Emergency Electrical Assistance When You Need it Most

Some electrical emergencies are obvious – a loud bang, sparks and lots of smoke – and you’re already on the phone to an electrician or emergency services.

But sometimes it’s less obvious and you think: Is it really an emergency?

An electrical emergency is anything that could lead to injury, fire or electrocution.

Common residential emergencies include:

• Malfunctioning fuse boxes or circuit breakers
• Damaged or burning wires
• Overloaded sockets
• Faulty appliances
• Water damage to any electrical equipment

If you can see it, feel it, smell it or hear it – these are real hazards. Sometimes these signs come and go, and it’s tempting to think “it’s not that bad” or “it’ll go away soon”. However, even intermittent signs need professional attention.

It can be tempting to wait until your partner gets back from a business trip, or until you get home from work, or even just until you can get the kids dropped off at school.

But a timely call can make all the difference to your family’s safety and the cost of repairs if the problem can be fixed before affecting other equipment.

Like most people, you probably only think about your home’s electrical system when something goes wrong. But did you know 40% of house fires in NSW are caused by electrical faults and electrical appliances?

Taking preventative steps to avoid electrical emergencies is crucial for your family’s safety. Here’s 5 things you can do:

1. Never do DIY electrical work – It’s not just dangerous but also illegal
2. Schedule regular electrical inspections – Identify hazards before they become problems
3. Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) and Safety Switches
4. Clean and inspect appliances frequently – Get them checked ASAP if you spot any signs of damage
5. Don’t overload circuits – Know your system’s capacity and don’t have too many appliances running at once, especially through powerboards. Instead, have an electrician install more powerpoints and circuits, or upgrade your home’s system.

GlobileNet has a 25 minute response time for all emergency calls. Call us on 1300 723 753.

Water and electricity are a dangerous combination because water is such a good conductor of electricity. So if you touch water that’s in contact with electricity, the electricity may travel through you to the ground, causing an electric shock that could be fatal.

Avoid contact between water and electrical equipment unless they are specifically designed for use in wet environments or underwater.

What should I do if my electrical equipment gets wet? When any non-waterproof equipment comes in contact with water, it’s vital to act quickly yet carefully:

1. Don’t touch the item
2. Turn off power to that item at the circuit breaker
3. Now unplug the item, if applicable
4. Dry the item as best you can
5. Contact an electrician to check if the item is safe or can be repaired, as well as if there has been any damage to surrounding equipment.

Any amount of water in contact with electrical appliances has the potential to cause a shock upon contact, or damage the equipment. You should still apply the above steps.


It’s better to be safe than sorry, and GlobileNet’s quick response time makes it worth the wait. Don’t take the risk by using that appliance or powerpoint before it’s been inspected. Call GlobileNet now and we’ll be there within 25 minutes.

If you’re experiencing a power outage, first check whether it is area wide. Sometimes your electricity provider schedules power outages for maintenance or weather events cause disruptions. In these cases, GlobileNet can’t help get your power back on.

If lightning strikes an electrical cable close to your home it could affect one or more of your circuits. In these cases, unplug your devices to prevent damage from surges when the power is restored. If you’re not able to restore power to your home after the storm finishes, contact us for an emergency call out.

If you’ve lost power to part or all of your home, you’ll probably notice that one or more of the circuit breakers have “tripped” (turned off automatically). This is often caused by overloading.

Overloading occurs when you’ve got too many appliances working at the same time. For example, if you’ve got the microwave, toaster, kettle and new coffee machine all running at the same time, your kitchen’s circuit may overload – especially in an older home. In these cases, it’s usually a matter of avoiding using too many appliances at once. If the tripping keeps happening even after you’ve reduced the load, you should call an electrician for an inspection.

A faulty appliance can also be a cause of overloading as they typically use more power than normal. The most common sign of this is overheating. In this case you’ll need to repair or discard the appliance.

Tripping can also be caused by:

• Short-Circuiting: This happens when active wires come in contact with each other. You might smell burning wires or see some blackening at the outlet. In this case, do not touch the outlet, leave the circuit tripped and call an electrician for an inspection.
• Ground Faults: This occurs when electricity flows to the ground in an unintended path usually due to wiring issues, faulty equipment, or environmental factors like moisture. Just like with a short-circuit, you’ll need professional assistance immediately.

It can be very difficult for non-professionals to determine the cause of a power outage and the safety risks of a wrong assessment certainly outweigh the rewards. Take the guesswork out of it by calling an electrician. GlobileNet’s quick emergency response time makes it worth the wait. We’ll be there in 25 minutes or less to investigate the problem, identify the cause, and safely restore your home’s power.

Worn out, faulty and non-compliant appliances are a real hazard to your home’s electrical system and your family’s safety.

If you’ve owned an appliance for many years, it may no longer be safe to use. If you see any signs of wear such as discoloration, cracks and especially frayed wires, it’s time to discard it or see if it can be repaired.

You may notice an appliance is not working properly or is overheating. Using this appliance may have also coincided with your circuit tripping. In this case, stop using the appliance until it can be inspected and repaired. Continuing to use the appliance may cause damage to your home’s electricity system.

Make sure your appliances are compliant with the relevant Australian Standards by only purchasing from certified Australian suppliers or other credible retailers. Buying appliances online and especially from overseas can increase your risks of electrical hazards.

If a malfunctioning appliance has led to any sparks, smoke, smells of burning or other signs of damage, don’t take any further changes. Turn off the power to that appliance, unplug it and call an electrician to assess it ASAP.

Electrical appliances cause trouble when they have energy needs above your system’s capacity. Some single phrase systems are simply not able to handle the demands caused by new appliances with high energy needs. In these situations, you’ll need a professional assessment and potentially an upgrade to a three-phase power system. GlobileNet can help you assess your appliances and your home’s system. If you’re considering upgrading to a three-phase system, GlobileNet can get you started with a free consultation.