Electrical hazards are not something to take lightly. Understanding when your situation requires emergency assistance is the first step – even if you suspect a potential danger, it’s always safest to connect with a local emergency electrician.
Call us today to avoid potential risk whilst ensuring all work is code compliant.
What is Considered an Electrical Emergency?
It’s not always crystal clear that you have an emergency electrical problem rather than a nuisance you can schedule services for. Many times, problems with wiring can lead to a genuine emergency. If you’re unsure, give us a call, and we can help diagnose your situation. You’re not alone. Some of the common indicators of an electrical emergency include:
Unidentified Burning Smell
Does the smell linger or come and go? Are your smoke detectors being set off? Check your appliances, all your outlets, ducts, and your breaker box to see if you can find the source. An unidentified odor may well be an electrical hazard, especially if you smell plastic burning.
A Buzzing or Humming Sound in Fuse Box
Overall, a slight humming sound coming from your fuse box is normal as it runs an electrical current. However, if you notice the buzzing or humming getting continuously louder, address it quickly as it may mean the circuit breaker is overloaded. An overload heats the circuit wiring and can cause a life-threatening fire hazard.
Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Repeatedly
There are a few reasons for a circuit breaker to keep tripping, including:
* The circuit breaker box is going bad
* A circuit overload the fuse box cannot accommodate
* A ground fault is occurring, meaning a hot wire is touching the ground
* An appliance or wire is short-circuiting, meaning the electrical flow has gone outside the intended circuit
Lights Continuously Flicker
If your lights occasionally flicker, it’s likely a minor problem with your lightbulb or a faulty switch. When they persistently flicker this signals a more substantial problem such as a circuit overload, excess voltage, or loose wiring. These are dangerous and should have an inspection immediately.
Someone Received an Electrical Shock
There are many situations where one can experience electrical shock, such as:
* Old outlets
* An outlet or switch with loose screws or wiring makes the electrical current unstable
* Faulty appliances, including frayed wiring or broken cords that shock you when you plug them in
* Water sources near electricity, or touching outlets with damp hands
Smoke Coming from an Outlet
A common issue with outlets is when debris builds up within. Electricity transfers to the dust and/or dirt, which causes arcing. Arcing creates heat, which is an immediate indicator of an electrical emergency that may start a fire. Other problems that can cause outlets to smoke include wiring issues, loose plug-in connections, and connecting too many devices to one outlet.
Loss of Power
It’s normal to experience loss of power from storms or when everyone on the block loses power due to a problem with the electrical company. But when you’ve paid your monthly account and you’re the only one in the vicinity to lose power, it could be a hazardous problem with your breaker box that needs immediate diagnosis.
Wet Electrical Panel
When water mixes with electricity, there is a high potential for electrocution. Water can get into your electrical panel through an improper seal on the box or soak through older cables of a meter box and through to the panel. If this has been happening for a longer period, corrosion can ruin multiple components of your electrical panel and increase resistance in the circuits causing more heat production, thus also creating a fire hazard.
An Electrical Fire Occurred
If a fire is actively burning, you’ll first need to call 111 and get the fire put out immediately. Once there is no longer an immediate threat to your home or family, call us - we will inspect and diagnose the source of the fire before performing repairs and putting preventative measures in place or replacing the system if it has been fully compromised.
How Much Does an Emergency Electrician Cost?
It’s understandable to be hesitant in calling an emergency electrician due to being unsure of the cost. You can, however, rest easy knowing that we pride ourselves on providing quality electrical service at a fair and honest price.
