Grounding and bonding do different jobs
Grounding connects an electrical system to earth for purposes that include stabilizing voltage and limiting voltage imposed by lightning, line surges or accidental contact with higher-voltage systems. Bonding connects conductive parts together so an unintended fault has an effective path back to the source and can operate the overcurrent device.
A ground rod alone is not a substitute for a complete bonding and equipment-grounding path. A system can have electrodes in the earth and still contain unsafe breaks, improper neutral-ground connections or unbonded metal parts.
Grounding & Bonding options
Choose the focused service that matches the repair, installation, inspection or planning need. Each page contains 6–9 or more specific services and explains its own scope, hazards, project variables, process and related options.
Conditions Landmark evaluates
The exact scope depends on the service, panel arrangement, wiring method and reason for the inspection. We trace the relevant path instead of treating one visible connection as proof that the entire system is correct.
- Grounding electrode conductors, electrodes and accessible connections
- Main service bonding and the location of the neutral-to-ground connection
- Neutral and equipment-ground separation in subpanels and downstream equipment
- Bonding of metal water piping and other metal piping where applicable
- Detached-building feeders, panels and grounding provisions
- Grounding conductors and compliant alternatives for ungrounded receptacle circuits
- Corrosion, loose connections, improper splices and undocumented alterations
When a grounding and bonding review makes sense
Common triggers include a panel or service replacement, inspection report, insurance concern, water-service change, detached-building project, older ungrounded wiring, repeated shock or tingle complaints, visible corrosion, or uncertainty after prior electrical alterations.
Pool and spa equipotential bonding is a specialized Article 680 application and is evaluated within the pool or spa project—not folded into a generic grounding correction.
A correction plan based on the actual system
Landmark documents the observed condition, explains the safety function affected and separates required correction from optional improvement. If the work affects service equipment, utility rules, permits or inspection requirements are coordinated as part of the project scope.
The $79 dispatch and on-site evaluation charge is waived when you proceed with approved work during the visit. More extensive inspection, testing, access or permit requirements are explained before additional work begins.
Codes and standards that apply
These references explain the framework for this work. The adopted code, Michigan amendments, local authority, utility rules, equipment listings and manufacturer instructions must be considered together for the actual installation.
Frequently asked questions
Are grounding and bonding the same thing?
No. Grounding connects the system to earth for specific voltage-stabilizing and overvoltage purposes. Bonding connects conductive parts to create an effective fault-current path. Both matter, but correcting one does not automatically correct the other.
Will adding a ground rod fix an ungrounded outlet?
No. A ground rod does not create the equipment-grounding path required at a receptacle. The correct solution depends on the existing wiring and may include installing an equipment grounding conductor, rewiring, or a permitted GFCI-based replacement method with required labeling.
Is pool bonding included on this page?
Pool equipotential bonding is owned by Landmark's Pool Electrical Installation, Repair & Bonding service because the equipment, wet-location rules and Article 680 requirements form one specialized system.
Technical review
Reviewed by Landmark Electric
This service information was reviewed for scope, safety context and accuracy by Landmark Electric, Inc., Michigan Electrical Contractor License #6114673. It provides general planning information; the adopted rules, local authority, utility requirements, equipment instructions and actual field conditions control each project.
What your service visit includes
Your $79 dispatch and evaluation charge covers sending an electrical professional to your property and the initial on-site evaluation. During that evaluation, the electrician examines the relevant accessible system, shows or explains the supported findings and identifies the cause when the available evidence reasonably allows. Clear, flat-rate options are presented before approved work begins, and the charge is waived when you proceed with approved work during the visit. Any special access, extended diagnosis, permit or after-hours considerations are explained before work moves forward.