If you detect a metallic or plastic smell, which is very distinctive in comparison to other burning materials, this is indicative of a pending electrical fire caused by the overheating of wires. It can mean that there is a bad connection or a faulty wire. If you smell something electrical burning, immediately cut the power and call a 24-hour electrician.

Your circuit breaker is designed to cut power if there are any problems, to help prevent damage to your appliances or electrical system. Any loud noises coming from your breaker box mean that something is attempting to trip and is unable to because of some fault. This is an incredibly dangerous situation because your electrical safety system is failing. This poses big problems to your entire electrical system and needs to be corrected immediately!

As the old saying goes, where there is smoke, there is fire because smoke is the product of fire. If you have smoke coming from an outlet, it means that there is smoldering or a fire in your electrical wiring system, and can quickly become disastrous. Immediately cut power to the area, call 911, and then your Williamsburg VA electrician.

While being without power can be considered more of an inconvenience than a true electrical emergency, if there is no known reason for a loss of power, it becomes an emergency. If your entire street loses power, you may call the electric company before you call your local electrician to find out if there is a reason your street went dark. However, if your home is the only one that lost power and you are certain you paid your energy bill, this can indicate an electrical problem and you should phone your 24-hour electrician. The problem may be as simple as the power company shutting off your electricity or as emergent as an injury to your breaker box which puts your entire electrical system at risk. If there is no good reason that your home lost power, call an emergency electrician just in case.

In the case of an active electrical fire, do not call your electrician, call 911 immediately! Once the fire has been handled as we instructed at the beginning of this article and there is no longer an immediate danger to you, your family, or your home, then call your local emergency electrician. A licensed electrician will perform an electrical assessment to figure out why the electrical fire started in the first place and will correct any hazards to prevent future fires. In the event that the electrical fire destroys your entire electrical system, your local electrician can help install a new system.

Electrical emergencies can escalate to lethality very quickly. Electrical shock or fire are emergencies that must be intervened on as quickly as possible.

An electrical emergency is any electrical issue that creates an immediate risk of injury, fire or significant property damage. If you notice visible smoke or flames, electrical shocks, burning smells, sparks or arcing, exposed wires or frequently tripped-out circuit breakers, be sure to call an emergency electrician. A complete power outage can also be an emergency, especially if it occurs alongside smoke or sparks. 

The total price of hiring an electrician will depend on the size of your home and the complexity of the repair. A simple job, like replacing an outlet, might be lower on the cost spectrum, while extensive issues like electrical panel problems can be on the higher end. 

Asbury Electric is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to electrical emergencies in Hampton Roads, Williamsburg and surrounding communities. We understand electrical problems don’t always happen during business hours, which is why we’ll send out an electrician for immediate assistance, ensuring your safety and restoring power quickly.

While waiting for an emergency electrician, turn off your power, stay clear of hazards like sparks or smoke, avoid touching exposed wires or anything that smells like burning plastic and keep children and pets away from the area. Avoid trying to fix the electrical issue yourself, as this could be dangerous. If safe, clear the areas around electrical panels and outlets so electricians can get to them quickly. In case of fire or electrocution, call 911 first and then the emergency electrician.