Some electrical problems can’t wait until tomorrow. Here are the signs that demand a quick call — and what to do in the meantime, without taking risks.
Real emergency, or can it wait?
⚠️ Call right away
- No power at all in the whole house
- A burning smell
- A tree down on the outside electrical wires
These situations demand immediate attention.
Often, it can wait
Outlets that stopped working in a bedroom, with no smell, no smoke, nothing worrying? If a breaker tripped, reset it once. If nothing tripped, it’s case by case.
When in doubt, call us.
Burning smell or hot plastic: what to do right now
A hot-plastic smell at an outlet or in the panel, with no breaker tripped? To stay safe, you can shut off the main breaker.
A breaker that trips: harmless or serious?
- Harmless case: the breaker trips right after you plugged in a big appliance. That’s its job — it’s protecting you.
- Worth investigating: it’s the main breaker tripping — often the sign of a major short circuit.
- A real problem: it trips repeatedly, for no reason, while you’re using your outlets and lighting normally.
Warm, buzzing, flickering: which ones matter?
- Flickering lights: often benign. If the washer shares a circuit with the lighting, lights can dip then return to normal within a second or two — that’s normal.
- An outlet or switch warm to the touch: never ignore it.
The right (and wrong) reflexes
- A good-quality, approved extension cord can get you by… but only short-term. Never as a permanent solution.
- Don’t keep resetting a breaker that keeps tripping: if it re-trips, there’s a reason — leave it off and call.
- Don’t try to “fix” a warm or crackling outlet yourself: cut the circuit and have it checked.
Our emergency fees
We prefer to be clear up front, with no bad surprises:
Current rates, for reference and subject to change. Everything is confirmed before we intervene.
A team that responds fast
CMEQ-certified company holding an RBQ licence, serving Greater Montréal, Laval, the North Shore, the Laurentians and Lanaudière. We assess, we secure, we fix.
In doubt? Don’t wait.
Describe the situation — we respond quickly and intervene if needed.
What people ask us
A burning smell with no flame — is it urgent?+
Yes. If no breaker tripped, shut off the main breaker to stay safe, monitor the heat and smell, and call us. If it intensifies, call the fire department.
My breaker keeps tripping, what should I do?+
If it re-trips under normal use, don’t insist: there’s a cause to diagnose. The main breaker tripping often points to a major short circuit.
Are flickering lights serious?+
Often benign: a big appliance on the same circuit can make them dip for a second or two. But buzzing or crackling is never normal and requires an electrician.
How much does an emergency call cost?+
For reference: $495 for the round-trip travel and $255/hr, with no imposed minimum hours. Everything is confirmed before we intervene.
Do you serve my area?+
Yes: Greater Montréal, Laval, the North Shore, the Laurentians and Lanaudière. Call 514-503-1353 and describe the situation.
