If you experience an electrical emergency–such as sparks, burning smells, smoking outlets, or sudden power loss in part of your home–the safest thing you can do is stay calm, keep your distance, and avoid touching anything that appears damaged or hot. If it’s safe to do so, turn off power to the affected area at your breaker panel, then contact a licensed electrician right away. In situations involving fire, smoke, or immediate danger, leave the home and call emergency services. Acting quickly and safely helps prevent further damage and keeps your family protected.

Replacing an electrical panel typically takes most of a day, depending on the age of your system and the complexity of the upgrade. In many homes, the work can be completed within 4–8 hours, including safely disconnecting power, installing the new panel, and testing every circuit. Older wiring, code updates, or additional repairs may extend the timeline, but the result is a safer, more reliable electrical system built to handle today’s power needs.