Burning smell, visible sparking, total loss of power, or water reaching electrics anywhere in the property. These are not jobs to wait on, and they’re not jobs to investigate yourself. If you can smell something burning or see sparks, the safest first move is to isolate the affected circuit or the whole supply if you can do so safely, then call.
Why this comes up
A sudden fault, like a failed appliance or a damaged cable, rather than something that built up slowly.
Storm or water damage reaching consumer units, outdoor points, or underground cable.
A total loss of power that isn’t a network outage, meaning the fault is inside the property.
Old wiring finally failing under normal daily load.
A DIY job gone wrong, more common than people want to admit, and nothing to be embarrassed about calling in.
An ageing consumer unit finally reaching the point of complete failure rather than a gradual decline.
How we handle it
Make safe first, isolating the affected circuit or the whole supply if needed.
Identify whether the fault is inside your property or a network supply issue.
Restore power to unaffected circuits so you’re not left without power everywhere while we work.
Repair on the spot where possible, or make safe and return promptly with parts.
What to expect
We prioritise anything involving smell, smoke, or water over routine work. Tell us exactly what you can smell and see when you call, since it changes what we bring and how we approach the job the moment we arrive. If the job needs parts we don’t carry on the van, we’ll make the property safe and be upfront about timing for the return visit rather than leaving you guessing.
What it costs
After-hours work carries a call-out charge, quoted to you before we set off so there are no surprises on the invoice. Genuine emergencies are treated as exactly that, not queued behind non-urgent bookings. We’d rather explain the after-hours rate clearly upfront than have it come as a surprise once the job’s done.
Common questions
Should I turn the power off myself?
If you can reach the consumer unit safely, switch off the affected circuit or the main. Never touch anything wet, hot, or visibly damaged.
What counts as an emergency?
Burning smell, sparking, exposed wiring, water near electrics, or total loss of power that isn’t a known network outage. If in doubt, call and describe what you’re seeing.
How fast can you get here after hours?
Call and tell us where you are and what’s happening. We’ll give you a realistic arrival time rather than an optimistic one.
Is it safe to stay in the house?
Usually, once the affected circuit is isolated. We’ll tell you clearly if anything needs everyone to leave a specific area until it’s made safe.
What if the network operator says it's not their fault?
That usually confirms the issue is inside your property, which is exactly what we’re set up to find and fix.
Do you charge more on weekends and bank holidays?
Yes, the same as most after-hours work, and we quote it before we set off so you know exactly what to expect.
What if I'm not sure whether it's actually an emergency?
Call anyway and describe what you’re seeing. We’d rather talk you through it and confirm it can wait than have you sit on something genuinely urgent.