Most electrical issues can wait for a scheduled appointment. A few can't, and knowing the difference matters.
Call immediately for these
- Burning smell with no obvious source, especially near outlets, switches, or the panel
- Sparking outlets or switches, or visible scorch marks around a receptacle
- A breaker that won't reset, or one that trips instantly every time it's reset (see our guide on signs your panel needs an upgrade)
- Buzzing or crackling sounds from outlets, switches, or the panel
- Warm or hot outlet covers, switch plates, or the panel door itself
- Exposed or chewed wiring anywhere in the home, including areas rodents can access
- Power loss to part of the home with no known utility outage in the area
What to do while you wait for help
Turn off and unplug anything connected to the affected circuit if it's safe to reach. Don't reset a circuit breaker more than once if it trips immediately: that's the panel telling you there's an active fault, not a fluke. If you smell burning or see smoke, treat it like any other fire risk: get out, then call emergency services before calling an electrician.
Issues that can typically wait for a scheduled visit
A single dead outlet, a light switch that feels loose, or a breaker that trips occasionally under a heavy load (like running a space heater and a hair dryer at once) are usually not emergencies, though they're still worth getting looked at before they become one. Our electrical repair team can assess non-urgent issues and catch small problems before they escalate.
If you're not sure which category your situation falls into, just call. A quick phone description is usually enough for us to tell you whether it's a same-day issue or one that can be scheduled normally.