Is My Electrical Issue an Emergency

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Is that buzzing sound from the plug socket a minor annoyance or a significant hazard? Are flickering lights just a quirk of your home, or a sign of something more sinister? When it comes to electricity, the ability to distinguish between a minor issue and a full-blown emergency is crucial. It can mean the difference between a safe home and a potential disaster.

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Knowing when to call a 24/7 electrician can save you from unnecessary panic and an expensive after-hours call-out fee. More importantly, it can protect your family and your home from serious danger. This article is based on the insights from our network of expert, vetted electricians, and will help you understand which electrical problems are genuine emergencies that need immediate attention and which can wait until morning.

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Signs of an Electrical Emergency 

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If you experience any of the following, don't wait. These are clear signs of an immediate electrical hazard. Safety should always be your priority, which means turning off the power at the main switch and calling a certified emergency electrician immediately.

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Sparks, Arcs, and Flames

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If you see any sparks shooting from an outlet, switch, or your distribution board (DB board), you're witnessing an electrical arc. This is incredibly dangerous and should be attended to straight away.

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One of our pros recently told us about a call-out where a homeowner noticed bright flashes from behind their fridge every time the compressor kicked in. They wisely unplugged their fridge and called for help. The electrician found that a rat had chewed through the insulation on the power cord, causing the live wires to arc against the metal back of the fridge. That situation was moments away from starting a serious fire.

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What to do:

1. Do not touch the appliance or outlet.
2. Go directly to your DB board and switch off the main breaker.
3. Call a 24/7 emergency electrician immediately.

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The Smell of Burning Plastic 

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Your nose is one of the best tools for detecting an electrical emergency. A persistent burning smell, often described as acrid plastic, melting wire, or even a strange fishy odour, is a massive red flag. This smell is usually caused by components overheating and melting, which can quickly lead to a fire.

Don't dismiss it as “just” a smell. Try to locate the source. Is it stronger near a particular plug point, light fitting, or your DB board? Even if you can't see smoke, the smell alone is enough to warrant an emergency call.

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Loud Buzzing or Crackling Sounds

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Electricity should be silent. If you hear a constant, loud buzzing, humming, or crackling sound coming from an outlet, switch, or your DB board, it is a sign that something is seriously wrong. It could be a loose connection, a faulty component, an overloaded circuit, or arcing electricity.

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Think of it like a constant, tiny lightning storm happening inside your walls. One of our electricians described a scenario where a client's DB board was making a loud humming noise. The main breaker was scorching hot to the touch - a clear sign it was overloaded and on the verge of a complete meltdown.

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Getting an Electric Shock

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Even a mild tingle or zap from an appliance, tap, or switch is a serious warning sign. It means there's a fault in the electrical system and that your body has become part of the circuit. This is often caused by an earthing problem, which is designed to protect you from exactly this.

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A minor shock can easily become a major one. Water and electricity are a deadly combination, so if you're getting shocked by taps or appliances in your kitchen or bathroom, the situation is even more critical.

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What to do:

1. Immediately turn off the power at the main switch on your DB board.
2. Warn everyone in the house not to touch the faulty appliance or fitting.
3. Call an emergency electrician.

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A Major Power Outage (Just in Your Home)

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We're all used to load shedding, but if your house is the only one in the street without power, and you can't restore it by flipping the main switch on your DB board, you have a problem. This could indicate a serious fault with the main supply cable coming into your property or a major failure within your DB board itself.

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Urgent, But Can It Wait Until Morning? 

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Some issues are serious and need to be addressed quickly, but they might not require an emergency call-out. These are problems you should get fixed within the next business day.

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Frequently Tripping Breakers or Fuses

A circuit breaker is designed to trip to protect your home from overloads or short circuits. If it trips once in a blue moon, it's usually not a big deal. But if a specific breaker trips every time you use a particular appliance (like the kettle or microwave), or a whole section of your house keeps losing power, it signals an underlying problem. It could be an overloaded circuit or a faulty appliance, but it could also be a wiring issue that needs professional attention.

