Turn off affected circuits
If you smell burning, see scorching or feel heat from walls, outlets or switches, turn off the breakers for those areas from a dry spot.
Flickering lights, burning smell or damaged wiring?
Damaged, loose or overloaded wiring can cause flickering, intermittent power, heat and fires inside walls. Switch off affected circuits and call 833-877-1717. RepairNowUSA connects the request. An independent licensed electrician does the repair.
Am I in the right place?Yes for flickering across rooms, warm walls or cover plates, burning smells with no obvious source, chewed or damaged wires.
Is this urgent?Urgent with burning smells or heat. If you see smoke, flames, or sparks that do not stop, leave the building and call 911.
What do I do next?Switch off the affected breakers and call 833-877-1717.
Emergency signs: emergency electrician.
RepairNowUSA editorial review · Last substantively reviewed October 14, 2026 · Review standards
What to do
Get out if there is smoke
Smoke or a burning smell you cannot trace can mean a fire inside a wall. Leave and call 911.
Do not overload circuits
Avoid running heaters, AC units and other heavy loads on circuits that have been flickering or tripping.
Hidden wiring faults start fires
Never touch electrical equipment while wet or standing in water, and do not open panels or devices that are hot, buzzing, smoking or sparking. If you see smoke, flames, or sparks that do not stop, leave the building and call 911.
Common wiring problems
Flickering in several rooms
Flicker across multiple rooms can point to a loose connection in the panel or a problem with the service. If lights get brighter and dimmer, call the utility and an electrician right away.
Warm walls, outlets or switch plates
Heat means current is going through a poor connection. It is a fire warning.
Older wiring
Knob-and-tube and some aluminum branch wiring from the 1960s and 1970s need careful evaluation, especially if they have been modified.
Damaged wiring
Rodents, renovations, water and nails through walls can damage wires. See panel repair if the panel is involved.
What to have ready when you call
- Property ZIP code and whether it is a home, rental or business
- What you notice: flicker, heat, smell, buzzing or tripping
- Which rooms or circuits are affected
- Approximate age of the building and any known older wiring
- Any recent renovation, water leak or pest problem
How wiring repair usually works
- Inspection. The electrician tests circuits and opens boxes and the panel to find loose, damaged or overheated wiring.
- Make it safe. Dangerous circuits are disconnected until they can be repaired.
- Repair. Damaged sections are replaced and connections are remade with proper connectors.
- Permits and inspection. Larger rewiring may require a permit and an inspection by the local authority.
Rewiring a whole building is a project, not an emergency repair. The urgent step is finding and making safe the circuit causing heat, smell or failure.
What happens when you call RepairNowUSA
- Describe what is happening in plain words and give the property ZIP code. You do not need to know which trade to ask for.
- RepairNowUSA checks for a participating independent provider who handles electrical wiring repair in that area.
- If one is available, you are connected. The provider confirms timing, access, scope and price with you before any work.
- The provider, not RepairNowUSA, diagnoses and performs the repair.
RepairNowUSA is a referral and connection service. Provider availability and response times vary by location, time and demand, and are not guaranteed. Before you approve work, ask what was found, the price, the timing and what is not included.
Call 833-877-1717Wiring questions
Why are my lights flickering in several rooms?
It can be a loose connection in the panel or a service problem. If lights get brighter and dimmer, contact the utility and an electrician promptly.
Does old wiring need replacing?
Not always. It depends on its condition, how it has been modified and the loads it carries. An electrician can evaluate it.
Is aluminum wiring dangerous?
Aluminum branch wiring installed in some homes from about the mid-1960s to the 1970s has been linked to overheating at connections. An electrician can assess and repair connections.
Why does a wall feel warm near an outlet?
A loose or damaged connection can heat up inside the wall. Turn off the circuit and have it checked.
Can I call at night?
Yes. You can call 833-877-1717 at any time, including nights, weekends and holidays. Whether an independent provider can come out right away depends on your ZIP code, the time and provider capacity, so availability is not guaranteed.
Authoritative references
These public sources give general safety context. They do not replace an on-site evaluation, and RepairNowUSA does not perform the work.