Problem guide · SAMPLE

No power — when to call an electrician

Lights out, panel dead, or only part of the house dark. Check neighbors and the street first — a utility outage is not a job for a private crew until the grid side is clear.

Do this first

1. Look outside. If the block is dark, report the outage to your utility. Stay away from downed lines — Ready.gov and CDC say treat fallen lines as live and call the utility or 911 (Ready.gov Power Outages).
2. If only your house (or part of it) is out, check the main breaker and any GFCI/AFCI devices with dry hands on a dry floor. Red Cross: if you see sparks, frayed wires, or smell hot insulation, shut power at the main only if you can reach the panel dry — do not stand in water to do it (Red Cross: Checking Your Home’s Utilities).
3. Unplug sensitive electronics so a surge does not hit them when power returns (Ready.gov).
4. Use flashlights, not candles. Generators stay outdoors, well away from windows — never backfeed the panel without approved transfer gear.

When to call an electrician

Call when the outage is only your property, a breaker will not reset safely, the panel smells hot or buzzes, or water reached any wiring. Call after a utility restore if circuits still fail or you need a dry, inspected panel before you flip breakers back on.

Call a listed shop

Call a listed shop from this directory. Phones are locked from the harvest. Confirm yourself before you hire.

• Bolt Electric LLC — (253) 224-3837 · Listing
• Ampure Electric — (253) 378-7053 · Listing
• Pokorski Electric — (888) 267-4161 · Listing

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