Electrical emergencies don’t wait.
They don’t get better on their own.
And in Brisbane, with our humidity, heat, and storm season; electrical faults can turn dangerous very quickly.

If you notice ANY of these 7 warning signs, you should call an electrician right now, not later.

These signals mean something is wrong behind the walls, in the switchboard, or inside your wiring, and delaying can cause fires, electrocution, or major damage.

Let’s break down the 7 electrical emergencies you must never ignore.

1. A Burning Smell Coming From Outlets, Walls, or the Switchboard

If you smell:

• burning plastic

• electrical heat

• a “hot” or “fishy” smell

• melting insulation

STOP everything.
This is one of the clearest signs of a fire starting inside your electrical system.

Causes include:

✔ melting wires
✔ loose terminals
✔ overheated circuits
✔ burnt switchboard components
✔ failing appliances

This is a life-threatening emergency.

👉 Call an electrician immediately.

2. Safety Switch Keeps Tripping Again and Again (Especially in Brisbane Storms)

If your RCD trips once, that’s normal.

If it trips repeatedly?

That’s a fault.

Possible dangers:

✔ water inside wiring
✔ damaged appliances
✔ faulty circuits
✔ burnt wiring
✔ overloaded AC circuits
✔ faulty solar or pool equipment

A constantly tripping RCD is the system saving your life. Don’t ignore it.

3. Power Points That Spark, Buzz, or Feel Warm

If a power point:

• sparks when plugging in

• buzzes or crackles

• feels warm

• shows black marks

• feels loose

it means the connection behind the wall is failing.

Warm outlets = fire hazard
Buzzing = arcing
Sparks = live wire exposure

These NEVER fix themselves.

4. Flickering or Dimming Lights (Not Normal!)

In Brisbane homes, flickering lights are often caused by:

✔ loose neutral connections
✔ failing wiring
✔ overloaded circuits
✔ overheating transformers
✔ switchboard faults
✔ water damaged cables (post-storm)

A loose neutral is one of the MOST dangerous electrical faults, it can cause fires and appliance damage across your whole home.

5. Electric Shocks or Tingling From Appliances or Taps

If you feel ANY:

• Zap

• Tingle

• Vibration

• shock

when touching:

• taps

• appliances

• metal surfaces

• outdoor equipment

This means your home’s earthing system has failed.

FAILED EARTH = EXTREME DANGER.

Shocks today = electrocution tomorrow.

Call immediately.

6. Switchboard Making Buzzing, Clicking, or Humming Sounds

Your switchboard should be SILENT.

If it makes noise, it means:

• loose wiring

• overloaded circuits

• failing breakers

• burnt terminals

• damaged busbars

• arcing behind the panel

A buzzing switchboard can ignite within minutes.

Brisbane humidity makes this even worse- moisture causes components to fail faster.

7. You See Smoke, Melted Plastic, or Scorch Marks Anywhere

If you visually see:

• smoke

• melted switches

• burnt wiring

• brown scorch marks

THIS IS AN ACTIVE FIRE HAZARD.

Turn power off immediately at the main switch and call a licensed electrician.

This is NOT something you wait on.
THIS is what leads to house fires.

BONUS: When to Treat an Issue as “Call Now, Not Tomorrow”

Call IMMEDIATELY if you notice:

✔ a burning smell
✔ the switchboard feels warm
✔ buzzing from walls
✔ flickering lights after storms
✔ sparks from appliances
✔ power tripping during rain
✔ a sudden blackout in one area
✔ shocks or tingles
✔ smoke from any outlet

If you’re unsure, treat it as an emergency.

Your home’s electrical system is not something to gamble with.

If It Feels Wrong, It Probably Is

Brisbane homes face:

✔ storms
✔ humidity
✔ aging wiring
✔ high AC use
✔ solar installations
✔ overloaded circuits

These create more electrical emergencies than most cities.

If you notice ANY warning signs, the safest thing you can do is call a professional immediately.

👉 Need an emergency electrician in Brisbane?
Call Exclusive Electrical & Air! Fast, licensed, and ready to help.

Electrical emergencies don’t wait, and neither should you.