Electrical problems rarely happen at a convenient time. A breaker trips during dinner, an outlet starts to smell hot, or half the house goes dark on a Sunday night. Some of these can wait until morning. Some can't.
Here's how to tell the difference, what to do first and what happens when you call.
Blog reader offer: save $50 on your emergency service call when you mention this article. Call (818) 245-5201, day or night.
Signs you need an emergency electrician
Call an electrician right away, day or night, if you notice:
A burning smell from an outlet, switch, light fixture or the electrical panel
Sparks, scorch marks or melted plastic on an outlet or cover plate
A panel or outlet that feels warm to the touch
Buzzing or crackling from the panel or inside a wall
A breaker that trips again as soon as you reset it
Partial power loss, where some rooms or appliances work and others don't
Lights that flicker or dim when a large appliance turns on
Any of these can mean a loose connection, an overloaded circuit or a failing breaker. They won't fix themselves, and some can get worse quickly.
What to do while you wait
Turn off the affected circuit at the panel, if you can reach it safely and the panel isn't hot, wet or damaged.
Unplug what's on that circuit, as long as the outlet isn't hot or sparking.
Don't keep resetting a breaker. A breaker that trips again is telling you something is wrong.
Don't open the panel cover or touch wet equipment. Leave the inside of the panel to a licensed electrician.
Take a photo of the panel, the outlet or anything that looks damaged. It helps us know what to bring.
Is it the house or the utility?
If the whole house is dark, check whether your neighbors have power too. If the whole street is out, it's a utility outage. Check the LADWP or SCE outage map and wait for them to restore service.
If only your home is affected, or only part of it, the problem is likely on your side of the meter, and that's when to call us.
What happens when you call
Homi Home Automation answers (818) 245-5201 around the clock for 24/7 service calls.
We talk it through. We'll ask what you're seeing so we know what to bring.
We find the fault. A licensed electrician tracks down the cause, whether it's a breaker, a connection, an outlet or the panel itself.
We make it safe. Our first job is to make your home safe tonight, and we work safely and swiftly to make the repair.
We tell you what's next. If the cause is bigger, such as an old Zinsco or Federal Pacific panel or a service that can't keep up with your home, we'll explain your options and give you a written price before any further work, including a panel upgrade if it's needed.
What can wait until morning
Not every problem is an emergency. These can wait for a scheduled visit, as long as there's no smell, heat or sparking:
A single outlet or light that stopped working
A GFCI outlet that won't reset
A breaker that trips occasionally, then holds when you reset it
Planning new circuits, lighting or a remodel
If you're not sure which list you're on, call. We'd rather talk it through than have you guess.
Licensed, local and available 24/7
Homi Home Automation is a licensed C-10 electrical contractor (#1147130) based in Sherman Oaks, serving the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. See all of our service areas.
Mention this article when you call and save $50 on your emergency service call.
Need help now? Call (818) 245-5201, day or night.
