It is super important to protect your house or structure from electrical surges. Using a grounding rod will protect the building by rerouting any surges away from the building. They used to call these lightning rods because they would route lightning into the ground and away from the structure to keep it from catching on fire. Before you being, you will need to ask the utility company to come out and mark other underground lines to be able to dig in the right spot without fear of electrocution or damaging other important lines.
First, you need to gather the equipment needed. This will include a shovel or post hole digger, a driving tool, hammer or mallet, and the proper type of rod. They are eight feet long and usually made of copper. Ask your hardware store to point you to the right type of rods for the job. Using the wrong material will not protect your home from a surge.
Pick your spot first by making sure you are not in a rocky area. Also, be at least a foot to two feet away from the building to avoid rerouting the surge back into the foundation. Finally, you need to dig on the side of the house with the electrical panel.
With the spot selected you can begin to dig. If you have a post hole digger, you can dig a couple of feet down easily. Using a shovel is fine, but you do not need to dig a wide hole. Dig the hole as deep as you can before moving to the next step.
When the hole is dug, add water. This is to help soften the ground so it will be easier to push the pole into the ground. Being by pushing it by hand. You may have to move it around in a circle to help get it through the packed dirt. There will be one end that is pointed and that one should go into the ground. At some point, you won't be able to hand push it in and will need to move to the next step with the tools.
Once it is a few feet in the ground, grab the other tools to get it to go the rest of the way. The best is a pile driver. This is designed to fit over the pole and allow you to push it in with less effort by lifting and slamming it back down onto the pole. If you do not have one, you might use a two by four to make the surface easier to hit with a hammer or rubber mallet. Hammer the pole until it is either a couple of inches above or level with the hole.
Attach the ground wire. It is best to use the special ground clamp that usually comes with the pole. Make sure the end of the ground wire is exposed if it is a shielded wire. Give it enough slack from the electrical panel so it will not come loose if the pole or wire is hit or bumped.
The last step is to fill in the hole. If you have it completely under the ground or exposed by an inch or so, pack the dirt in so it will be protected. Make sure it is low enough that a lawn mower will not hit it with the blades.
First, you need to gather the equipment needed. This will include a shovel or post hole digger, a driving tool, hammer or mallet, and the proper type of rod. They are eight feet long and usually made of copper. Ask your hardware store to point you to the right type of rods for the job. Using the wrong material will not protect your home from a surge.
Pick your spot first by making sure you are not in a rocky area. Also, be at least a foot to two feet away from the building to avoid rerouting the surge back into the foundation. Finally, you need to dig on the side of the house with the electrical panel.
With the spot selected you can begin to dig. If you have a post hole digger, you can dig a couple of feet down easily. Using a shovel is fine, but you do not need to dig a wide hole. Dig the hole as deep as you can before moving to the next step.
When the hole is dug, add water. This is to help soften the ground so it will be easier to push the pole into the ground. Being by pushing it by hand. You may have to move it around in a circle to help get it through the packed dirt. There will be one end that is pointed and that one should go into the ground. At some point, you won't be able to hand push it in and will need to move to the next step with the tools.
Once it is a few feet in the ground, grab the other tools to get it to go the rest of the way. The best is a pile driver. This is designed to fit over the pole and allow you to push it in with less effort by lifting and slamming it back down onto the pole. If you do not have one, you might use a two by four to make the surface easier to hit with a hammer or rubber mallet. Hammer the pole until it is either a couple of inches above or level with the hole.
Attach the ground wire. It is best to use the special ground clamp that usually comes with the pole. Make sure the end of the ground wire is exposed if it is a shielded wire. Give it enough slack from the electrical panel so it will not come loose if the pole or wire is hit or bumped.
The last step is to fill in the hole. If you have it completely under the ground or exposed by an inch or so, pack the dirt in so it will be protected. Make sure it is low enough that a lawn mower will not hit it with the blades.
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