Two-prong outlets don’t have grounding wire

Most new appliances and electronics come with three-prong plugs. If your older house is equipped only with two-prong receptacles, you’re probably using adapters with three-prong holes and two-prong plugs.

That will let you fit your plug into the outlet, but it’s not necessarily safe. A better solution is to replace your two-prong receptacles with three-prong models.

When you buy the replacement receptacles, choose models that include a ground-fault circuit interrupter. This will serve as a sort of “imitation” ground and can greatly eliminate the chance of an electric shock.

It’s a good idea to use GFCI receptacles wherever you replace two-prong outlets in your house, but it’s especially important in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and garage, where you use water and electricity in the same room.