When You Need an Emergency Electrician in Horsham

Published July 2026 | Emergency Electrician

What Counts as an Electrical Emergency?

Not every electrical issue is an emergency. A single bulb failing or a socket that stops working are annoying, but they can usually wait for a standard appointment. An emergency is anything that poses an immediate risk to people or property.

The situations that demand an emergency electrician include:

• A burning smell coming from a socket, fuse board, or appliance
• Visible sparks or scorch marks on switches or sockets
• Power loss to part or all of your home that you cannot resolve by resetting the consumer unit
• Exposed or damaged wiring, particularly if it's been chewed by rodents or damaged during building work
• An electrical shock, even a minor one
• Flickering lights accompanied by buzzing sounds or a burning smell
• Water coming into contact with electrical fittings, such as after a flood or a serious leak
• A tripped circuit breaker or RCD that keeps tripping and cannot be reset

If you're a homeowner in Horsham and you're asking yourself whether something is urgent, the rule of thumb is simple: if it involves smell, sparks, shock, or water near electrics, call an emergency electrician right away.

Common Causes of Electrical Emergencies at Home

Understanding what triggers these situations helps you recognise them faster and make better decisions in the moment.

Overloaded circuits

This is one of the most common culprits we see. Modern homes use far more electrical appliances than older wiring was designed to handle. Extension leads stacked with high-draw appliances - electric heaters, tumble dryers, kettles - can push a circuit beyond its rated capacity. The circuit breaker should trip before any serious damage occurs, but ageing wiring or a faulty breaker may not catch it in time.

Faulty appliances

A defective washing machine, dishwasher, or electric oven can cause nuisance tripping, sparks, or even fires. If a specific appliance keeps tripping your electrics, unplug it and do not use it again until an electrician has checked both the appliance and the circuit feeding it.

Old or degraded wiring

A significant number of homes in Horsham and across West Sussex were built before 1970, when rubber-insulated wiring was standard. Rubber insulation becomes brittle over decades and can crack, leaving live conductors exposed inside wall cavities or under floorboards. This is a hidden hazard that homeowners often don't notice until something goes seriously wrong.

Unqualified or DIY electrical work

Work carried out without the correct qualifications or certification is one of the leading causes of serious electrical faults. Incorrectly connected sockets, undersized cables, missing earth conductors, and terminals that haven't been properly tightened are all common findings when our engineers attend emergency call-outs in Horsham.

Water ingress

A burst pipe above a ceiling light fitting, a roof leak, or a flooded utility room can all bring water into contact with electrics. Water and electricity together create serious risks of electric shock, short circuits, and fire - and even after the source of water is dealt with, the affected wiring must be checked before it's used again.

How to Assess the Situation Before Calling

Before you pick up the phone, there are a few checks you can safely carry out. Keep them brief and do not put yourself at risk.

1. Step back and use your senses. Can you smell burning? Can you hear buzzing or crackling from a socket or switch? Can you see any scorch marks or discolouration around outlets or fittings? If yes to any of these, do not touch anything electrical. Call an emergency electrician immediately.
2. Check your consumer unit. Open the cover and look at the circuit breakers and RCD switches. If any have tripped to the middle or off position, you can try resetting them by switching them fully off and then back on. If they trip again immediately or won't reset at all, leave them off and call for help.
3. Isolate the most likely source. If you suspect a specific appliance, unplug it from the wall. If you think the problem is limited to one room or circuit, switch off the relevant breaker at the consumer unit and continue using the rest of the property normally while you wait.
4. Check whether your neighbours are affected. If your whole street has lost power, it's likely a network fault rather than a problem in your home. In West Sussex, your Distribution Network Operator is UK Power Networks, who run a 24-hour fault line you can call to confirm.
5. Use the Voltrade GoFIX tool. If you're unsure whether your symptoms need emergency attention or can wait for a booked appointment, the GoFIX diagnostic tool walks you through the fault indicators and helps you make that call quickly and confidently.

Do not open sockets, remove light fittings, or access the consumer unit itself to investigate further. These surface checks are all you need to do before a professional takes over.

What You Should and Should Not Do Yourself

This is where homeowners in Horsham often get into trouble - either doing too much or not knowing what's actually safe. Here's a clear breakdown.

What you can safely do

You can switch off the affected circuit at the consumer unit. You can unplug appliances you believe are the source of the problem. You can turn off the main switch at the consumer unit if you think there's a serious fault and you want to make the property safe while you wait for the engineer. If someone has received an electric shock, do not touch them with your bare hands - turn off the power at the mains first, then approach them. Call 999 if they're unconscious, have visible burns, or are showing signs of cardiac issues.

What you must not attempt yourself

Do not open the consumer unit, rewire sockets, or try to repair cables yourself unless you hold the relevant qualifications. Under Part P of the Building Regulations, most electrical work in domestic properties in England must be carried out by a registered competent person or notified to your local council. In Horsham, that means Horsham District Council. Getting this wrong isn't just dangerous - it can invalidate your home insurance and create real problems when you come to sell the property.

Do not use portable generators indoors. Do not attempt to bridge or bypass a tripped breaker. Do not assume a fault has resolved itself because the sparking or flickering has stopped on its own.

What a Qualified Emergency Electrician Will Do

When an emergency electrician arrives at your property, they'll follow a logical, methodical process to identify and resolve the fault safely.

