Before You Call an Electrician
Start with what you are seeing. You get a safe first step or a clear reason to call, and a summary you can send to the electrician. Something else? Check any home repair.
Question 1
What is going on?
General guidance, not an inspection. When something feels unsafe, stop and call a professional.
Every answer at a glance
Act now
Possible electrical fire risk
Heat, scorch marks, sparks and a burning smell mean something is overheating right now.
Call an electrician
A shock means a grounding or wiring fault
Stop using the outlet, appliance or fixture and turn off its breaker. If anyone was hurt, was shocked by a high-voltage source, or feels chest pain or numbness, call 911. A shock from a faucet, appliance case or wet area needs an electrician to find the fault.
You can likely fix this yourself
The circuit is probably overloaded
Too much is running on one circuit. Spreading the load usually fixes it.
Electrical load calculatorCall an electrician
Likely a short circuit or failing breaker
A breaker that trips immediately is doing its job. Leave it off and do not hold it on or replace it with a larger one. An electrician needs to trace the fault.
Call an electrician
An intermittent fault needs testing
Random trips can come from a loose connection, a damaged cable or a worn breaker. Note the time and what was running, then have an electrician test the circuit.
You can likely fix this yourself
Reset the GFCI or the breaker
A tripped GFCI outlet can kill power to other outlets down the line.
Electrical cheat sheetDIY if you are comfortable, otherwise call
The outlet or its connection may have failed
Swapping a standard outlet is a common DIY job when the wiring is copper and in good shape. If you see aluminum wire, cloth insulation or scorching, stop and call an electrician.
Electrical cheat sheetYou can likely fix this yourself
Most likely the bulb or dimmer
A loose bulb, or an LED on a dimmer that does not support it, is the usual cause.
Call an electrician
Possible problem with the service or a loose neutral
Lights that dim or brighten across the house can mean a loose main connection, which can damage electronics and cause overheating. Call your electric utility or an electrician soon. If lights get brighter than normal, unplug electronics first.
DIY if you are comfortable, otherwise call
A worn switch is a straightforward swap
Replacing a single-pole switch like for like is a reasonable DIY job if you are comfortable shutting off power and testing it.
Electrical cheat sheetCall an electrician
Old or damaged wiring is a job for an electrician
Knob-and-tube, aluminum or brittle cloth-covered wiring can fail when disturbed. Leave it alone and book an electrician.