Emergency Electrical Services – Edmonton

When you hear the words “electrical emergency,” most of us automatically imagine a large-scale event, such as a power outage. Albertans are no strangers to power outages. Every year, our power system faces numerous challenges, from intense snowstorms to lightning strikes to wind storms and pressure on the grid due to summer heatwaves.

Most people are familiar with the surprise of losing electricity. Somehow it usually happens in the middle of watching a TV show, cleaning the house, or worst of all, preparing a meal. That sudden loss of background noise and lights leads to a sense of confusion, wondering what went wrong. Did the appliance suddenly stop working, or did a fuse blow? Is it the whole street or just my house?

Your first reaction will likely be to check the window to see if anyone else on your block has power. You might also check your fuse box to see if the problem is there. In most cases, your power can be restored by flipping the breaker back on, but sometimes the problem is more widespread and requires city crews to restore the power supply. Other times, the emergency is localized to your building only and requires calling an electrician for emergency services.

Polar Electric
Alberta Certified Electricians – Licensed & Insured
Emergency Electrical Services
587-985-6403
Serving Edmonton & Leduc
10+ Years Experience
A+ Rating on Better Business Bureau

What Is Considered an Electrical Emergency?

While citywide outages are considered electrical emergencies, other scenarios are seemingly small in scale but can have a range of severity. Flickering lights, for example, can indicate a bulb needs replacing or that a fixture has loose wiring. In extreme scenarios, persistent flickering can indicate an overloaded circuit or faulty wiring in your walls. If changing the lightbulb does not correct your flickering light, we recommend consulting your local electrician. In extreme circumstances, unchecked electrical problems can potentially lead to electrical fires.

Residential Electrical Emergencies

Aside from power outages and faulty wiring, other electrical emergencies can happen in a residential setting. For instance, an individual who relies on a medical machine in their bedroom may consider a faulty outlet an emergency. At the same time, another household might be able to schedule a routine repair for the same problem.

The need to replace the fuse that supports your furnace during a mild spring might be more of an inconvenience than an emergency. Yet, that same problem turns into an urgent scenario when a furnace is necessary to keep warm during a cold winter. In an opposing situation, if a household lost power to their kitchen and fridge, it would be a greater emergency during a hot summer day than a cool fall one.

Commercial Electrical Emergencies

Similar to residential emergencies, if there is a localized electrical problem in a commercial building, then an electrician can be called in to assess the problem. If the situation results from weather or your utility company, you’ll be forced to wait for their repairs. Sometimes there are warning signs that should not be ignored, and other times the unexpected happens.

Commercial electrical emergencies can occur in many different scenarios. Blowing a fuse could cause an inconvenience in a retail outlet but could stop total production in a factory or require urgent attention in a medical facility. In a commercial setting, many devices that require electrical power will have emergency fail-safe mechanisms to allow operation even when power is not available. For example, automated doors should have a method to open them even when the power goes out. Many commercial spaces are equipped with emergency lighting to allow safe movement and prevent total darkness.

What To Do In An Electrical Emergency

Like many other emergencies, the best thing you can do is remain calm and prepare in advance. You won’t always have a warning of a power outage, but if you and your household or workplace have a plan of action for electrical emergency scenarios, then you’ll be able to deal with the problem far easier. The first thing to do in an emergency is ensure everyone around you is safe. Electricity can be deadly, so make sure to leave diagnosis and repairs to a certified emergency electrician.

It can be helpful to keep detailed notes, including when and where in the building the emergency is taking place. You can also record details, such as did the lights flicker? Was there a burning smell near an outlet or in the walls? Was there a sound? Anything you can think of may help your electrician narrow down the issue.

Widespread Power Outages

If you’ve lost power to your entire building, you may want to check with your utility provider for any alerts about service interruptions. Most electricity providers will share news about outages on their websites or social media accounts to help their customers stay informed. Your utility company should tell you what the cause is and an estimated time of restoration. In the event of a large power outage, your local emergency electrician will not be able to fix anything. It’s only a matter of waiting for the utility crews to restore the power supply. Once you have electricity running to your home once again, then you can call your electrician if you have any specific, ongoing issues.

Commercial Electrical Emergencies

Each company and business should have policies and procedures to follow in the event of emergencies. If you work in a commercial building while there is a power outage or other electrical emergency situations, you’ll want to follow your company’s guidelines. The general rule is to evacuate the area where an electrical issue occurs and call in a professional. If the power to the building has gone out, in most cases, the building must be evacuated of both non-employees. If the circumstance is highly dangerous or ongoing, employees will likely be required to evacuate. When in doubt, call a supervisor and then a commercial emergency electrician.

How Smart Panels Can Help Protect Your Home or Business

Having a smart panel can help you prevent electrical emergencies from happening. Your smart electrical panel monitors energy usage and alerts you to problems in each circuit, warning of possible overloads. Not only can your smart panel save you money with your energy usage it can also keep you from paying expensive repairs in the long run. Smart panels are available for both residential and commercial spaces and require a qualified electrician to install.

Your Electrician for Emergencies in Edmonton

Not all electricians offer emergency services, so it’s best to check with your electrician in advance. At Polar Electric Contracting, we respond to both residential and commercial electrical emergencies in St. Albert, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, and surrounding areas. Call us today or save our number in your phone so you know who to contact when you need quality emergency electrical services.

Polar Electric
Alberta Certified Electricians – Licensed & Insured
Emergency Electrical Services
587-985-6403
Serving Edmonton & Leduc
10+ Years Experience
A+ Rating on Better Business Bureau