A homeowner should never try to make electrical repairs or manage the installation of electrical wiring and devices on their own, as even a small shock can be painful, if not downright deadly. Damage to electrical wiring can also be dangerous for the home, as shorts, surges and other such issues can put your home at risk for an electrical fire. To avoid this risk and protect your home as well as your own safety, note when you might need the services of an emergency electrician.

You notice a sudden burning smell

When wires are frayed and bare, they may start to singe the building materials of your home, including drywall, insulation and the like. This singeing can eventually lead to an electrical fire behind the home's walls. If you notice a sudden, pungent, smoky odour that resembles burning paper, rubber or plastic, don't ignore this smell. Call an electrician right away.

Outlets feel warm

If you notice that an electrical outlet or an area of your home's walls is suddenly very warm, this heat could also signal a frayed wire that is singeing the home's building materials. In some cases, it might also mean that an electrical fire has already started! If this heat is accompanied by smoke coming from an outlet or if you notice black soot around the electrical switch plates, you need to call an emergency electrician right away.

Something is jammed into an outlet

If you try to unplug a cord from an electrical outlet and the cord breaks, leaving the prongs stuck in the outlet, or if someone in the family has jammed something into an electrical outlet for any reason, don't attempt to remove these items yourself! Damaged cords and other such items can easily conduct electricity, and you could suffer a shock or electrical burn if you were to attempt to dislodge the item. Foreign objects in these outlets may also damage the circuit interrupters behind the switch plate, putting you at risk of a future shock, even if you were to dislodge that item.

To protect yourself from injury and to ensure any damaged electrical wiring is repaired properly, call an electrician to remove anything that is lodged in an outlet. He or she can repair the outlet and also inspect the wiring, circuit interrupters and other pieces behind its plate to ensure the outlet is safe to use in the future.

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