electrocution. This condition is especially dangerous because it won’t trip a circuit breaker, and a standard outlet tester will not detect it.

**Ineffectiveness of GFCIs**

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are designed to protect against electric shock by detecting small imbalances in the current between the hot and neutral wires. However, a bootleg ground can prevent a GFCI from working as intended. A GFCI needs a separate ground path to properly detect a fault. With a bootleg ground, the fault current can travel back on the neutral wire, and the GFCI may not trip, leaving you unprotected.

How to Identify a Bootleg Ground in Your Home

Given the serious risks, it’s important to determine if you have any bootleg grounds in your home. Here are a few methods, ranging from simple observation to professional testing.

SAFETY WARNING: Before attempting any visual inspection of your outlets, you MUST turn off the power to the circuit at your main electrical panel. Failure to do so could result in serious injury or death.

**The Limitations of Standard Outlet Testers**

As mentioned, the common three-light plug-in testers that you can buy at any hardware store are not reliable for detecting bootleg grounds. They can be easily fooled and give a “correct” reading for a bootlegged outlet. While these testers are useful for identifying other wiring problems like open grounds or reverse polarity (in the absence of a bootleg ground), they should not be trusted to confirm a safe ground connection.

**Visual Inspection**

If you are comfortable and have turned off the power, you can perform a visual inspection.

• Turn off the power to the outlet at the circuit breaker.\n• Use a voltage tester to confirm there is no power at the outlet.\n• Unscrew and carefully pull the outlet from the electrical box.\n• Look for a small wire, usually green or bare copper, connecting the green ground screw to the silver neutral screw. This is the tell-tale sign of a bootleg ground.

**Using a Multimeter**

A more advanced method is to use a multimeter. With the power on, a qualified person can test the voltage between the different slots on the outlet.

• Hot to Neutral: Should read approximately 120 volts.\n• Hot to Ground: Should read approximately 120 volts.\n• Neutral to Ground: Should read 0 volts or a very low voltage (less than 2 volts). A reading of 0 volts could indicate a bootleg ground, as the neutral and ground are connected.

**The Safest Method: Hire a Professional Electrician**

The most reliable and by far the safest way to identify bootleg grounds is to hire a licensed and qualified electrician. An experienced electrician has the proper tools and knowledge to accurately diagnose the state of your wiring. They can use advanced circuit analyzers that can detect bootleg grounds and other hidden wiring problems that a simple tester or even a multimeter might miss.

Solutions for Bootleg Grounds: Making Your Home Safe

If you discover a bootleg ground in your home, it’s crucial to correct it properly. Simply removing the jumper wire is not a solution; this will leave you with an ungrounded three-prong outlet, which is also a code violation and unsafe.

According to the National Electrical Code (NEC), there are two primary ways to safely address the issue:

• Run a New Ground Wire: The best and most complete solution is to have an electrician run a new, dedicated ground wire from the main electrical panel to the outlet. This might involve opening walls and is the most expensive option, but it provides the highest level of safety.\n• Install GFCI Protection: A more practical and cost-effective solution is to install a GFCI outlet. NEC Section 406.4(D)(2)(b) permits the use of a GFCI receptacle to replace an ungrounded receptacle. The GFCI provides shock protection even without a ground wire. When this is done, the outlet must be labeled with a sticker that says “No Equipment Ground” and “GFCI Protected.” This informs users that while the outlet is protected from ground faults, it does not have a ground connection for equipment that may require one.

Bootleg Grounds in the Pittsburgh Area

Many of Pittsburgh’s charming neighborhoods, such as Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, and Lawrenceville, are known for their beautiful older homes. However, this older housing stock often comes with outdated electrical systems. If your home was built before the 1970s and has three-prong outlets, there’s a reasonable chance that some of them may have bootleg grounds. The damp basements and seasonal weather changes in Western Pennsylvania can also exacerbate the deterioration of old wiring, making these hidden hazards even more of a concern.

Conclusion: Don’t Gamble with Your Family’s Safety

A bootleg ground is a serious electrical hazard that can have deadly consequences. It’s a shortcut that compromises the safety of your entire electrical system. If you live in an older Pittsburgh-area home and are unsure about the state of your wiring, don’t take any chances. The peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is safe is priceless. Contact a trusted and licensed electrician to have your home inspected. They can identify and correct any bootleg grounds and other electrical issues, ensuring that your home is safe, code-compliant, and ready for the demands of modern life.