Urgent electrical help

Emergency electrician for Moscow and Pullman

You smell burning plastic near your panel, see sparks from an outlet, or hear a loud buzz from a breaker. Those signs mean your electrical system needs attention now.

Call us at (509) 903-9411. We will listen to what is happening and tell you straight whether it can be worked into the schedule and what to do in the meantime. If you see fire or spreading smoke, get everyone out and call 911 first.

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What counts as an electrical emergency

Some electrical failures create an immediate risk of fire or shock. We treat these situations with the highest priority during our business hours.

Burning smells or scorch marksIf you smell burning plastic or see brown marks on an outlet or the panel cover, a wire is likely overheating. Shut off the breaker if you can do so safely.
Hot, buzzing, or crackling panelA breaker panel should stay quiet and cool. If you hear arcing sounds or the metal cover feels warm, a connection is failing inside the cabinet.
Sparking or smoking outletActive sparks or smoke from a light switch or wall plug point to a short circuit. Stop using that circuit and keep people away from the area.
Whole-home power lossCheck whether your neighbors still have lights. If the street is dark, call Avista or your rural utility. If only your house is dead, your main breaker or meter base may have failed.
Breaker that trips instantlyA breaker that will not stay on usually means a short or a ground fault. Do not force the handle to stay on. That can start a fire.
Water in your electrical systemFlooding in a basement or a roof leak that drips into your panel creates a serious shock hazard. Do not step in standing water if it touches a cord, outlet, or your well pump.

What to do before help arrives

A few steps can protect your family and your wiring while you wait for help.

Shut off the powerFlip the failing breaker to the off position if you know which one it is. If the whole house is at risk, switch off the main breaker if you know where it is and can reach it safely.
Stay away from the hazardDo not touch scorched outlets, buzzing breakers, or wet wires. Keep children and pets in a different room until the problem is handled.
Unplug what you can reach safelyIf the plugs are safe to reach, remove your toaster, computer, or lamp from the affected circuit. This takes load off the damaged wiring.
Never use water on an electrical fireWater conducts electricity and will make the situation worse. If you see flames, get everyone out of the house and call 911 from your driveway.
Take a photo from a safe distanceIf it is safe, snap a picture of the damaged outlet or the tripped breaker. Having it ready when you call helps us understand the problem by phone.

When we can get to you, honestly

We are a small local crew and we work during normal weekday hours. We do not staff a night crew, but we understand that a buzzing panel or a dead well pump cannot wait quietly. When you call with an urgent problem, we answer plainly about our current schedule.

We will listen to the symptoms you describe and tell you whether the situation is safe to wait, whether it belongs with the utility or emergency services, and whether we can work it in. If we cannot get to your home soon, we say so, instead of leaving you guessing. For problems that can wait for a scheduled visit, start with our electrical repair and troubleshooting page.

Worried about something electrical?

Call Crescent or request a quote.

(509) 903-9411 Request a Quote

Questions customers usually ask

Is a burning smell from an outlet an emergency?

Yes. A burning smell means wire insulation or connectors may be overheating. Shut off the breaker for that room and call us at (509) 903-9411.

Can I just reset the breaker and see if it holds?

No. If a breaker trips instantly, it is doing its job to prevent a fire. Forcing a breaker that will not hold can push electricity through a short circuit inside your wall.

Do you offer 24 hour emergency service?

No. We are a small crew working weekday business hours, and we do not promise around-the-clock response. Call us anyway. We will tell you straight whether your problem can be worked into the schedule and what to do in the meantime.

My whole house lost power. Who do I call, you or the utility?

Check your neighbors first. If the whole street is dark, call your utility: Avista in the Moscow and Pullman city cores, Clearwater Power in rural Latah County, or Inland Power in rural Whitman County. If only your house is dark, call us to check your main breaker and meter base.

Is a dead outlet an emergency?

No. A single outlet that stops working is usually a nuisance rather than a danger, unless you see smoke or scorch marks. We can schedule a regular service visit to replace the outlet or find the broken connection.