Doorbell Repair for Ding Dongs

Website design By BotEap.comHow to fix that timid doorbell or the doorbell itself if people are coming to your door and instead of the familiar ding dong or bells, the only sound you hear is that of knuckles pounding or the knock of the door knocker.

Website design By BotEap.comThere are three parts to a doorbell: the doorbell button, the doorbell itself, which most of the time includes the transformer and the wiring.

Website design By BotEap.comThe doorbell button.

Website design By BotEap.comIn my experience, this is not only the easiest to repair, it is the most common reason doorbells refuse to obey your finger. Obviously, if the button is pressed and it doesn’t pop out again, let’s say the return spring is broken or the button has lodged and isn’t showing its face, the best thing to do is replace it.

Website design By BotEap.comDoorbells generally run on low-voltage direct current, in contrast to the electricity in your home, which is generally higher voltage and is alternating current. This means that although the doorbell is safer to work with than normal household electrical system, I always advise DIYers to turn off the power to the system they want to work on.

Website design By BotEap.comI want you to run a test before turning off the power. Pry, unscrew, or pull the reluctant doorbell button away from the wall, depending on how it is connected. (TIP: If you buy a replacement doorbell button, you can “reverse engineer” the installation to see how to access the wiring.) Carefully tighten the terminal screws. Then press the doorbell button. If it works, close it by pushing back or screwing on the doorbell button. If it does not work, jumper the bell button terminals with a flat blade screwdriver. Ding dong. Eureka. If it is still silent, put the doorbell button back in place and turn off the power for this system at the panel box.

Website design By BotEap.comDoorbell

Website design By BotEap.comThe doorbell itself, which includes the transformer, is the next easiest item to replace. Once turned off, open the doorbell by removing its cover, unscrewing it from the wall, disconnecting the cables, and reversing the process with a new doorbell.

Website design By BotEap.comWiring

Website design By BotEap.comChecking the wiring for continuity is also fairly easy using a continuity tester. However, fixing faulty wiring by trying to replace it can be a huge waste of time, not to mention very frustrating. If it’s the wiring, you have a little problem because you can’t realistically fix it by repairing the wiring. Fishing for new wiring through your walls using the old wire to pull it works much better in theory than it does in my world. I have tried it many times. If I really have to do this, I now solder the new wire to the old one and hope the electrician who installed it in the first place doesn’t staple it or snap it into place. I have spent too much time and energy twisting wires, taping them together, etc., and having them part inside the wall to make it solder-free.

Website design By BotEap.comThe wireless solution

Website design By BotEap.comHowever, the wonders of modern technology have provided a solution: now there are wireless doorbells that save a lot of wear and tear on both you and the cast. In fact, unless the problem is a loose connection at the doorbell button (possible) or the doorbell itself (unlikely), replacing everything with a wireless system is the way to go.

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