Emergency Electrician in Market Harborough: What to Do Right Now
Short answerIn an electrical emergency in Market Harborough, call 999 first if there is fire, smoke or someone has had a shock; if it is safe, switch off at the consumer unit. If your whole street is dark it is a power cut, so call 105 for National Grid Electricity Distribution rather than an electrician. For faults inside your home, message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you quickly whether our electrician can come; out-of-hours call-outs typically cost £120 to £350 before labour.
If you need an emergency electrician in Market Harborough, the first job is to make things safe, not to find a phone number. This page tells you what to do in the next five minutes, who to call for what, what an emergency call-out typically costs, and how to reach the electrician we used on our own renovation.
If there is fire, smoke, sparking you can't stop, or someone has had an electric shock, call 999 now.
Is it an emergency?
These need dealing with straight away:
- A burning smell, smoke or scorch marks at a socket, switch or the consumer unit (fuse box)
- Sparking or crackling from a socket, switch or appliance
- Water coming through a ceiling light or onto sockets
- Exposed or damaged live cables
- An RCD that trips and won't reset, leaving you with no heating, fridge or lights
A light that has stopped working, or one socket that is dead, is usually a next-day job rather than an emergency.
What to do right now
Burning smell, sparking or scorch marks
- Stop using that socket, switch or appliance.
- If it is safe to reach, switch off that circuit at the consumer unit, or the main switch if you're not sure which circuit it is.
- Don't open up the socket or the consumer unit. If the consumer unit itself is hot, smoking or crackling, keep away from it, get everyone out and call 999.
- Leave the circuit off until an electrician has checked it.
Water near electrics
If water is coming into contact with wiring, lights or sockets, switch off at the main switch on the consumer unit, but only if you can reach it without standing in water. Don't touch anything electrical that is wet. Then stop the water at the stopcock; our emergency plumber page explains how. Electrical Safety First advises not using anything that has been wet until a registered electrician has said it is safe.
The RCD keeps tripping
An RCD (the switch on your consumer unit with a test button) trips to protect you from a fault. Electrical Safety First says a repeatedly tripping RCD usually means a fault with an appliance or the wiring that needs investigating. You can try this safely:
- Unplug everything on the affected circuits.
- Reset the RCD.
- Plug appliances back in one at a time. If it trips when one goes back in, that appliance is the likely culprit; leave it unplugged.
If it trips with everything unplugged, or won't reset at all, the fault is probably in the wiring, so leave it off and call an electrician. Never tape or bypass an RCD.
Is it a power cut? Call 105
If your power has gone off, look outside. If the street lights and your neighbours' houses are dark too, it is a power cut, not a fault in your home, and an electrician can't fix it.
In the East Midlands the network is run by National Grid Electricity Distribution. Call 105, free, 24 hours a day, or check the live power cut map at powercuts.nationalgrid.co.uk. You can also call 105 about damaged power lines or substations, and call 999 as well if there is an immediate danger. While you wait, switch off appliances such as irons and heaters that could come back on unattended, and check on any vulnerable neighbours. If someone in your home relies on electrical medical equipment, ask about the Priority Services Register.
If the street is lit and only your house is dark, check your consumer unit. If the main switch or an RCD has tripped and won't stay on, that is one for an electrician.
Gas smell?
A gas smell is never an electrician's job. Don't switch anything electrical on or off, open windows, turn off the gas at the meter if you can, get out and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Getting our electrician
We're honest about this: we recommend one local electrician, and they are not a 24-hour call centre. Message us on WhatsApp with what has happened and a photo if you can. We will pass it straight on and tell you quickly whether they can come today. If they can't, we'll say so, so you can call someone else rather than wait.
Message us about an electricianFree. We pass you straight to the tradesperson we trust.
We're not paid for recommendations. We just pass you to people we trust.
What an emergency electrician in Market Harborough typically costs
Emergency and out-of-hours work costs more than a booked visit. These are typical 2026 UK ranges from cost guides, not quotes.
| Charge | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Standard call-out, often including the first hour | £60 to £120 |
| Emergency or out-of-hours call-out | £120 to £350 |
| Standard hourly rate (Midlands) | £45 to £65 an hour |
Bank holidays and late nights are at the top end. Ask before they set off: what is the call-out fee, what is the minimum charge, is VAT included and do out-of-hours rates apply? More detail is in our electrician hourly rate guide.
After the emergency
Once things are safe, a fault can be a sign of a bigger issue. Old fuse boxes without RCD protection, scorched sockets and repeated tripping are common reasons to get the wiring checked. Our guide to signs your house needs rewiring explains what to look for, and the EICR cost guide covers getting a full inspection. If you are getting work done, check the electrician is registered. See our main electricians in Market Harborough page for everything else.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician standard call-out | £60–£120 per job | Often includes the first hour of labour. Fantastic Services 2026. |
| Electrician emergency or out-of-hours call-out | £120–£350 per job | Evenings, weekends and emergencies; bank holidays can be higher. Not a quote. |
| Electrician hourly rate, standard (Midlands) | £45–£65 per hour | Emergency hourly rates are higher; Checkatrade suggests around £90 an hour. |
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call in a power cut in Market Harborough?
Call 105. It is free, works 24 hours a day and puts you through to National Grid Electricity Distribution, which runs the electricity network in the East Midlands. You can also check the live power cut map at powercuts.nationalgrid.co.uk. An electrician can't fix a network power cut, so check whether your neighbours and street lights are off before calling one.
Why does my RCD keep tripping?
A repeatedly tripping RCD usually means a fault with an appliance or the wiring. Unplug everything, reset the RCD, then plug appliances back in one at a time to find the culprit. If it trips with everything unplugged, or won't reset, the fault is probably in the wiring: leave it off and call an electrician. Never bypass an RCD.
How much does an emergency electrician cost?
UK cost guides for 2026 put an emergency or out-of-hours call-out at roughly £120 to £350, compared with £60 to £120 for a standard call-out. Labour on top is often charged at a higher hourly rate, and bank holidays cost most. Ask for the call-out fee, the minimum charge and whether VAT is included before the electrician sets off.
What should I do if I smell burning from a socket?
Stop using it, and if it is safe, switch off that circuit or the main switch at the consumer unit. Don't open the socket. If there is smoke, flames or the consumer unit itself is hot or crackling, get everyone out and call 999. Leave the circuit off until a qualified electrician has checked it.
Is your electrician available 24 hours?
No, and we would rather be upfront about it. We recommend one local electrician, not a 24-hour service. Message us on WhatsApp and we will pass it on straight away and tell you quickly whether they can come. If they can't, we will say so, so you can call someone else instead of waiting.