When to Call an Emergency
Electrician
Some electrical problems can wait until Monday. Some can't. Knowing the difference could save you money, stress, or something much worse.
It's 9pm on a Tuesday and something electrical just went wrong in your house. Maybe you smell something burning. Maybe half the lights went out. Maybe the outlet behind the TV is making a sound it shouldn't be making. The first question is always: do I need someone tonight, or can this wait?
Ryan Newman, owner of Newman Electric in Vancouver, WA, takes emergency calls at all hours. Some of them genuinely need same-night service. Others could have waited. "I'd rather someone call and find out it's not urgent than ignore something that is," Ryan says. "A five-minute phone call can save you a lot of worry."
Call an electrician right now
You smell burning near an outlet, switch, or panel
An electrical burning smell (acrid, like melting plastic) means something is overheating. Turn off the breaker for that area if you can identify it. If you can't, turn off the main. If you see smoke or flames, leave the house and call 911 first.
An outlet or switch is sparking or making crackling sounds
Visible sparks or a persistent crackling noise from inside a wall means there's arcing happening. This generates extreme heat at a very small point and can ignite wood framing. Unplug anything connected to that outlet, kill the breaker, and call.
Water is in contact with your electrical system
A pipe burst near the panel, a flooded basement with exposed wiring, rain pouring into an outdoor disconnect. Water and electricity together create electrocution risk. Do not step into standing water near electrical equipment. Kill the main breaker from a dry location if possible, otherwise wait for the electrician.
You have no power and Clark PUD confirms it's not a utility outage
Check Clark PUD's outage map first. If your neighbors have power and you don't, the problem is at your panel or service entrance. A failed main breaker, loose utility connection, or damaged service entry cable needs immediate attention, especially if you have medical equipment, a sump pump running, or food in the freezer.
A downed power line is on or near your property
Stay away. Do not touch it or anything touching it. Call 911 and Clark PUD (360-992-3000). This is a utility emergency first, but you may also need an electrician afterward if the service entry was damaged.
"I have to shout out Ryan for going out of his way to come save us tonight. After having an HVAC tech out two days in a row, I was really hoping to have AC restored in my home. What we thought was an HVAC issue turned out to be a breaker issue and we thought we were going to be sweating through the night once again. Newman Electric was the first place I called and I'm super glad I did. Ryan was probably on his way home for the day but diverted over to our house to help us out. He charged a fair rate for emergency service and was in and out in less than 15 minutes."
Craig Goldhamer, Google Review
Call soon, but probably not tonight
A breaker keeps tripping and won't stay on
If you've reset it once and it trips again, stop resetting it. Leave that circuit off. The breaker is tripping for a reason, either an overload or a fault on the circuit. You're safe with the breaker off. Call for an appointment in the morning.
An outlet or switch plate feels warm
Warm (not hot) usually means a loose connection or an overloaded circuit. Unplug everything from that outlet, turn off the breaker if you know which one it is, and call in the morning. If it's actually hot to the touch, that moves to the "call now" category.
Lights flicker when you run certain appliances
Consistent flickering tied to a specific appliance usually points to an overloaded circuit or a loose connection somewhere. It's worth getting checked, but it's not going to cause a problem overnight. Call during business hours.
Half the house lost power but the other half works fine
This usually means one leg of your 240-volt service dropped. Check your main breaker first. If it's in the on position, the problem could be at the utility connection or the meter. Call Clark PUD to rule out their side, then call an electrician. It's not immediately dangerous, but you'll want it fixed within a day.
Can wait for a regular appointment
You need more outlets or want to add a circuit
This is standard electrical work. Schedule it at your convenience. Newman Electric can usually get you on the calendar within a week.
A single outlet stopped working
Check whether it's a GFCI outlet that tripped (look for a tripped outlet in the bathroom or garage, then push the reset button). If resetting solves it, you're fine. If not, it's a regular service call.
You want to install a dimmer, ceiling fan, or light fixture
These are planned projects, not emergencies. Call during business hours and schedule a time that works for you.
What to expect when you call Newman Electric for an emergency
Emergency calls to Newman Electric go straight to Ryan or one of the on-call crew. You describe the situation over the phone, and they'll tell you immediately whether it needs a same-day visit or can wait for a regular appointment. Nobody is going to pressure you into a service call you don't need.
If someone does come out, you'll know the emergency fee before they arrive. Newman Electric charges a higher trip fee for after-hours and weekend calls, and they're transparent about it on the phone. No surprises. The actual repair work is billed at the same rate as a regular appointment.
Most emergency calls in the Vancouver WA area take under two hours. Ryan's crew diagnoses the problem, makes it safe, and either completes the repair on the spot or schedules a follow-up if parts need to be ordered.
"This guy! Newman Electric I cannot even tell you how much Ryan rocks. Called him Thanksgiving Eve because my range caused my whole breaker box (from the 80's) to go out. I was pretty bummed.. what an awful feeling having 20+ people coming over the next day i was freaking out. Not only did Ryan and his co worker come over and make it work. They were also awesome about it."
David Hart, Google Review
What to do while you wait for the electrician
Turn off the affected circuit. If you can identify which breaker controls the problem area, flip it off. If you can't, or if the panel itself is the issue, turn off the main breaker.
Unplug devices in the affected area. If an outlet or circuit is acting up, unplugging everything removes the load and reduces risk while you wait.
Do not open the electrical panel if it's hot or smoking. Just leave it alone and keep the area clear. Let the electrician assess it.
Note what happened before the problem started. Did you plug something in? Did a storm just pass through? Was there a loud pop? This information helps the electrician diagnose faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an emergency electrician cost?
Emergency service calls in the Vancouver WA area include a higher trip charge than standard appointments, usually $100 to $200 above the normal rate. The total depends on what parts are needed and how long the repair takes. Newman Electric tells you the emergency fee on the phone before anyone comes out, so you know what to expect.
Should I turn off the main breaker if I smell burning?
Yes, if you can do it safely. Turn off the main breaker to cut all power. If the panel itself is hot, sparking, or smoking, do not touch it. Leave the house and call 911 first, then call an electrician. Your safety comes before saving the electrical system.
Is a tripping breaker an emergency?
A breaker that trips once or twice can usually wait for a regular appointment. Reset it once, and if it holds, you're probably fine for now. If a breaker trips repeatedly and won't stay on, leave it off and call in the morning. If the breaker or panel feels warm to the touch, call sooner rather than later.
Does Newman Electric do emergency calls on weekends?
Yes. Newman Electric offers emergency electrical service 7 days a week across Vancouver WA, Clark County, and Cowlitz County. Ryan personally handles many after-hours calls. Call 360-828-7143 and describe the situation. If it needs immediate attention, they'll get someone out.
Related Services
Emergency Electrician
24/7 emergency electrical service in Vancouver WA
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Troubleshooting and fixing all types of electrical problems
Electrical Panel Upgrade
Replace aging panels that cause repeated breaker trips
Electrical Safety Inspection
Catch problems before they become emergencies
Electrical Fire Prevention
Reduce fire risk with proper wiring and protection
Smoke Detector Installation
Hardwired smoke and CO detectors with battery backup
Electrical emergency right now?
Newman Electric answers emergency calls 7 days a week across Vancouver WA, Clark County, and Cowlitz County. Call and tell us what's happening. We'll tell you whether it needs a visit tonight or can wait.