When to Call an Emergency Electrician (and When You Can Wait Until Morning)

We answer the phone 24 hours a day. After two decades of late-night calls in Greene, Hawkins, Hamblen, Cocke and Washington counties, here's our honest field guide for when to call an emergency electrician — and when you can safely wait until morning and save yourself the after-hours rate.

Call right now (don't wait)

• Burning smell from any outlet, switch, or panel
• Smoke or sparks from a panel or device
• An outlet, breaker, or panel that's hot to the touch
• Service mast pulled away from the house (storm damage)
• Live wire down on your property — also call the utility
• Water in or near the panel after a leak or flood
• Buzzing or sizzling sound from the panel
• Shock from any appliance or outlet (anything more than a tiny static-like tingle)

Can usually wait until morning

• A single dead outlet (use other outlets in the meantime)
• A breaker that tripped once and reset cleanly
• A light fixture that stopped working
• A flickering bulb on one fixture (try replacing the bulb first)
• GFCI that won't reset on a non-essential circuit

Total power loss — emergency or not?

If your whole house has no power, first check whether your neighbors do. If the whole street is dark, it's the utility — call them, not us. If it's just your house and your meter is showing power, it's a service issue and you should call us, especially if it's hot or storming.

What we charge after hours

Our after-hours rate is fair and clearly stated before we roll the truck. We don't pad the bill. Most emergency calls finish in under two hours.

Have an emergency right now?

Call (423) 588-0179. A real person answers, day or night.