Is This an Emergency?

An outlet or switch plate feels warm to the touch.

Call now. Warm to hot means something is drawing more current than the connection can handle. Stop using that outlet and call now, especially if you also smell anything or see discoloration.

A breaker trips every time I run the microwave and the toaster together.

Not urgent. That’s usually just an overloaded circuit doing its job. It’s worth fixing (a dedicated circuit or a panel with more capacity), but it’s not dangerous on its own if it resets normally.

See Electrical Repair

I smell something burning near an outlet or the panel.

Call now. This is the clearest emergency signal there is. If it’s safe to reach, cut power at the panel and call immediately. Don’t wait to see if the smell goes away.

My lights flicker occasionally.

It depends. A single flickering fixture is often just a loose bulb or an incompatible dimmer. Flickering across multiple rooms, especially when appliances kick on, points to a bigger issue worth a same-week visit.

See Electrical Repair

I saw actual sparks from an outlet or switch.

Call now. Sparking means a fault, not a nuisance. Stop using that outlet or switch and call now.

Half my house has no power, but the other half is fine.

Call now. This usually points to a tripped main breaker, a failed connection, or a utility-side issue, and it’s worth an urgent call rather than waiting it out, especially if resetting the breaker doesn’t hold.

A GFCI outlet in my bathroom or kitchen keeps tripping.

Not urgent. GFCIs trip on purpose to protect you from a ground fault, often from moisture. If it won’t reset at all or trips constantly with nothing plugged in, that’s worth a repair visit, but it’s not an emergency.

See Electrical Repair

I hear a buzzing sound from an outlet, switch, or the panel.

Call now. Buzzing usually means a loose connection arcing under load, which can generate heat. Treat it like a warm outlet: stop using it and call.