There are a lot of popular home improvement projects out there you can try out in your home. Yet, many of them involve specialized skills or a huge financial investment. Think of things like replacing your flooring or getting a new roof.
Sometimes, home improvement is about small quality of life changes like getting a doorbell. It might seem trivial, but imagine if you must hear someone bang on your front door every time you get delivery or a visitor.
Of course, for the DIY home improvement newbie, the main concern is probably about how to install a doorbell. If you bought a doorbell and want to install it yourself, keep reading for some tips to make the process go smoother.
Turn Off the Power
If you know which breaker provides electricity to your doorbell, you can turn off that breaker. If you don’t know for sure, you should probably throw the main to cut power to the entire house. Better to be safe the electrocuted during a doorbell installation.
Remove Button and Cover
Typically home doorbells use a basic button and cover that simply screws into the wall. Take out the screws and gently pull the cover and button away from the wall.
There are two main types of doorbells: wired and wireless. Your next steps will depend on what you already have and what you’ll replace it with.
Replace the Button and Cover
If your home comes with a wired doorbell, you must unhook the wires from the button. If you’re using a wired replacement, you’ll reattach those wires to the new button.
A wireless button won’t need those wires, so cap them with wire nuts or electrical tape and push them gently into the wall.
Next, you’ll likely use the same screw holes to reattach the wired unit to the wall. A wireless unit may come with a mounting bracket or attach directly to the wall.
The same steps typically apply when replacing a chime.
Special Considerations
Wired doorbells use less voltage than most household appliances. That means there is a transformer that limits the voltage to your doorbell wires. Working with transformers is a tricky business because of the higher voltages.
Why is the transformer is bad? If you don’t routinely work with wiring and electricity, you should call a professional electrician to replace the transformer. An electrical will know how to properly handle the transformer itself, as well as the wiring.
Is the ring doorbell waterproof?
The Ring Doorbell is not waterproof and should not be used in wet or humid conditions. If your doorbell gets wet, it is important to dry it off as soon as possible to prevent damage.
Don’t Stress Over How to Install a Doorbell
If you are worried that the issue of how to install a doorbell would mean a ton of work or require specialized tools, don’t stress about it. The process is unusually friendly to the DIY homeowner. In most cases, you can get by with a screwdriver and some electrical tape.
The only potential hiccup is if the transformer goes south on you. You’ll want professional help with that replacement.
Looking for more tips on small, DIY home improvement projects? Check out the posts in the Indoor section of our blog.
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