Electrical Emergency? What to Do Before the Electrician Arrives

Burning smell, smoke, or sparks

Treat a burning smell, smoke, or sparks from an outlet, switch, appliance, or the panel as a possible fire. Your safety comes first, not the equipment.

• Get everyone out of the house
• Call 911 from outside
• Do not open the panel or try to find the source
• Do not use water on an electrical fire
• Once the fire department says it is safe, call a licensed electrician before restoring power to that area

Downed power lines

Wind storms in the Seattle area regularly bring trees and branches down on lines. Always assume a downed line is live, even if it is not sparking or the power is out.

• Stay well away from the line and anything it is touching, including fences, cars, puddles and trees
• Keep children and pets inside
• Call your electric utility right away, or 911 if anyone is in danger
• If the service wire to your house is damaged or pulled off, the utility handles its side; a licensed electrician may need to repair the mast or meter base on your side before power is restored

Water near electrical equipment

Water and electricity together are a serious shock hazard. Flooding, a burst pipe, or a roof leak near outlets, wiring or the panel needs careful handling.

• Do not touch outlets, cords, appliances or the panel if they or you are wet
• Do not walk into standing water that may be in contact with outlets or wiring
• Only shut off power at the main breaker if you can reach the panel while standing on a dry surface and the panel itself is dry
• If you cannot reach the main safely, stay out of the area and call your utility
• Have a licensed electrician inspect any wiring, outlets or equipment that got wet before using them again

Partial power, or lights that dim and brighten

If some rooms lose power while others work, or lights get unusually bright or dim when appliances turn on, the problem may be a lost or loose neutral in the utility service or your panel. This can damage electronics and appliances, and it can be a safety hazard.

Turn off and unplug sensitive electronics and large appliances. Call your utility first, since the problem is often on their side of the meter. If they find their equipment is working, call a licensed electrician to check the panel and service connections.

A breaker that won't reset, or a warm outlet

These are not 911 situations, but they are signs to stop and get help. A breaker that trips again immediately, will not reset, or will not stay on can mean a short circuit, ground fault, or failed breaker. Do not keep resetting it.

An outlet or switch that feels warm, is discolored, crackles, or smells hot usually points to a loose connection or overloaded circuit. Unplug everything from it and turn off its breaker if you can do so safely. If you see smoke or smell burning, treat it as a fire and call 911.

What not to do

• Do not remove the panel cover or touch wiring
• Do not replace a breaker or fuse with a larger one to stop it from tripping
• Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips immediately
• Do not run extension cords from another room to power a dead circuit long-term
• Do not use a portable generator indoors, in a garage, or plugged into a wall outlet

Getting an electrician out

Once everyone is safe and any immediate hazard is handled, call a licensed electrician to find and fix the cause. All City Electric, based in Shoreline since 1971, serves homes across King and Snohomish Counties. Call (206) 533-6333 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 4:30. Same-day repair visits are often available.