Fix a Doorbell
Doorbells, as the rest of the house, can wear with age. At some point, especially in older homes, your doorbell may cease to work or may work sporadically. Testing and fixing the doorbell may require that you troubleshoot it at each of 3 points: button, transformer and chime. The process of testing and fixing a worn part of the doorbell system is relatively simple and requires just a few tools and a few precautions.
Contents
Steps
Check the Doorbell Button
- Unscrew the screws and pull out the button assembly.
- Remove the wires from the doorbell button with a screwdriver.
- Touch the ends of the 2 wires to each other; if the doorbell rings, you have a faulty button.
- Attach the 2 wires to the terminal screws on a new replacement button (either wire can be attached to either terminal).
Check the Transformer
- Locate the transformer on the outside electrical box.
- Set your multimeter or voltmeter to"voltage."
- Touch the ends of the voltmeter or multimeter prongs to the terminal screws on the transformer; if no voltage registers on the meter, replace the transformer.
- Cut the power to the transformer before you begin working to replace it.
- Remove the old transformer.
- Buy a replacement at any hardware outlet or electrical supply store and follow the manufacturer's installation directions.
- Reconnect the bell wires to the new transformer.
- Turn on the power; the doorbell should now work.
Test the Doorbell Chime
- Remove the cover to the chime.
- Remove the wires attached to the terminal screws.
- Attach the wires to the multimeter or voltmeter; if the meter shows current, replace the doorbell chime.
- Disconnect the old wires and be sure to label them with tape so as to not get them mixed up. There should be wires to the button (or buttons if there are front and back doorbells) and transformer.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions to mount the new chime on the wall.
- Test the chime and replace the cover if all is well.
Tips
- You can simplify replacing any of the doorbell parts by purchasing a wireless doorbell system. You need not worry about wiring or electricity; all you need is a supply of batteries. Some wireless systems also allow multiple features, such as a motion detector or several doorbell buttons with different tones for front and back doors.
- First step should include checking that the breaker hasn't been tripped.
- If your doorbell rings nonstop, you most likely have some wires that are touching each other. Follow the directions above to find the wires.
- Should you not show that a current is flowing when using the voltmeter or multimeter on the chime, the wiring itself may be faulty. If you can find a break in the wire, it can be fixed by splicing a wire into it.
- Before replacing any parts, you should check for any loose wiring or dirty parts. Sometimes, a good cleaning or tightening the wires will resolve the problems with bad connections.
Warnings
- When working with the bell or chime, the voltage is fairly low; however, the voltage at the transformer is high. Caution should always be taken to shut off the power before beginning work.
Things You'll Need
- Voltmeter or multimeter
- Screwdriver(s)
- Replacement doorbell, transformer or chime assembly
- Cotton swabs
- Degreaser
- Paper towels
