Should I Try to Fix a Broken Doorbell Myself?

You can do it, but it's a lot of work.

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Q: Is it worth trying to fix a broken doorbell myself?—JAMES C., BALTIMORE

A: It can be a lot of work. The button or the chime is usually the culprit, since those are the only components with moving parts. After that, it gets tough. In order to properly diagnose a nonworking doorbell, you'll need a digital multimeter to check each part of the doorbell's system: the power to the transformer; the transformer and its output; the continuous wiring between the doorbell, the transformer, and the chime; and the chime itself. Mice have been known to chew through doorbell wiring, or wires work loose from vibration and can come out from under a terminal screw, or greasy dust can build up inside the chime, rendering it inoperative.

So consider all that. Also consider that you can buy an inexpensive doorbell builder kit for $40 to $50. Installation takes about 30 minutes, depending on how accessible the chime and the transformer are. Or skip that and update your system to a wireless product such as the Ring Video Doorbell ($199). It's powered by a rechargeable battery and allows you to answer your door with your phone. The outside unit consists of a button, a two-way speaker, and a wide-angle, high-definition camera. All of this is remarkably unobtrusive and mounts where you would normally find the doorbell. When a visitor rings the bell, the device alerts your phone. Using an app, you can see the person at the door and speak with him or her from anywhere.

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