It is important to have your house or permanent structure properly grounded if you have electricity in the building. This can help prevent a fire should lightning strike or some other electrical surge be sent towards the building. Installing a grounding rod properly is very important but also much easier than you might think. There are some regulations in areas on what the requirements are, so be sure to check and see what the rules are in your area. You will also want to ask your utility company to mark where any underground lines are so you avoid hitting them when installing the rod.
The first step is to get the right equipment for the job. You may need a post hole digger, shovel, and post driving tool for this job since the rods are usually eight feet long. They are often copper. When you buy one, make sure it is approved material or it will not properly ground your home. This can lead to a very dangerous situation.
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.
Next, start digging. If you have the post hole digger, you can use it to get a few feet down. These are better than shovels because you do not need a wide hole, but a deep one. If you only have a shovel it will do, but the hole won't be as deep. Either way, you will get a good start and be on your way.
After you reach as far as you can go, add some water to the hole. You don't have to fill the hole, just make it moist so you can begin pushing the rod in by hand. The water will help with this process. As you go deeper with the pole, add more water to help out. You can move the pole back and forth with the pointed end in the ground to make it easier. Once you reach the point it won't go deeper by hand, grab another tool.
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.
At this point, you will need to attach the ground wire. Some might want to solder it, but the best option is to have a copper clamp designed for this job. The end of the ground wire should be exposed. Make sure to give it some slack so if the wire is hit or bumped it won't pop loose from the clamp.
Fill in the hole and finish the job. Some areas require the rod to be completely underground and others don't have a rule. It is best to keep it low enough that the lawn mower won't hit it. If it is in an area that will be mowed, it is a good idea to bury the connecting wire as well as the rod completely under the ground.
The first step is to get the right equipment for the job. You may need a post hole digger, shovel, and post driving tool for this job since the rods are usually eight feet long. They are often copper. When you buy one, make sure it is approved material or it will not properly ground your home. This can lead to a very dangerous situation.
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.
Next, start digging. If you have the post hole digger, you can use it to get a few feet down. These are better than shovels because you do not need a wide hole, but a deep one. If you only have a shovel it will do, but the hole won't be as deep. Either way, you will get a good start and be on your way.
After you reach as far as you can go, add some water to the hole. You don't have to fill the hole, just make it moist so you can begin pushing the rod in by hand. The water will help with this process. As you go deeper with the pole, add more water to help out. You can move the pole back and forth with the pointed end in the ground to make it easier. Once you reach the point it won't go deeper by hand, grab another tool.
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.
At this point, you will need to attach the ground wire. Some might want to solder it, but the best option is to have a copper clamp designed for this job. The end of the ground wire should be exposed. Make sure to give it some slack so if the wire is hit or bumped it won't pop loose from the clamp.
Fill in the hole and finish the job. Some areas require the rod to be completely underground and others don't have a rule. It is best to keep it low enough that the lawn mower won't hit it. If it is in an area that will be mowed, it is a good idea to bury the connecting wire as well as the rod completely under the ground.
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