It’s Saturday night. Everyone’s in bed, the AC is humming along—suddenly you smell burning near a hallway outlet. Or maybe a breaker keeps tripping and the breaker box feels warm to the touch. These are the kind of scenarios where you need an emergency electrician.
At KSI Electric, we’ve been helping DFW homeowners since 1995. This guide covers how to tell if it’s a real emergency, what to do while you wait, and why it’s important to call a licensed electrician, not just the first online contractor that promises a quick fix.
What’s an Electrical Emergency vs. a Repair That Can Wait?
Some electrical problems can wait until regular business hours. Other times, there is a significant safety and fire risk that requires immediate attention.
Call an emergency electrician if you smell a burning or melting plastic odor from an outlet, a switch, or your electrical panel. You need emergency service if your lights are sparking, smoking, or flashing, if an electrical appliance seems to be arcing inside the house, if your breaker is tripping repeatedly or your electrical panel is vibrating, buzzing, humming, or crackling when you turn a breaker off or on, if electrical outlets or light-switch cover plates feel warm to the touch, if you have melted, scorched, or discolored outlets or wall sockets, if you have power to your neighbors’ homes but not to all, most, or even just part of yours, or if water reaches your electrical system from storms or flooding.
In all of these cases, call (817) 932-5882.
KSI Electric serves the entire Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, providing emergency services on a 24-hour, seven-day basis.
What to Do Before the Electrician Gets to Your House
Once you’ve called for assistance, the next priority is to keep your family and home safe.
If you smell smoke or burning, shut off the power at the main breaker if you’re able to do so safely. If you cannot reach the panel safely, leave the house and call 911. If a power issue is limited to one outlet or fixture, shut off the circuit breaker controlling that area. Do not allow children or pets anywhere near where the electrical issue is occurring. If you see a fire, evacuate the home or office right away. Never use water on an electrical fire. Only use a Class C fire extinguisher and only if you can safely do so. Make sure you have a working flashlight if the house has lost power. Remember how and where it first happened, which areas were affected, and what was running at the time. Keep away from any standing water while electrical equipment is present.
Do not try to fix this kind of thing yourself. Improper repair can lead to injury or electrical fires, and you may run afoul of electrical codes.
Why a Licensed Electrician Is Important in an Emergency
During an emergency, it’s tempting to reach for your smartphone and call the first service available online. However, just because a contractor is advertising emergency services doesn’t mean that they’ll send a licensed electrician to your home or even follow the same quality standards when a crisis comes.
KSI Electric is a family-owned Fort Worth business. When you call, you will get our people, not a third-party dispatcher. We send only licensed and insured electricians who know how to do code-compliant work and who will be able to explain the problem and repair it, once and for all, rather than offering a short-term fix.
Common Electrical Emergencies in DFW
- Outdated Electrical Panels Homes built decades ago and even in newer parts of Fort Worth and Arlington can still have the original 60 or 100 amp panels installed by the builder. These old panels were not built to accommodate the electrical demands of today’s homes. They will frequently trip or overload, which can serve as a warning sign that your electrical system needs upgrading and a professional inspection before something more serious happens.
- Storm Damage North Texas storms can damage service equipment and let in water to panels, outlets, and electrical wiring. Never turn the power back on if electrical equipment is found soaked in water by a storm until it has been examined and cleared by a professional.
- Aging Wiring In homes built prior to 1980, you may have old wiring, outdated electrical fixtures, and worn out or damaged outlets or fixtures. Signs of electrical distress—warm receptacles, a smell of burning, or repeated breaker trips—should never be ignored.
- Overloaded Circuits The increased use of space heaters, portable A/C units, or other high-draw appliances can overload older wiring systems. Frequent tripping breakers or warm wall outlets may be indications your residence needs new circuits or a panel upgrade.
How Much Does an Emergency Electrician Cost?
Because emergency electricians work after normal business hours, they typically charge more than someone who schedules a service call for the day.
In the DFW area, you can expect an average emergency service fee of $150 to $500 for the initial hour of work, plus hourly charges (labor) of $75 to $150 after that. Of course, prices will vary based on the problem and how long the repair takes, plus materials cost.
KSI Electric provides pricing before we begin any work, so you won’t have any surprises!
How to Prevent an Electrical Emergency
Of course, not every emergency can be avoided, but many can!
- Get your entire home evaluated by an electrician if it’s over 25 years old and/or has never been inspected.
- Replace any wall outlets that are loose, discolored, or warm to the touch.
- Get your breaker panel checked if you’re tripping your circuit breakers regularly or if you’re going to add a new circuit for something like an electric vehicle charger or hot tub.
- Don’t plug several large wattage appliances into the same outlet or circuit.
- Test your smoke detectors monthly.
- If your extension cords are old and worn or cracked, replace them with new ones. Do not run them under carpets, rugs or through doorways.
Periodic electrical inspections are the best way to uncover outdated wiring, loose connections and other potential problems so that the issue never turns into an emergency!
What to Expect When You Call KSI Electric
When you call KSI Electric at (817) 932-5882, a real person answers the phone. We’ll ask a few questions to assess the situation and tell you what to expect as you wait for our arrival. If you have a situation that is immediately unsafe, we will suggest you evacuate to safety, call 911 and wait for us to show up.
When our electrician arrives at your home, we’ll first make the environment safe and fix your issue. Our electrician will explain the repairs you’re paying for in plain language before work begins, along with pricing. Then, we’ll leave your home with all systems checked out, fully operational and safe. All repairs are completed by our licensed and insured team of electricians. Everything we do complies with the most current electric code.
Do Not Wait When Your Home Needs Help
Electrical problems can turn dangerous fast. If your outlets feel warm, you notice buzzing sounds from your panel, or you find yourself unable to reset a tripped circuit, don’t wait. It’s not going to get better and the consequences could be dangerous to you or your family.
KSI Electric has been protecting and serving homeowners in DFW since 1995! Our company is a locally-owned electrical company that is fully licensed and insured. Plus, we’re available 24/7! Reach out to us by calling (817) 932-5882 or visit ksiresidentialelectric.com today! No pressure! Let us provide you with a free estimate!
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do before the electrician arrives?
If you smell smoke or burning or you see any smoke, make sure to turn off the circuit breaker in your electrical panel as soon as it’s safe to do so. If the main circuit breaker is inaccessible to you, get out of the home immediately and call 911. Keep all your family members away from the area where there is smoke or the smell of smoke, don’t touch any outlets that are discolored or appliances that appear damaged, and keep in mind the situation to help the electrician troubleshoot the problem once they arrive.
When should I call an electrician for emergency service?
Call for emergency service immediately if you are experiencing any of these issues:
- Burning odors, smells or sounds
- Sparks or smoke from any area
- Breaker trips that recur often
- Buzzing from any electrical components
- Warm or discolored wall outlets
- Black scorch marks near or on outlets or electrical equipment
- Power loss or dimming of the lights (without any power losses affecting your neighbors)
Minor problems can usually be addressed with a more convenient day and time. A single tripped breaker or a single flickering light bulb is not usually a reason to call for emergency service.
How much does emergency electrical service cost?
The cost of an emergency electrician callout and labor in the Dallas area generally ranges from $150 to $500 for the service call and first hour of work, and from $75 to $150 per hour after that. The exact cost depends on the issue, the time needed to repair it, the costs of materials required and the electrician that responds. KSI Electric offers transparent pricing prior to repairs.