They'll start by asking you to describe what you observed - the symptoms, when it started, and what was happening just before. This information helps them narrow down the likely cause before they've touched a single tool.

They'll then carry out a visual inspection of the consumer unit, the affected circuits, and any relevant sockets or fittings. Using specialist test equipment, they'll check insulation resistance, earth continuity, and polarity to identify the fault precisely rather than guessing.

Once the fault is located, they'll explain what needs doing and give you an idea of cost before starting the repair. In many cases - a damaged socket, a faulty RCD, a failed breaker - this can be resolved during the same visit. For more complex issues such as water-damaged wiring or a consumer unit that requires full replacement, they'll make the property safe and discuss a follow-up plan if the complete repair can't be finished that night.

Any notifiable work will be certified on completion and you'll receive the relevant documentation. Keep this paperwork somewhere safe - you'll need it for insurance purposes and when you sell the property.

Costs and What Affects the Price

Emergency electrical work costs more than a standard daytime appointment, and it's worth knowing the rough figures before you call so there are no surprises on the invoice.

In Horsham and the wider West Sussex area, emergency electricians typically charge between 80 and 150 pounds per hour for out-of-hours work. Most will also charge a call-out fee, which commonly ranges from 100 to 200 pounds. In many cases this call-out fee covers the first hour of labour.

Here's a rough guide to what common emergency jobs typically cost:

• Fault-finding and minor repair (single socket or circuit): typically 150 to 300 pounds
• Consumer unit replacement: typically 500 to 900 pounds, depending on property size and the specification of the new unit
• Partial rewire of a water-damaged area: typically 400 to 800 pounds
• Full rewire of a three-bedroom house: typically 3,000 to 6,000 pounds - this won't happen on an emergency night, but it may be the recommended outcome following an emergency inspection

Several factors affect the final figure. Out-of-hours work - late evenings, overnight, bank holidays - attracts a higher rate than a Saturday morning call-out. The complexity of the fault matters considerably too. A simple socket replacement takes minutes, but tracing an intermittent fault through an older Horsham terrace with buried or inaccessible cables can take several hours of careful testing. Parts availability on the night can also influence cost.

Always ask for a written estimate before work begins, even in urgent situations. A reputable electrician will give you a clear figure once they've assessed the fault, even if the exact total depends on what they uncover during the repair.

How to Prevent Electrical Emergencies in Future

Most electrical emergencies don't arrive without warning. There are usually signs in the weeks or months before - a socket that feels slightly warm, a breaker that trips once and then resets fine, lights that flicker occasionally. Catching these early signs before they escalate is the most effective form of prevention available to homeowners.

The single most useful step you can take is arranging a periodic Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). For owner-occupiers, this is recommended every ten years, or when you move into a previously owned property. An EICR typically costs between 150 and 300 pounds for a standard house and gives you a clear picture of the condition of your wiring, consumer unit, and earthing arrangements. Any issues found are categorised by urgency so you can prioritise repairs before they become emergencies.

Beyond that, a few practical habits make a real difference:

• Avoid overloading extension leads, particularly with high-draw appliances. Use individual sockets where you can.
• Replace sockets, switches, or light fittings that feel warm, look discoloured, or have any scorch marks around them.
• Always check that electrical work done on your property has been properly certificated. Ask for the Part P completion certificate.
• If your consumer unit is more than 25 years old and doesn't have RCD protection throughout, talk to an electrician about upgrading it.
• Check that outdoor sockets and bathroom fittings have the appropriate IP rating for their location.

For landlords in Horsham, it's also worth noting that an EICR is a legal requirement every five years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. This applies to all private tenancies and is not optional.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly can an emergency electrician reach me in Horsham?

Response times vary between companies, but many emergency electricians covering the Horsham area aim to arrive within one to two hours for urgent call-outs. If your situation is immediately life-threatening - an ongoing electric shock, a fire, or an unconscious person - call 999 first. Get an electrician on the way at the same time if you can, but the emergency services come first.

Can I keep using my home after an electrical fault if some circuits are still working?

It depends on the fault. If a single circuit has tripped and the rest of the property is functioning normally, you can typically use the unaffected areas with care. However, if there's a burning smell, scorch marks anywhere, or any chance that water has reached your electrics, you should avoid using any electrical circuits at all until a qualified electrician has assessed the full installation.

Is emergency electrical work covered by home insurance?

Some home insurance policies include emergency cover for electrical faults under a home emergency or home assistance add-on. Check your policy documents before calling an electrician, as your insurer may require you to use an approved contractor. If you arrange your own engineer, keep all invoices and ask for a written fault report describing what was found - you'll need both to support any insurance claim.

Do I need to notify anyone about emergency electrical repairs?

If the work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, it must be certified regardless of whether it was carried out as an emergency. Electricians registered with NICEIC, NAPIT, or Elecsa can self-certify their work, which means they notify the local authority on your behalf as part of the process. Always ask for a completion certificate at the end of the job - if your electrician cannot provide one, treat that as a warning sign.

What should I do if I smell burning but cannot see where it is coming from?

Turn off the main switch at your consumer unit without delay and leave the property if the smell is strong or you can see any discolouration or smoke. Call 999 if there's any sign of fire. Once you're certain there is no active fire risk, call an emergency electrician. A burning smell without a visible source commonly indicates overheating wiring inside a wall or ceiling void, which requires professional investigation using thermal imaging or cable testing equipment - not something you can safely locate yourself.