Who To Call for Electrical Problems: A Guide To Finding Electricians

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Posted January 30, 2026

You don’t have work the following day, so you’re getting ready to binge-watch your favorite shows. You’ve got some snacks on the coffee table, so you plop down on the sofa. Then, you turn on your home theater system, but as soon as you do, the lights flicker and dim down for a few seconds before finally turning off.

You may feel scared, but it’s not the Ghostbusters you need to call. After all, you’re likely experiencing electrical issues. So, who to call for electrical problems, then? A licensed electrician, that’s who. But it’s not enough to just hire the first one you find online claiming to be one.

Don’t worry, though. We’ve shared tips to help you choose the right licensed electrical contractor, so read on.

Licensed in Your State

Most U.S. states require electricians to carry a license to perform electrical work. For example, in Florida, electrical contractors must have certified or registered licenses. The Sunshine State doesn’t have reciprocity laws, either, meaning a license issued by another state doesn’t work here.

Importance of Licensure

Licensure is crucial because it indicates an electrician’s competency, qualifications, and credibility. Earning one requires meeting stringent educational and work experience and passing a test.

Competency is particularly vital in electrical work because it helps reduce the risk of property damage. Electricity, after all, is a well-established hazard that can cause fires and explosions. So, by choosing someone competent and qualified to work on your electrical system, you can worry less about such dangers.

A licensed electrician also knows that electrical work carries a high injury and safety risk. Indeed, in the U.S. alone, about 30,000 non-fatal shock incidents occur yearly. But with their knowledge and expertise, licensed electricians can prevent putting themselves and others in harm’s way.

So, please only hire someone licensed to provide electrical services in your area.

Verifying an Electrician’s License

Electricians worked hard to earn their licenses, so they proudly publish their license numbers on their websites.

Once you have their license details, you can verify its validity by visiting your state or local government’s website. They often have an online license lookup tool. Use this to check the license status of your prospective electrical contractors.

Carries Appropriate Insurance

Uninsured contractors are likely not carrying liability and worker’s compensation insurance, either. Their lack of a license means you can’t verify their qualifications, so there’s a higher risk of them not being competent. This can lead to accidents in your home that you may become liable for.

Why Contractor Insurance Is Crucial

Suppose an unlicensed and uninsured contractor makes a mistake that leads to an electrical fire. Electrical fires are common in U.S. homes; about 51,000 incidents occur yearly.

Because the contractor doesn’t have liability insurance, you, the homeowner, will be liable for the damage caused by the fire. This means you’ll have to pay for the cost to fix or replace the damage out of pocket.

Another example is if one of the uninsured contractor’s workers sustains an injury on your property. Since they don’t have worker’s comp, you, the homeowner, will be liable for their injury.

That’s why hiring a licensed, fully insured electrician is always wise. Granted, their competency doesn’t 100% guarantee they won’t get injured or cause property damage. However, it makes them less likely to commit costly mistakes.

Even if they do, their insurance policies protect you from liability. If they damage something on your property, their insurance will pay to fix or replace it. If their workers get injured, their worker’s comp will pay for their treatment.

How to Verify Contractor Insurance

Electricians must provide proof of liability and workers comp insurance to earn or maintain their license. So, a licensed electrician usually has met state or municipal insurance requirements.

You can also contact the contractor’s insurance carrier for more peace of mind. Reputable electricians will readily provide what you need, including documentary proof of insurance.

Once you have a copy, call the insurer or insurance agent. Provide the requested information (e.g., the policy number and policyholder’s name). They’ll then tell you if the policy is valid.

Experience Providing the Services You Need

Flickering lights at home can arise from something as simple as bulbs about to go out. However, the reason is likely different if you just installed LED lights, which can last 30,000 to 50,000 hours. Another sign of a more severe issue is if your lights flicker when you turn on a high-wattage appliance.

Old or damaged wiring, overloaded circuits, or a faulty electrical panel may be to blame. These are dangerous and can result in electrical fires. While all licensed electricians can fix old or damaged wiring, not all are experts in dealing with problematic panels.

So, describe your problem with as many details as possible during the electrician hiring process. Then, ask them if they’ve handled similar jobs before.

Experience is even more crucial if you have a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) or Zinsco panel. Many of these panels have innate manufacturing defects that make them dangerous. So, an experienced electrician will tell you it’s safer to replace your FPE or Zinsco panel.

Another area that not all electricians specialize in is whole-home surge protector installation. Many only assist customers with standard power strip protectors.

A whole-home surge protector involves direct placement on the main electrical panel or meter. So, it requires a higher level of technical expertise. Once installed, you can rest easy knowing your house has more protection against dangerous surges.

A standard power strip protector can go directly into an outlet. They are cheaper, but they can only protect individual gadgets.

Provides Emergency Services

Minor electrical issues, such as one failed outlet or switch, can wait a few days. Just ensure no one at home uses the affected area while waiting for the electrician to fix it.

However, many other problems, like a constantly tripping circuit breaker or loud sounds from your panel, can’t wait. These are indications of accidents waiting to happen, and thus, they require emergency inspections and repairs.

