Call a licensed electrician right away if you notice a burning smell, an outlet, switch or panel that feels warm or buzzes, sparks, part of your home losing power, lights that get brighter while others dim, or storm damage to your meter or service mast. These can point to loose or overheated connections that won’t fix themselves. If you see fire or smoke, get everyone out and call 911 first. In Loveland, Fort Collins and Northern Colorado, Eggers Electric answers calls 7 days a week, 7am–8pm.
7 signs that shouldn’t wait
- A burning or hot-plastic smell near an outlet, switch, fixture or the panel. Turn off that circuit at the breaker if you can do it safely, and call.
- Warm, buzzing or discolored outlets and switches. Heat and scorch marks usually mean a loose or failing connection.
- A warm or buzzing panel, or breakers that trip again right after you reset them. See panel repair.
- Sparks when you plug something in or flip a switch, beyond a tiny flash inside a plug.
- Part of the house loses power while your neighbors still have it. That can be a problem in your panel or service, or on the utility side.
- Some lights get brighter while others dim. That can mean a loose neutral, which is dangerous. Turn off the main breaker if it’s safe to do so, and call your utility and an electrician right away.
- Storm or tree damage to the service mast, the meter base or wires on the house. Stay away from it and call your utility and an electrician. See meter base repair.
What you can safely do while you wait
- Turn off the affected circuit at the breaker if the panel is dry and safe to reach.
- Unplug devices on that circuit.
- Don’t keep resetting a breaker that trips right away.
- Don’t open outlets, switches or the panel cover.
- Keep people and pets away from any damaged wiring or water near electrical equipment.
When it can wait for a regular appointment
Plenty of electrical problems are real but not urgent: a single dead outlet with no heat or smell, a GFCI that trips now and then in a damp spot, LED lights that flicker on an older dimmer, or a panel that’s simply full. Those are good reasons to Schedule Service at a time that suits you. Our $89 Eggers Safety Inspection includes an 8-point safety check and a written price, and the $89 is credited toward the job when you go ahead.
Storm season in Northern Colorado
Spring and summer thunderstorms, hail and the strong winds along the Front Range are common reasons homeowners in Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor and Berthoud call us. Wind and falling limbs can pull on the service drop and bend the mast, and water can get into meter bases and outdoor outlets. The utility owns the wires to your house and the meter; the mast, meter base and panel on your house are typically yours to repair. We repair storm damage and coordinate the reconnect with your utility.
Planning ahead for outages
If outages are hard on your household, a standby generator or a safe portable generator connection with an inlet and interlock or transfer switch keeps the essentials running. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
Eggers Electric in Loveland
We’re a locally owned electrician based in Loveland since 1973, with a Google 4.9 rating from 400+ Google reviews. Call 970-669-1883, 7 days a week, 7am–8pm. Next-business-day appointments are available most days, and same-day service is often available. Every job is backed by our 2-year workmanship warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call 911 or an electrician?
If there is fire, smoke or someone has been shocked, call 911 first. For a burning smell, heat or sparks with no fire, turn off the circuit if it’s safe and call a licensed electrician right away.
Can I keep resetting a breaker that trips?
Once is fine. If it trips again right away, leave it off and have the circuit checked; repeated tripping can mean a short or an overload.
Who do I call when my power is out?
If your neighbors are out too, call your utility. If only your home or part of it is out, check your breakers, then call an electrician.