Turn off the light at the switch and wait for the bulb to cool. Then try tightening it to ensure the bulb is secure in the socket. If this doesn't work, a flickering light could be due to a loose connection in the wiring, and it will need to be looked at by a professional electrician. Avoid using the light in the meantime.
Turn off lights and unplug appliances. Next, check your electrical panel. For switchboards that use circuit breakers, you need to locate the switch that's moved from the 'on' position to 'off' and switch it back on. If it trips again, leave it off and call a professional. If you have a fuse panel, locate the blown fuse by checking to see if the metal inside any fuses has melted. Replace that one that's blown. Turn on appliances one by one to test the new fuse. If it blows again, it can be a sign of a more serious problem in your electrical system.
Go to your electrical panel and locate the circuit breaker to switch off electricity to the area of your home where the burning smell is coming from. Inspect every electrical outlet for signs of discolouration or heat until you locate the electrical issue before calling an emergency electrician to repair the wiring and replace the outlet.
Loose and exposed wiring is a fire hazard and can cause an electric shock. Immediately switch off power to the affected area of your home by turning off electricity at the correct circuit breaker on your home's switchboard and call an electrical contractor for emergency service.
Buzzing from power outlets can indicate they are overloaded, not grounded properly or that the wiring is loose. Unplug all appliances and call a professional for emergency electrical service.
If you notice a switch sparks as you turn it on or off, don't ignore it as it could be a sign of a deeper electrical problem. Avoid using the power outlet or switch until you've had an electrical inspection by trusted emergency electricians.
If a power outage affects only your home, turn off all appliances to avoid damage from a power surge. Next, check to see if the safety switches have tripped. Switch any that have tripped back to 'on'. Plug your appliances back in, one by one. If an appliance causes the safety switch to trip again, avoid using it until you have had it checked by an electrician. If none of the appliances appear to be the problem, the electrical failure has likely been caused by a larger issue, and you will need to call a professional to troubleshoot the problem.
