Knowing what to do in an electrical emergency can protect your family, your home, and your wallet. The short version: move everyone away from the hazard, shut off power at the breaker only if the area is dry and safe, and call a licensed electrician. If there’s fire, smoke, or someone has been shocked, call 911 first. Below, our Chicago team walks you through each step and the mistakes to avoid.
Key Takeaways
- Call 911 first for fire, smoke, or an electrical shock injury. Call an electrician second.
- Shut off power at the panel only when the floor, your hands, and the panel are completely dry.
- Never touch outlets, cords, or a panel that has been exposed to water.
- A breaker that trips again after one reset is a warning sign, not a nuisance. Leave it off.
- Call ComEd when neighbors are also out or the service line or meter is damaged. Call an electrician for problems inside your home.
- Clear details about what you saw, smelled, or heard help the electrician fix the problem on the first visit.
What Counts as an Electrical Emergency?
An electrical emergency is any situation where heat, sparks, smoke, water, or shock risk involves your wiring, outlets, or electrical panel. If you notice any of the signs below, treat it as urgent and get professional help right away.
- A burning smell from outlets, switches, or the panel
- Sparking outlets, or lights flickering in several rooms at once
- A breaker that trips again immediately after you reset it
- A panel that feels warm or makes a buzzing sound
- Partial or total power loss that isn’t a neighborhood outage
- Water from a flood, leak, or storm near outlets, wiring, or the panel
- A shock or tingle when you touch an appliance or switch
These signs point to overheating, arcing, or ground faults, which can lead to fires and injuries. Acting fast limits the risk and often keeps the repair smaller.
Chicago tip: After heavy storms, check basements and exterior GFCI outlets for moisture. If water reached any wiring, leave that area unpowered until a licensed electrician inspects it.
What Should You Do First in an Electrical Emergency?
Get people and pets away from the problem, then call for help. If there’s fire, smoke, or an injury, call 911 before anything else.
Once everyone is safe:
- If someone was shocked, don’t touch them while they may still be in contact with the source. Call 911.
- If water is anywhere near outlets or the panel, leave the area. Don’t touch switches or cords.
- If you smell burning but the area is dry, get ready to shut off power (see the next section).
- Unplug sensitive electronics only if you can do it without touching anything warm, wet, or damaged.
- Use a flashlight instead of candles, and open a window if you smell burning insulation.
How Do You Shut Off Power Safely?
Turn off the affected breaker, or the main breaker if you’re unsure which circuit is involved, but only when you, the floor, and the panel are completely dry. If the panel is hot, smoking, wet, or loudly buzzing, don’t touch it.
When it’s safe:
- Stand on a dry surface with dry hands and shoes.
- Open the panel door and look for a tripped breaker or the circuit labeled for the problem area.
- Switch that breaker to OFF. If you can’t identify it, switch the main breaker (usually the large one at the top) to OFF.
- Close the panel, step away, and tape a note to it so nobody flips the power back on.
Cutting power stops heat buildup and arcing, which buys valuable time until help arrives.
What Should You Never Do During an Electrical Emergency?
Never force power back on, bypass the problem, or try to repair wiring yourself. These shortcuts hide hazards and raise the risk of fire or shock.
Avoid these common mistakes:
- Resetting a breaker over and over when it won’t hold
- Swapping in a larger fuse or breaker
- Running extension cords around a dead outlet or circuit
- Opening wet junction boxes or touching exposed wires
- Plugging space heaters or other high-draw appliances into a suspect circuit
- Attempting panel repairs on your own
Should You Call ComEd or an Electrician?
Call ComEd if your neighbors are also without power or the damage is outside on the service line or meter. Call an electrician when the problem is inside your home, such as a dead circuit, a burning outlet, or a breaker that won’t reset.
Call ComEd (1-800-334-7661) if:
- Your whole street has lost power
- The service line to your house is down or damaged
- The meter is cracked, pulled away, or sparking
Call an electrician if:
- Only part of your home has lost power
- Breakers trip and won’t reset
- You smell burning at outlets, switches, or the panel
- GFCI outlets keep tripping with no clear cause
Not sure which applies? Call us, and we’ll coordinate with the utility if needed.
