Burning smell or sparks

A socket, switch, light or the board smells hot or has sparked.

A burning or fishy smell, a socket that is hot to the touch, brown scorching around a faceplate or a crackle from the board all mean the same thing: a connection is overheating. In Maltese homes the usual causes are loose terminals, an overloaded extension lead running an air conditioner or a heater, and old accessories that have been worked hard for decades.

This is the one to take seriously. Overheating connections are a common cause of house fires.

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Emergency request

Sparks, smoke or no power?
Send this now.

Tell us what is happening and where. It reaches us marked as an emergency and goes to one CheckYourTraders-verified electrician, who rings you back.

While you wait

  • Smell burning or see sparks: switch off at the main switch
  • Never touch a wet socket, switch or appliance
  • Fire, smoke you cannot isolate, or a shock: ring 112 first

Emergency electrical work is published in Maltese price guides at €50 to €100 an hour at night and at weekends. You hear the charge before anyone sets off.

Emergency call-out

Marked as an emergency the moment it arrives. This is a request for a call-back, not a confirmed attendance. To get you a call fast we pass your name, number, locality and problem to one CheckYourTraders-verified electrician, who rings you; we may also text you to check it was sorted. If anyone is in danger, ring 112.

What it costs

Replacing a damaged socket or switch is €35 to €90 in the published Maltese guides, with emergency labour at €50 to €100 an hour out of hours.

JobUnitBandWhat is in it
Emergency electricianper hour€50 – €100nights, weekends and public holidays
Replace a socket or switchper item€35 – €90like-for-like, existing wiring sound
Fault finding / RCD trippingper job€60 – €150diagnosis of a tripping RCD, dead circuit or intermittent fault

A band, not a quote: the low end is a straightforward job with clear access, the high end is the same job with the complications a site visit finds. Materials are included where the line says so.

Emergency electrician
0
€0

Per hour · €50 – €100. See every emergency price →

How it works

You send one form; we pass it to one CheckYourTraders-verified electrician, who calls you back, quotes the call-out before travelling and contracts with you directly for the repair. We follow up to check it was sorted.

Questions people ask

The smell has gone. Can I switch back on?
Not on that circuit. The damage that caused the smell is still there. Leave it off until it has been looked at.
Is it safe to use an extension lead for the air conditioner?
It is a common cause of overheating. An air conditioner should have its own point; an electrician can fit one.

Related

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Send the emergency form

A socket, switch, light or the board smells hot or has sparked.

Send an emergency request →