Knowing when to call an Emergency Electrician in Hereford can be difficult.
You don't want to panic over every little electrical issue, but there are some warning signs you really shouldn't ignore. Burning smells, scorch marks, sparks, smoke or a socket that's getting unusually hot are all reasons to take action. At ElectricsFixed, emergency electrical work will typically start from around £100–£150, depending on the time of day and what we find when we arrive. If something doesn't feel right, don't ignore it — switch off the affected circuit if it's safe to do so and give us a call.
When is an electrical problem an emergency?
Not every electrical fault means you need someone at your door immediately, but there are certain things where it's definitely better to be safe than sorry. If you can smell burning from a socket or light fitting, see scorch marks, hear buzzing, notice sparks or have a circuit that's repeatedly tripping, don't just carry on using it and hope it sorts itself out. If it's safe to do so, switch off the affected circuit at the fuseboard and leave the faulty socket or fitting alone. If there's smoke or an active fire, get everyone out of the property and call the emergency services. For other potentially dangerous electrical faults, an Emergency Electrician in Hereford can come out, find the cause and get things made safe.
We recently received a call from a mum living in a three-bedroom end-of-terrace home on Haylease Crescent. She'd noticed a burning smell coming from a socket in her toddler's bedroom and had also spotted some slight scorching around it.
Understandably, she was really worried. We advised her to switch the circuit off at the fuseboard straight away and headed over as quickly as we could. We were there within an hour and, after investigating the socket, found that loose wiring inside it was causing the problem.
It might sound like a small fault, but a loose electrical connection can create heat, which is why the burning smell and scorching were such important warning signs. Mum had done exactly the right thing by taking it seriously and getting the circuit switched off rather than carrying on using the socket.
Don't ignore burning smells or scorching
Once we'd found the fault, we could understand why mum had been so shaken. It was in her toddler's bedroom, and she was understandably thinking about what could have happened if she'd noticed the smell later, particularly while her child was asleep.
We repaired the immediate problem and, because the experience had understandably left her worried about the rest of the home's electrics, we also recommended an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This gives us the chance to have a proper look at the wider electrical installation and gives the homeowner a much clearer idea of its overall condition.
This is something we always encourage homeowners to do when they're worried about an electrical issue. You don't need to know exactly what's wrong before picking up the phone. If something smells, looks or sounds different, it's worth getting it checked rather than hoping it goes away.
What should you do if you have an electrical emergency?
If you notice a burning smell, scorching, smoke, sparks or another potentially dangerous electrical fault, stop using the affected socket or circuit. If you can safely do so, switch it off at the fuseboard and give a qualified electrician a call.
At ElectricsFixed, we'll find out what's causing the problem, explain what we've found and sort the issue properly and safely. We know that calling an Emergency Electrician in Hereford can be stressful, especially when you've got children at home, so we'll keep you informed and explain everything in normal, straightforward language.
If you're worried about an electrical fault and need an Emergency Electrician in Hereford, contact ElectricsFixed today by phone on 01432 629050 or via our contact form.