How Can You Protect Critical Systems While You Wait?
Focus on equipment that can cause secondary damage, like sump pumps, refrigerators, and medical devices. A few quick steps reduce the risk of flooding, food loss, and health problems.
- Sump pump: If it lost power, tell the dispatcher so we can talk through a safe temporary option.
- Refrigerator and freezer: Keep the doors closed. Move medications to a cooler with ice.
- Medical equipment: Switch to a safe, working circuit, or call 911 if someone depends on powered equipment.
- Portable generators: Run them outdoors only, at least 20 feet from doors and windows, and never in a garage. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
What Information Helps an Emergency Electrician Fix It Faster?
Tell the dispatcher what happened, what you noticed, and which rooms are affected. Those details help us send the right technician with the right parts. Have this ready:
- When the problem started and what was running at the time
- Any sounds or smells, such as popping, hissing, or burning plastic
- Your panel brand and approximate age, if you know them
- Photos of the panel label or damaged outlet, if it’s safe to take them
What Happens When You Call Electric Work Force?
A dispatcher answers 24/7 and sends a licensed electrician in a fully stocked van, so most issues are fixed on the first visit. Here’s how our 24/7 emergency electrician in Chicago service works:
- Immediate response: We answer day or night, including weekends and holidays.
- Rapid dispatch: In many areas, a technician is on the way within 30 to 60 minutes.
- On-the-spot troubleshooting: We find the root cause, not just the symptom.
- Upfront pricing: You see clear options and costs before any work begins.
- Testing and cleanup: We verify safe operation, check code compliance, and tidy up.
- Follow-up: If you need panel, wiring, or surge protection upgrades, we schedule them and provide documentation.
We serve Chicago and suburbs including Naperville, Aurora, Schaumburg, Evanston, and Palatine.
How Can You Prevent the Next Electrical Emergency?
Routine inspections and targeted upgrades catch small problems early and cost far less than an after-hours repair. Smart steps include:
- An annual electrical safety inspection, especially for older bungalows and two-flats
- A panel check with tightened connections and a thermal scan for hot spots
- GFCI and AFCI protection where code requires it
- Dedicated circuits for space heaters, garage tools, and EV chargers
- Replacing cloth-insulated or aluminum branch wiring
Working with a licensed electrician in Chicago who knows local code makes prevention simple.
What Our Customers Say
“Owner Ed is very responsive. Had an emergency on a Sunday night and he called me back right away. Ed was at my house the next morning on Monday to help… I highly recommend their services and I will use them again.” Laura B., Emergency Electrical Repair
“I called Electric Workforce on New Years Day with a problem from installation of door chimes… he would come over in about 45 minutes and check it out. He did more than check it out…” Anita H., Emergency Electrical Repair
Save on Your Emergency Visit
Our standard $99 diagnostic service call is just $79 right now, and the fee can be applied toward your repair when eligible. Mention the offer when you call (708) 968-1904.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I smell burning plastic from an outlet? Stop using the outlet and switch off its breaker if the panel area is dry and safe. Keep flammable items away and call an emergency electrician.
Is it safe to keep resetting a breaker that trips? No. Unplug the devices on that circuit and reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call an electrician, since repeated resets can overheat wiring.
Can I use a generator while I wait for repairs? Yes, but only outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors and windows. Never run one in a garage or plug it into a wall outlet.
How fast can an emergency electrician arrive in Chicago? We answer 24/7 and, in many areas, dispatch within 30 to 60 minutes. Arrival times vary with location, weather, and call volume.
Do I need an electrician if the power came back on by itself? Often, yes. Flickering lights, a lingering burning smell, or unexplained breaker trips can signal a loose connection.
Stay Safe and Get Help Fast
Knowing what to do in an electrical emergency comes down to three steps: protect people first, cut power only when it’s safe, and call a licensed professional. Electric Work Force has earned an A+ BBB rating and a 4.9-star Google rating from 630+ reviews by responding quickly and fixing problems right the first time. If you’re searching for an emergency electrician near me right now, call (708) 968-1904 or reach our team online. We’re available 24/7.
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