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.
The next step is to dig the hole. Avoid rocky areas or any places that the utility company marked for other lines. The spot you pick should be between one and two feet from the building for it to work the best. If it is too close, it can reduce the effectiveness by putting the surge back into the building.
Once you have the spot selected, begin digging with the post hole digger. If you do not have one, a shovel will do the job just fine. You do not need to dig a wide hole, just as deep as you can.
Once the hole is deep enough to start, add water. This will help soften the soil and make the rest of the job a bit easier. Place the rod in the hole and start pushing it around. One end should be pointed and this is the end that goes into the ground first. As you push it, you may add more water to help soften the dirt even more. Eventually, you will need to use a mallet, hammer or driver to complete the job of putting the rod all the way into the ground.
After you have the rod a couple of feet into the ground, start hammering. There will be a point where it just won't go in manually anymore. If you do not have a driver, which is placed over the top of the rod allowing you to easily drive it in, you can put a board over it to make a bigger surface to hit. Keep hammering and driving it until there is just an inch or two sticking above the top of 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.
The next step is to dig the hole. Avoid rocky areas or any places that the utility company marked for other lines. The spot you pick should be between one and two feet from the building for it to work the best. If it is too close, it can reduce the effectiveness by putting the surge back into the building.
Once you have the spot selected, begin digging with the post hole digger. If you do not have one, a shovel will do the job just fine. You do not need to dig a wide hole, just as deep as you can.
Once the hole is deep enough to start, add water. This will help soften the soil and make the rest of the job a bit easier. Place the rod in the hole and start pushing it around. One end should be pointed and this is the end that goes into the ground first. As you push it, you may add more water to help soften the dirt even more. Eventually, you will need to use a mallet, hammer or driver to complete the job of putting the rod all the way into the ground.
After you have the rod a couple of feet into the ground, start hammering. There will be a point where it just won't go in manually anymore. If you do not have a driver, which is placed over the top of the rod allowing you to easily drive it in, you can put a board over it to make a bigger surface to hit. Keep hammering and driving it until there is just an inch or two sticking above the top of 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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