Electrical problems don't wait for business hours. It's 10 at night, the kitchen lights are flickering, and there's a smell you can't quite place. Do you wait until morning, or do you call someone now?

Here's a simple way to tell the difference, plus what to do while help is on the way.

Signs It's an Emergency

Call right away if you notice any of these:

• A burning or hot plastic smell near an outlet, switch or your electrical panel
• Sparks, scorch marks, or outlets and switch plates that feel warm to the touch
• Buzzing, crackling or popping sounds from the panel or inside a wall
• Part of your home or building lost power, but the rest of the street didn't
• A breaker that trips again every time you reset it
• Water anywhere near electrical equipment, like a flooded basement or a roof leak over a fixture
• Storm damage to the meter base or the line coming into your home

If you see smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 911 first.

What to Do While You Wait

Don't touch anything that's sparking, wet or hot. Keep kids and pets away from the area.

Shut off power to the problem if you can do it safely. If the panel is dry and you're not standing in water, flip the breaker for the affected circuit, or the main breaker if you're not sure which one. If there's any doubt, leave it alone.

Unplug what you can safely reach on the affected circuit.

Stay away from downed lines. If a power line is down in your yard or on the street, keep your distance and call your utility company right away.

Is It the Utility or Your Wiring?

A quick check can save you a call. Look outside. If the whole neighborhood is dark, it's most likely a utility outage, and your power company is the one to call.

If it's just your home or building, or only part of it, the problem is likely on your side of the meter. That's when you call an electrician.

What Happens When You Call Abel

Call 706-442-9093, day or night. After hours, your call goes to our after-hours line for urgent needs. Tell us what's going on, and we'll help you figure out whether it's safe to wait until morning or needs a licensed electrician now.

Once we're there, the first job is making things safe. Then we find what caused the problem and walk you through the fix before any work starts.

A Few Ways to Head Off Emergencies

• Pay attention to warning signs like flickering lights, warm outlets or breakers that trip often. They're usually trying to tell you something.
• If your home is older or you've added big loads like a hot tub, shop equipment or an EV charger, have your panel checked.
• For homes that can't go without power, a Generac home standby generator keeps the lights, fridge and HVAC running during an outage.

We're Here Day or Night

Abel Electric has been serving homes and businesses in the Chattahoochee Valley since 2008. We're licensed in Alabama and Georgia, and we answer the phone 24/7.

Save our number in your phone now so it's there when you need it: 706-442-9093. For non-emergency work, visit our General Electrical Services page. Estimates are free.