EV-Electric Services
Electrical Safety Guides
Plain steps for common electrical scares. What to do first, when to call for help, and the sources listed at the bottom of each guide.
How to use these guides
- Each guide starts with what to do first, in short steps.
- Safety steps come from named sources, such as the US Fire Administration or the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, listed at the bottom of each guide.
- If you see or smell smoke, get out and call 911 from outside.
- For a person who can look at your wiring, call 571-500-6637.
- Want a card for the fridge? Print the electrical emergency card.
Start Here
Our first guide covers the moments that scare people most.
What to Do in an Electrical Emergency
The first guide here. It covers the moments people search for in a hurry, and says who to call for each one.
Read the guideSpace Heater Safety: Plugs, Circuits and Tripped Breakers
Why a heater trips the breaker, how to plug it in, where to put it, and when to call an electrician.
Read the guideHot Outlet or Warm Light Switch: What Is Normal and When to Call
What CPSC, ESFI and NFPA say about warm and hot outlets, plugs, switches and dimmers, what to do right now, and when to call.
Read the guideBreaker Keeps Tripping? A Safe Reset, and When to Stop and Call
Why a circuit breaker trips, the safe reset steps from CPSC and ESFI, GFCI and AFCI trips, and when to stop resetting.
Read the guideElectric Shock at Home: What to Do Right Now and When to Go to the ER
What to do right after a shock at home, when to call 911 or go to the ER, what is different for children, and how to find the cause.
Read the guideWater and Electricity at Home: Leaks, Wet Outlets and Flooded Basements
Water in a light fixture, a wet outlet, a flooded basement or a wet panel: what to do first, who turns the power off, and when it is safe to turn it back on.
Read the guideWhat a Guide Can and Cannot Do
A guide can tell you what to do first. It cannot see your wiring.
A guide can
- Tell you what to do in the first minutes.
- Show you which warning signs matter.
- Tell you who to call: 911, your utility, or an electrician.
A guide cannot
- Find the cause behind a wall or in a panel.
- Replace 911 in a fire.
- Replace an electrician who can see your home.
When You Want Someone to Look at It
A guide gets you through the first minutes. If you want an electrician to see the problem, start with the emergency page.
You can also write to us on the contact page.
Questions About These Guides
How they work and what they are for.
Do these guides replace calling an electrician?
No. A guide cannot see your wiring. Each guide tells you what to do first and when to call for help. For smoke or flames, call 911 from outside. For a person who can look at your home, call EV-Electric at 571-500-6637.
Where do the safety steps come from?
From named sources such as the US Fire Administration, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Electrical Safety Foundation International, and the utilities. Each guide lists its sources at the bottom.
What if I am in an emergency right now?
If you see or smell smoke, or a smoke alarm is going off, get out, stay out, and call 911 from outside. For a hot outlet, or sparks from an outlet or cord inside your home, start with our emergency guide. Downed power lines: stay far back, call 911, then your utility. Sparks where the power lines meet your house go to your utility.
Smoke or Flames? Get Out First.
Call 911 from outside. For a hot outlet or sparks inside your home, read the guide. Downed lines: stay far back, call 911, then your utility. Sparks where the lines meet your house go to your utility.
571-500-6637