Service ExplainersWhen to call an emergency electrician
The electrical situations that should not wait for a scheduled appointment, what to do while you wait, and what can safely be booked for normal hours.
By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated August 26, 2026
Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.
Call immediately for burning smells, smoke, sparking, scorched outlets, a shock from an appliance, water contact with wiring or the panel, or a partial power loss with flickering that suggests a service problem. Cut power at the breaker if you can do so safely, keep people away from the area, and call the utility instead if the problem is at the meter, the service drop or a downed line.
Call right away
- Burning smell, smoke or visible scorching at an outlet, switch or panel
- Sparks beyond the brief snap of plugging something in
- A shock or tingle from an appliance, tap or switch
- Water in contact with wiring, outlets or the panel, including after a flood
- Buzzing or crackling from the panel
- Repeated tripping that returns instantly when reset
Call the utility, not an electrician
- A downed or sagging power line, which means staying well clear
- Damage at the meter, weatherhead or service drop
- An outage affecting the street rather than only your house
What to do while you wait
- Switch off the affected circuit at the breaker if the panel is safe to reach and dry
- Unplug affected devices only if it is safe to do so
- Keep children and pets away from the area
- Do not use water on an electrical fire, and leave the building if there is fire or heavy smoke
Need an electrician now?
Find an electricianCan wait for normal hours
- A single dead outlet with no smell, heat or scorching
- A light fixture or switch you want replaced
- Adding outlets, circuits or a vehicle charger
- A panel upgrade you are planning rather than reacting to
Common questions
- Is a tripping breaker an emergency?
- A breaker that trips once under heavy load is doing its job. One that trips repeatedly, trips instantly on reset, or trips alongside heat or smell is a reason to stop using the circuit and call.
- What does emergency service usually cost more for?
- After hours rates and call out fees vary by company. Ask what the emergency rate is and what the call out covers before the technician is dispatched.