I think I might start including this link on my report, for open ground 3-prong outlets…NOT
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This is a quote from the article:
“And you should definitely upgrade—two-prong outlets lack a ground wire, which protects you from electric shock in case of a voltage surge”
Nonsense! This is yet another example of what’s wrong with the internet. Anyone can post any nonsense they want and there will people who will believe it. Like Abraham Lincoln‘s famous last words as he was dying from a gunshot wound, “Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet”.
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A lot of older homes still have old-school two-prong outlets. It’s a good idea to upgrade them—and you can do it yourself.
Unless there’s a major safety issue, you’re only forced to upgrade stuff when inspections are needed,
If that was the case, then why do they still manufacture and sell 2 pronged outlets? 
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Notice how many replied “Yep’” to “Would You Try This?”
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When I was a young apprentice, the first fire reconstruction job I worked on was a house where the homeowner had done the electrical work himself as part of a kitchen remodeling project. There was a bad connection in a switch-box in the kitchen. As apprentices, the journeymen we worked under constantly checked the integrity of our connections because bad connections are the underlying cause of a large percentage of fires.
As a fire investigator, I have investigated more electrical fires caused by poor connections than I can remember. Electrical DIY projects are by far the most costly in terms of property damage, injury and death. Electrical systems in the US are inherently safe when properly assembled, but it doesn’t take much to screw up and create a condition that could cause a fire.
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Most of the structures in Japan do not have outlets with grounds. As a retrofit most all have GFCI breakers. Very few household appliances use grounds on the cord now anyway.
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They’re still manufactured because they are permitted by the NEC as replacements for existing two prong receptacles.
Although many of the aspects of this article are incorrect the overall premise of replacing these old two prong receptacles with GFCI protection isn’t. It can certainly be argued that replacing a 60 year old receptacle with a modern GFCI receptacle is a safety benefit. For one the spring tension on the old device is probably past its prime making it a hazard because plugs can be loose and may not be making proper contact. Then there is the people who snap off of the ground pin to plug something into the receptacle or those who improperly use a 3 to 2 prong adapter.
Although GFCI protection is not a substitute for grounding at least with GFCI protection the user is safer than without it.
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Which was my point.
Yes, you can add a 3 pronged GFCI receptacle, and it might add a small amount of personal protection, but the vast majority of the time, the reason your average homeowner changes a two prong receptacle to a three prong receptacle is so they can plug in their $2,500.00 OLED TV or their $3,000.00 Mac computer, and a GFCI receptacle won’t protect those devises in the same manner a grounded receptacle would.
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Yes a replacement with a new two prong receptacle would certainly mitigate the problem of the decades old device being warn out. It would not help with the other issues that two prong receptacles have when used with an ungrounded wiring method.
And that would certainly be ironic since both of those devices are two prong plugs. 
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Not necessarily.
does an LG 77 inch OLED tv have a 3 pronged plug? - Google Search
AI Overview
Many 77-inch LG OLED TVs, especially the newer models, use a 3-prong (grounded) power plug.
does a mac pro PC require a grounded receptacle? - Google Search
AI Overview
Whether a Mac Pro (the desktop model) requires a grounded receptacle depends on the model and the specific power cord you are using.
- Newer Mac Pro models and their power supplies typically come with a three-prong plug that should be plugged into a properly grounded receptacle for optimal safety and to meet electrical codes.
Weird. Try to buy one. I just helped hang a 75, brand new out of the box. 2 prong plug.
As far as Mac’s, desktops do use a 3 prong, none of the laptops do.
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TV’s can vary as to whether or not a 3-wire cord is provided. For something like a washing machine circuit with no EGC a three wire GFCI receptacle as a replacement for an old two prong receptacle with 3 to 2 prong adapter would greatly increase safety.
99% of the electrical products we buy these days only have two wire cords anyway.
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What?? LOL.
Adding to the problem is InterNACHI telling inspectors to recommend “that the 3-prong outlet be upgraded to a 4-prong” dryer receptacle with no mention of upgrading wiring.
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Good point. Any mention of changing the dryer receptacle should be accompanied by a mention that the branch circuit wiring would likely require an upgrade as well.
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This conflicts with some of Ben’s other statements about code, GFCI is a good example. Whereas he states lack of GFCI protection is a defect regardless of the age of the home. Conversely, here he states an upgrade should be considered with this plug. I get lost attempting to understand his nuance.
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This goes back to the purpose of a home inspection, is it to identify defects or a report on the condition of systems and components? Ben promotes the former.
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