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Flickering or Dimming Lights

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If your lights flicker or dim whenever you turn on a large appliance like the air conditioner, a tumble dryer, or a pool pump, it often points to an overloaded circuit or loose wiring connections. 

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While not an immediate electrical hazard in most cases, it puts a strain on your electrical system and should be inspected by an electrician sooner rather than later.

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Dead or Malfunctioning Outlets

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One dead plug socket is an inconvenience. A whole room of dead sockets suggests a more significant problem, likely with the circuit breaker or the wiring itself. If some of your outlets only work intermittently or feel loose when you plug something in, get them checked out. A poor connection can generate heat and become a fire risk over time.

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Your Emergency Action Plan: What to Do First

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It is essential to know what to do in case of an electrical emergency.

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1. Kill the Power: Your first and most crucial step is to go to your DB board and shut off the main switch. This will cut the electricity supply to your entire home. If you're not sure which one is the main switch, it's usually the largest one, often red, and located at the top or side of the board.
2. Unplug (if it is safe to do so): If the emergency is related to a specific appliance and it is safe to do so (i.e., no sparks, smoke, or water nearby), unplug it after turning off the power.
3. Fire Extinguisher: NEVER use water on an electrical fire. Water conducts electricity, making the situation far more dangerous. Use a dry powder (Class ABC) or carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguisher only.
4. Call a Professional: Once the immediate danger is contained, call a qualified, 24/7 emergency electrician. Don't try to fix the problem yourself.

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A Note on DIY Electrical Work

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It can be tempting to try to fix a minor electrical issue yourself, but in South Africa, the law is very clear. According to the SANS 10142-1 regulations, almost all electrical work - from replacing a plug socket to installing a new light fitting - must be done by a qualified and registered electrician who can issue a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the work.

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Changing a lightbulb is fine, but for anything more complex, you risk your safety, your insurance claim if something goes wrong, and could even face legal issues.

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Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes. Electrical work is dangerous. Always prioritise safety and hire a qualified professional for any electrical repairs or installations.

When in doubt, the safest bet is always to make the call. It's better to have an electrician tell you it's a minor issue than to ignore a significant problem that could have devastating consequences.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What's the difference between the smell of ozone and a dangerous burning smell?

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An ozone smell, which is sharp and sometimes described as smelling like chlorine or the air after a lightning strike, can sometimes occur briefly when an electric motor (like in a vacuum cleaner or drill) starts up due to small sparks on the motor's brushes. This is often normal. A dangerous, electrical burning smell is more acrid and persistent, like melting plastic or burning wire insulation. If the smell lingers or gets stronger, treat it as an emergency.

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What is an Electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) and why is it important?

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An Electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is a legal document that verifies that the electrical installation in a property conforms to the health and safety standards laid out in the South African National Standards (SANS 10142-1). It is required by law when a property is sold and for any new or altered electrical work. It's your official proof that the job was done correctly and safely by a registered professional.

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How much should I expect to pay for an emergency electrician call-out?

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Emergency, after-hours call-outs are more expensive than standard appointments. You can typically expect to pay a call-out fee that covers the electrician's travel and the first hour of labour. In South Africa, this can range from R850 to over R1500, depending on the time of night, public holidays, and your location. The final cost will then depend on the parts and additional labour required to fix the problem.

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My main switch has tripped and won't turn back on. What should I do?

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If your main switch trips and you can't reset it, it's detecting a serious fault. First, try switching off all the individual circuit breakers on the DB board. Then, try to switch the main one back on. If it stays on, you can then switch the individual circuits back on one by one. The one that causes the main switch to trip again is the circuit with the fault. If the main switch won't stay on even with all the other circuits off, the problem is more serious, and you should call an electrician immediately.

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