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Unless there’s a major safety issue, you’re only forced to upgrade stuff when inspections are needed, typically during renovations or major repairs. So it’s not too surprising that a lot of older homes still have old-school two-prong (i.e., ungrounded) outlets.

If that’s your home, it’s a good idea to upgrade those outlets to the modern three-prong version. You might think that requires hiring an electrician, but if you’re moderately handy, this is a project you can accomplish pretty cheaply and easily yourself.

And you should definitely upgrade—two-prong outlets lack a ground wire, which protects you from electric shock in case of a voltage surge, and protects the house and your appliances from damage.

Materials you'll need

Here’s wha

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