Ignore, Repair or Replace? What to Do When Your Doorbell Doesn’t Work

The doorbell — this often ignored feature of your home — is probably the last thing on your mind to be repaired when it comes to the bigger issues around the house. If you have a lot of visitors or receive a lot of deliveries, however, this feature gets a lot of use. What happens when it begins to malfunction, and eventually, your doorbell doesn’t work at all anymore? Is it costly to repair or replace? Should it be handled by a professional?

Common Broken Doorbell Causes

First, let’s assess the problem. The most common doorbell issues include:

• The button: If it won’t move, something could be blocking it. Try to clean it with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol, or spray it with some lubricant. If you can press it, but you don’t at least hear a low buzz, it needs to be replaced. A faulty button is the cause of most broken doorbells.
• The chime box: If the button isn’t the issue, remove the chime box cover, grab your volt meter and attach it to the two wires that go to the unit. If you get a signal from the wires when someone else presses the doorbell but you don't get a chime sound, your chime box needs to be replaced.
• The transformer: If you don’t get a signal from the chime box wires, you could have an issue with the transformer, located in or near the main electrical box and often labeled. If you don’t see physical damage to the wires (never touch them without first turning the power off, as they have a higher voltage than the other doorbell wires), test it with your volt meter, as well, by placing the probes on the screws where the doorbell wires are attached. You want the voltage reading to match the secondary voltage that’s marked on it.
• Faulty wiring: If you see physical damage to any of the doorbell’s wiring, that’s likely your problem. You can wrap wiring that simply has insulation damage in electrical tape. For all other issues, your safest option is to replace it. If you don’t see any physical damage, but you’re still having issues, the wiring that you can’t see between the doorbell and the chime box may be the culprit.

How to Replace Doorbell Components Yourself

It’s certainly more cost-effective to know how to install a doorbell yourself, especially if you’re looking to replace it with a basic wired style. In fact, buttons by themselves can be as cheap as $10, while kits with a button and chime box start at around $15. Simply attach the existing wires to the screws of the new component(s), just like the old component(s) were attached — following the manufacturer’s instructions, of course. Simple, right?

If you want to skip the wires altogether, consider installing a wireless doorbell according to the manufacturer’s instructions instead. Because it is wireless, however, you will have to change the batteries occasionally.

When to Enlist an Expert

If your issue is with a broken transformer or faulty wiring, your best — and safest — bet is to call a professional who knows how to fix doorbells. Although the cost could range from around $200 to $350, you can rest assured that the job will be done correctly and according to electrical code.

Want to avoid the Inspector Gadget/DIY route and let the professionals handle it from the start? You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that this small, often neglected (yet useful) device is likely covered under your home warranty. It's certainly covered by American Home Shield. You're welcome.