How to Replace Door Bells

Doorbells are low-voltage home devices, and most homeowners can figure out how to replace door bells on their own, without any professional assistance or the need for an electrician. If you want to replace a doorbell that is already installed, the wiring is in place and all you have to do is remove the doorbell and chime unit and replace them. With just a few tools and the kit supplied with your new doorbell, you'll be able to make the switch in under an hour.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Doorbell kit
• Masking tape
• Marker

1. Turn off the circuit breaker that supplies power to the doorbell and the chime unit before you replace a doorbell. If your chime is located in a different part of the house than the front door, you may need to shut off multiple breakers. Test the doorbell before you begin working to make sure the power is off.

2. Unscrew the doorbell switch plate from the wall, and pull the switch plate and screws out from the wall. When you replace door bells, get a replacement that will fit the same space where the original was installed, so that you can mount the new device in the old screw holes.

3. Detach the wires, taping them to the wall or clipping a plastic clip to them to keep them from slipping back inside the wall.

4. Connect the wires to the screw terminals on the replacement doorbell. When you install a doorbell, it doesn't matter which wire is connected to which screw terminal on the actual doorbell button.

5. Remove the tape or clips from the wires, and screw the new doorbell into the screw sockets.

6. Find the chime unit inside the house and remove it. Remember to test the device, or other electrically powered devices on the same circuit, before unscrewing to ensure there is no electric current flowing through the device. Unscrew the mounting screws.

7. Pull the unit out and label each wire with a piece of masking tape before you detach it, writing the name of the screw terminal it is attached to on the tape. When you install a doorbell, you do need to make sure that the wires are connected to the same screw terminals on the new chime as they were on the old chime.

8. Detach the wires, again taping them or clipping them to avoid losing them in the wall. Thread the wires through the new chime box, attaching the wires to the screw terminals for which they are labeled.

9. Attach the chime unit to the wall with mounting screws.

10. Restore power to the doorbell and chime unit. Test your new doorbell to ensure that everything is working smoothly.

Tips & Warnings

• When replacing doorbells, you can also avoid the need to rewire a new device by going wireless. You screw wireless doorbells and chimes into the wall like wired devices, but they are battery-powered and use a radio transmitter, so you don't have to deal with any wires.

References

• Lowes
• HomeTips.com