Not all electrical contractors offer 24/7 services, though. If you experience any of the signs below, please call one who employs an electrician who can visit your house immediately.

Breaker Keeps Tripping

A breaker that trips can cause an electrical outage in specific areas or your entire home. It’s easy to fix the issue; you only have to reset the switches to turn the power back on. However, if it keeps happening, your circuits are likely constantly overloading.

Aside from power disruptions, frequent overloads can cause early wear and tear on circuits. This can make them fail to trip when needed, posing electrical fire hazards. At the very least, their inability to do their job can damage appliances and gadgets.

You need an emergency electrician in such cases, as your breaker will likely trip again as soon as you use a high-wattage appliance. This includes your HVAC system, which needs to draw a lot of power to operate.

Unless you get your failing breaker checked, fixed, or replaced, you may be unable to turn your heater or AC on. Conversely, a malfunctioning HVAC system can also cause your breaker to trip.

Luckily, some licensed emergency electricians are also qualified HVAC technicians.

Loud Buzzing or Humming From the Panel

A properly functioning electrical panel should be almost inaudible. You may only hear a slight humming sound if your house is quiet.

So, hearing a loud buzzing or humming sound is a solid sign it’s in trouble. Usually, this indicates that the circuit breaker failed to trip as needed. The excess current flowing through it is likely the reason behind the noise.

Please don’t touch the panel with bare hands to avoid injuries. Instead, pick the phone up immediately and call an emergency electrician.

Burning Smell From Outlets

An electrical fire can smell like burning plastic. After all, many electrical components, like wiring insulation and connectors, consist of plastic. You may not see an actual fire, but you may see smoke or smell fumes from outlets.

A fishy smell can also indicate a potential electrical fire. Overheating components can release this odor before they catch fire.

Either way, please switch off your main electrical panel as soon as you notice these symptoms. This can help prevent a fire from starting or spreading. Then, call an emergency electrician to investigate ASAP.

Outlets or Appliances Shock You

Faulty and frayed wiring is one of the most common reasons behind electrical shocks at home. This can occur due to improper installation, old age, misuse, and sometimes, pests. The latter includes mice and rats, which chew on cables and wires to grind their front teeth.

Water-damaged appliances and electrical components can also cause shocks. This can result from indoor flooding (e.g., floodwater can infiltrate outlets).

Please call an emergency electrician for such issues, especially if multiple appliances and outlets shock you. These can cause severe, even fatal, injuries, so addressing them ASAP is a must.

Offers Preventive Maintenance Plans

Preventive maintenance service programs usually involve multi-point inspections of electrical systems. They’re available as a one-time service, which you can schedule as needed but still dependent on electrician availability.

Alternatively, you can subscribe to a recurring plan. As a subscriber, you can enjoy extra perks, such as priority scheduling, additional discounts on repairs, and free diagnostics for service calls.

Either way, a preventive maintenance service often includes the following:

• Testing all light bulbs
• Tuning up the electrical panel
• Testing all connections in the panel
• Inspecting smoke detectors

Scheduling your electrical system for maintenance at least once a year can help you stay on top of its condition. The expert will let you know if it’s still performing at its peak or if a few aged parts need replacement. They’ll also inform you of issues that need fixing before they worsen and become hazardous.

Backs Services With Guarantees

The most dependable electricians provide guarantees for all their services. For example, they guarantee your satisfaction. So, if you don’t feel satisfied, you can get your money back.

Reputable electrical contractors also back their products and services with warranties. Suppose you asked them to install new electrical outlets and dimmer switches. If they fail within two years, even with proper use, the contractor will replace or fix them for free.

Those policies indicate a provider’s confidence in the high-quality services they provide. So, for peace of mind, ensure you hire an electrician who guarantees (in writing) that you’ll be happy.

Provides Free Estimates

Free estimates can help you avoid surprises when receiving your electrical service bill. However, this only applies if they include a written breakdown and itemization of the fees. This can give you a better idea of where your money will go.

Estimates can also help you avoid overpaying for materials and labor by showing how much contractors typically charge.

Suppose you requested estimates from three companies servicing your area. However, you notice that one has quotes for materials and labor several times higher than the rest. Chances are you’re getting overcharged, so it may be best not to go with that contractor.

Free estimates should also be non-obligatory. This means you don’t have to hire a contractor just because they gave you a breakdown.

Please note that an estimate can still change, though, depending on the final agreement.

For example, you initially asked the contractor to fix only five outlets. However, on your service day, you requested to upgrade your outlets to those with USB ports.

You’ll pay more for the upgrade, but the electrician must inform you of the price change verbally and in writing. Only after you agree will they proceed with the job.

Who to Call for Electrical Problems: The Hiller Team

A licensed, fully insured electrician: That’s who to call for electrical problems.

That’s precisely what you can expect from our team here at Hiller. We are so confident in our high-quality electrical services that we guarantee them. We also have emergency electricians ready to assist you at any time of the day or night.

So, contact us today! We’ll happily give you an estimate and guarantee you’ll be happy with our services.

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