Emergency Electrician: When to Call and What It Costs

A burning smell from the socket. All the lights flicker when you switch on the kettle. Your fuse board keeps tripping. These are electrical emergencies, and they need same-day attention.

When is it an emergency? Red flags

• Burning smell or smoke. Switch off power at the board immediately. Do not use that circuit. Call an electrician right now.
• Scorch marks around a socket or switch. Stop using it. Switch it off at the board. This is dangerous.
• Frequent circuit breaker trips. One trip is normal (overload). Repeated trips mean a fault.
• Electric shock risk. You feel a tingle from the shower, sink, or washing machine. The appliance may be faulty, or there’s a wiring fault.
• Flickering lights when using high-power appliances. Could be supply issue or a loose connection—either way, get it checked.
• Water near electrics. Wet kitchen, burst pipe near the fuse board, flooded basement with power on. Turn off power and call an electrician.

Not an emergency (but still call an electrician soon)

• A single dead socket or light switch.
• Flickering light (bulb issue, loose connection).
• Need to add a new circuit for an EV charger or heating upgrade.

What to do while you wait

1. Do not ignore it. Electrical faults get worse, not better.
2. Switch off the affected circuit at the consumer unit if it’s safe to do so.
3. Do not use water near the fault if there’s any chance of electrocution.
4. Open windows if there’s a burning smell (ventilate).
5. Keep everyone away from the fault.

Cost of emergency call-outs

Emergency electrician rates vary by area and time:

• 9am–5pm weekday: Standard rate (£50–80/hour) + call-out fee (~£50).
• Evening (5pm–10pm) or weekend: Premium rate (£80–120/hour) + call-out fee (~£50–80).
• Middle of the night (10pm–7am): Premium rate (£100–150/hour) + call-out fee (~£100).

Total for a 1-hour emergency fault find: £150–250 for out-of-hours work, £100–130 during business hours.

How to avoid emergencies

• Get a professional EICR every 5 years. Catches faults before they become dangerous.
• Test your RCDs monthly. Press the test button on your consumer unit—it should trip the power. If it doesn’t, call an electrician.
• Replace old appliances. Older washing machines, ovens, and kettles are more likely to fault.
• Don’t ignore warning signs. Burning smell, tingling, flickering—these are your house’s alarm bells.

Bottom line: Electrical emergencies are real and expensive, especially out of hours. But most are preventable with regular maintenance and attention to warning signs. If something feels wrong, call an electrician—better safe than sorry.