Emergency Electrician
24/7 emergency electrician call-out for power failures, burning smells, sparking, and electrical emergencies. Fast response, fault finding and making safe.
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Emergency Electrician
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How it works
Initial call and triage
When you call, the electrician assesses the urgency over the phone. They will ask what you can see, smell, or hear, whether anyone is injured, and whether you have been able to isolate the supply. If there is immediate danger (fire, injury, exposed live wiring), they will advise you to call 999 first and isolate at the main switch if it is safe to do so.
Arrival and safety assessment
On arrival, the electrician conducts a visual inspection and assesses the immediate risk. They check the consumer unit, identify any tripped devices, look for signs of overheating, burning, or water ingress, and determine whether the property is safe to work on.
Isolation and making safe
The faulty circuit or equipment is isolated. If a specific circuit has failed, it is disconnected at the consumer unit. If the fault is at the supply, the main switch is turned off. The electrician ensures no live conductors are exposed and no fire risk remains.
Fault diagnosis
Using insulation resistance testing, continuity testing, and visual inspection, the electrician identifies the root cause of the fault. Common causes include damaged cables, failed accessories, water ingress, rodent damage, overloaded circuits, and faulty appliances.
Immediate repair or temporary fix
Where possible, the fault is repaired on the spot — replacing a damaged socket, re-terminating a connection, or replacing a faulty MCB/RCD. If a permanent repair requires parts or further investigation, the electrician makes the situation safe and provides a written report with recommendations.
Testing and handover
After the repair, affected circuits are tested to confirm they are safe. The electrician explains what was found, what was done, and whether any follow-up work is needed. A Minor Works Certificate is issued for the repair work.
What's included
What's involved
An emergency electrician provides urgent call-out services for electrical faults that pose an immediate safety risk or have left your property without power. Common emergencies include complete power loss, burning smells from sockets or the consumer unit, visible sparking, tripping that cannot be reset, exposed live wiring, and electrical faults following water leaks or storms. The electrician's first priority is to make the installation safe — isolating the faulty circuit, identifying the cause, and carrying out immediate repairs where possible. If a permanent repair requires further work, the electrician will make the situation safe and advise on next steps.
Electrical emergencies can be life-threatening. A burning smell from a socket indicates overheating that could start a fire. Sparking suggests an arc fault that can ignite surrounding materials. Complete power loss may indicate a serious fault rather than a simple supply issue. These situations require immediate attention from a qualified electrician who can diagnose the problem, isolate the danger, and make the installation safe. Do not attempt to investigate electrical emergencies yourself — particularly anything involving burning, sparking, or water near electrical installations.
Get a personalised quote
Typical cost: £100–£300per call-out
Every job is different — pricing depends on your property, location, and specific requirements. Describe what you need and a qualified electrician will quote you directly.
How long does it take?
Response time depends on the electrician's availability — typically 1-4 hours for a genuine emergency. The on-site work usually takes 1-2 hours for diagnosis and a straightforward repair. Complex faults (e.g., cable damage behind walls) may require a follow-up visit.
Regulations & safety
Safety notice
If you smell burning, see flames, or notice smoke coming from any electrical fitting, turn off the main switch at the consumer unit (if you can reach it safely), get everyone out of the property, and call 999. Do not touch any electrical equipment that is smoking or on fire.
Never investigate an electrical fault yourself. Do not remove socket covers, open the consumer unit, or touch any exposed wiring. If you cannot reach the main switch safely, leave the property and call an emergency electrician from outside.
If there has been a flood or water leak affecting electrical installations, do not touch any switches, sockets, or appliances until a qualified electrician has inspected and confirmed it is safe. Water and electricity are a lethal combination.
BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 (IET Wiring Regulations, 18th Edition)
All emergency repair work must comply with the current Wiring Regulations. Even in an emergency, the repair must be safe, properly tested, and documented. A Minor Works Certificate is issued for repairs; an EIC if new circuits are added.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Both the electrician and the property occupier have a duty of care. The electrician must not work in conditions that are unsafe (e.g., standing water near live equipment) without appropriate precautions.
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Requires that electrical systems are maintained to prevent danger. Emergency repairs must be carried out to a standard that prevents the fault from recurring and does not create new hazards.
What to expect
Having issues with your existing installation?
Already have a emergency electrician and having issues? Check our troubleshooting guides.
No Power In The Whole House
Your entire home has lost electricity. No lights, no sockets — everything is dead.
Burning Smell From A Socket
You can smell burning coming from a plug socket — a sign of potential electrical fire.
Sparks When Plugging Something In
You see a brief spark or flash when you plug something into a socket.
Electrical Fire — What To Do
You have an electrical fire or can see flames coming from a socket, appliance, or consumer unit.
Frequently asked questions
We’re happy to answer all your questions.
What counts as an electrical emergency?
An electrical emergency is any situation that poses an immediate risk to life or property: burning smell from electrical fittings, visible sparking, exposed live wiring, total power loss that cannot be restored by resetting the consumer unit, electrical shock from an appliance or fitting, and water ingress into electrical installations. If in doubt, treat it as an emergency — it is better to call and be told it is not urgent than to ignore a potential danger.
Should I turn off the main switch before the electrician arrives?
If you can reach the main switch safely and there is no fire or flooding, yes — turning off the main switch is the safest action. This isolates all circuits and removes the immediate danger. If you cannot reach the switch safely (e.g., the consumer unit is in a flooded area or there is smoke), leave the property and wait for the electrician.
How much does an emergency electrician cost?
A typical emergency call-out is £100-200 for attendance, plus an hourly rate of £50-90 for the repair work. Out-of-hours calls (evenings, weekends, bank holidays) are at the higher end. Most straightforward emergency repairs are completed in 1-2 hours, so expect a total cost of £150-300 for a typical call-out.
My power has gone off but nothing has tripped — what should I do?
If nothing has tripped on your consumer unit and you have no power, the fault is likely with the DNO supply. Check with your neighbours — if they are also affected, call 105 (the national power cut number) to report a supply failure. If only your property is affected, the fault may be in your main fuse (cut-out), which is the DNO's responsibility. Call your DNO rather than an electrician.
Can an emergency electrician do a permanent repair or only a temporary fix?
Most emergency repairs are permanent — replacing a faulty socket, re-terminating a connection, or fitting a new MCB/RCD. If the fault requires more extensive work (e.g., replacing a damaged cable behind a wall), the electrician will make the situation safe and arrange a follow-up visit for the permanent repair.
What should I do if I get an electric shock from an appliance?
If someone receives a shock, do not touch them while they may still be in contact with the electrical source. Turn off the supply at the main switch if you can reach it safely, or use a non-conductive object (wooden chair, dry towel) to separate them from the source. Call 999 if they are injured. Once safe, do not use the appliance or circuit again until an electrician has inspected it. Even a minor shock indicates a fault that needs urgent investigation.
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