Electrical Emergency at Home: What to Do Before Calling an Electrician

Call 999 if there is an immediate danger

If there is a fire, smoke, an active electric shock, or an immediate risk to life, call 999. Do not touch a person who may still be in contact with a live electrical source unless it is safe to isolate the supply first. Keep clear and wait for emergency services.

For a power cut affecting the wider area or damaged electricity network equipment, call 105 in England, Scotland, and Wales. That is the national freephone number for the local electricity network operator.

Electrical warning signs that need prompt attention

Not every fault is a 999 emergency, but some problems should not wait. Stop using the affected item or circuit if it is safe to do so, and seek advice from a qualified electrician.

Never remove a consumer-unit cover, expose wiring, or attempt repairs unless you are competent to do so. Electricity can be dangerous even when the visible issue looks small.

• Burning smell, smoke, sparking, crackling, or scorch marks at a socket or switch.
• A socket, plug, or switch that becomes unusually hot.
• Repeated circuit-breaker or RCD tripping with no clear appliance cause.
• Flickering or loss of power affecting more than one room or circuit.
• Water near electrical equipment, exposed cable, or damaged wiring.

What you can do safely while you wait

If you can do so without approaching a hazard, switch off and unplug the affected appliance. If you know which circuit is involved and can safely access the consumer unit, turn off that circuit. Do not repeatedly reset a circuit breaker: it has tripped for a reason.

If the fault affects the whole property, check whether neighbours have also lost power. A wider outage may be for the network operator rather than an electrician. Keep fridge and freezer doors closed during a power cut, and use a torch rather than candles.

What an electrician needs to know

When you get in touch, explain what happened, when it started, which rooms or circuits are affected, whether a breaker has tripped, and whether you noticed heat, smell, noise, or water. If it is safe, photographs of the consumer-unit labels or affected fitting can be helpful.

Top Volt Electrical can help with fault finding, EICRs, consumer-unit upgrades, and planned electrical repairs across South London during business hours. For an immediate danger or a wider network outage, use the emergency contacts above first.