The lights go out in your Swansea property just as the kettle clicks on, or a socket starts crackling after a leak under the sink. It is easy to assume every power cut needs an urgent call-out, but a calm first check can help you protect people and avoid unnecessary cost.
Hire an emergency electrician when there is immediate danger from electricity: burning smells, smoke, sparks, exposed live wiring, water near electrical equipment, a damaged consumer unit, or repeated tripping with signs of overheating. Keep clear, switch off power only if it is safe, and call 999 if there is fire or immediate danger.
Call now for fire, water or live wiring
Call urgently when electricity could cause fire, shock or rapid damage, including smoke, sparks, exposed cables, water near electrics, burning smells or a damaged consumer unit.
| Symptom | Risk level | Safe action now | Call-out timing |
|---|
| Smoke, flames, electric shock | Immediate danger | Leave, call 999, do not use water | 999 first, then emergency electrician |
| Sparks, exposed wires, water near electrics | Immediate danger | Keep clear; isolate only if dry and safe | Emergency electrician now |
| Burning smell, hot socket, dark marks | High | Stop use and leave circuit off | Within hours |
| One failed light, cool unused socket | Low | Do not use it; book repair | Normal hours |
Smoke or sparks mean leave first
Do not investigate smoke or sparking fittings. Move away from the area, keep others clear and call 999 if there is fire, injury or immediate danger.
Heat and smell need urgent attention
A burning smell from electrics without smoke still needs an emergency electrician, particularly when it comes from a socket, plug, consumer unit or meter area. Heat, crackling and discolouration can mean a loose connection is overheating inside. Keep the affected circuit off if it can be done safely.
Water changes the risk at once
Choose the route in under two minutes:Fire, smoke, shock or flames→Leave and call 999|Sparks, heat, water or exposed wires→Emergency electrician|Neighbours also without power→Call 105
Water near electrics is especially serious when it is close to a consumer unit, electricity meter, service cable or sockets at floor level. Do not walk through standing water to reach the fuse board, touch a wet meter cabinet or attempt to dry equipment with towels, heaters or a hairdryer. If a leak is coming from above, keep everyone away from the affected area and stop the water only if you can do so without approaching electrical equipment. A damaged meter, buzzing consumer unit or sparking socket can create an electrical fire or electric-shock risk, even when there is no visible smoke.
Call 999 if there is fire, smoke, injury or immediate danger; otherwise, contact an emergency electrician and, where the meter or incoming supply appears damaged, report the issue to the electricity network operator as well.
Check the outage, then isolate only if safe
If neighbours, communal lighting or nearby street lights are also out, call 105 before paying for a 24-hour electrician; faults affecting only your property are more likely internal.
One reset is the sensible limit
A circuit breaker that trips again after one reset is giving a warning, not asking to be forced back on. The most frequent error is resetting it several times, which can feed power back into a fault that is already heating. Leave it off and arrange an emergency electrical repair if there is smell, heat, moisture or visible damage.
A damaged meter is not a DIY job
Do not open, repair or tamper with a damaged meter, its cabinet or the incoming supply cable. Keep clear and report apparent meter or supply damage to the electricity network operator; contact an emergency electrician as well if your internal electrical installation may be affected.
Use a registered electrician
For internal faults and repairs, use a registered electrician with the appropriate competence for emergency electrical work. They can assess the fault safely and advise whether the issue is within your installation or needs the network operator.
An emergency electrician is not normally needed for one failed light, a cool non-essential socket with no damage, planned extra sockets, or a confirmed area-wide power cut with no warning signs inside. Book a local electrician in normal hours, or use 105 for the network outage. This changes immediately if the fitting is hot, smells burnt, trips a circuit or has dark marks.
What people ask
What counts as an electrical emergency?
An electrical emergency includes fire, smoke, electric shock, active sparking, exposed live wires, water near electrical equipment, or a burning smell from electrics. Leave and call 999 where there is fire, injury or immediate danger.
Should I call 105 or an electrician?
Call 105 when neighbours or local street lighting are also without power and there are no signs of damage inside. Call an electrician when the failure affects only your property, one circuit, or a consumer unit that keeps tripping.
Can I reset an RCD after it trips?
You can make one reset only if the area is dry and there is no heat, smell, damage or sparking. If it trips again, leave it off and arrange a qualified electrician rather than repeating the reset.
Is a burning smell from a socket urgent?
Yes, a burning smell from a socket is urgent even without smoke because a loose connection may be overheating behind the faceplate. Stop using that socket and isolate its circuit if this is safe.
Act on danger, not on uncertainty
If there is any doubt around smoke, sparks, exposed wiring or water, treat the situation as unsafe, keep people away, and isolate power only from a dry, safe position.
