Ungrounded Electric in Philadelphia Rental

[John Lee]

Hello BP,

Just got a rental with all three prong outlets that are not grounded.  What is the cheapest solution to meet code in Philadelphia, PA? 

Thanks in advance!

[Eric Seo]

I believe replacing the outlets with GFCIs is also an option.  However, I would check with a licensed electrician in the area and would also figure out what type of wiring is in the home. If it’s knob and tube, that could raise other issues, particularly with insurance.  

I had a similar problem and there was knob in tube in parts of the house. I used GFCIs as a temporary solution, but eventually had those parts of the house rewired during a tenant turnover period.  My understanding is that the older wiring can be safe/okay, but for me, the upgrade was worth it for peace of mind.