You may not realize how much you depend on your doorbell until it stops working. It's often difficult to hear knocking, and you may not realize you have guests at the door if the bell doesn't sound. What's worse, your guests may push the bell thinking it's working, and they may give up and leave without knocking.
You'll want your doorbell repaired as quickly as possible, and unless the button is just stuck, you'll probably need an electrician to help. Here are some things that could be wrong with your doorbell.
The Button Isn't Making Contact
Since the button is exposed to the weather and it gets used a lot, it's a likely suspect when the doorbell stops working. The problem might be a sticky button that doesn't move when someone pushes on it. However, the problem could also be inside the housing. The contacts might be loose or the wiring might be bad. An electrician can check the voltage and determine if the problem is with the button outdoors or with parts of the doorbell inside your home.
The Transformer Might Have Problems
The doorbell transformer regulates the voltage to your doorbell. If it's malfunctioning, the electrician may need to replace it. The transformer is a small metal box that's mounted somewhere inside or outside of your house. The first thing the electrician has to do is find the transformer if you don't know where it is.
The electrician will check the wiring to see if it's damaged, and they'll check the voltage going in and coming out of the transformer. If the transformer isn't putting out enough voltage, the electrician will probably replace it. Transformers are usually inexpensive parts, so it would cost less to replace the transformer rather than replace the entire doorbell.
The Chime Box Isn't Working
The chime box is the part of your doorbell on the wall inside your house that makes the noise when someone depresses the button outside. If your doorbell is old, the chime box might have dust, grease, or other debris coating the insides and causing problems. The trouble could also be loose connections or bad wiring. The electrician might be able to make electrical repairs to a chime box, but it might be necessary to replace it.
Chime boxes vary quite a bit. Since they can be seen inside, some are decorative so they double as decor. However, you can also buy a basic chime box for an affordable price and have it installed by the electrician.
Rather than price, you might want to base your buying decision based on how the chime sounds. Instead of a bell or buzzing sound, you might want a new chime box that sounds like a gong or plays a melody when someone pushes the button.
The electrical repairs for a malfunctioning or bad doorbell are usually straightforward and easy to do without a lot of disruption to your house. If the problem is with the button, the electrician may not have to enter your home at all. However, even if the electrician has to replace a transformer or chime box, it's worth it to get your bell back to working condition as soon as possible.
When we purchased our first home, we realized that there was a problem with some of the electrical work. Some of the lights flickered when we turned them on, and others really seemed to have issues if they were left on long term. I thought the issues was the light bulbs themselves at first, so I replaced several of them. However, after making those changes, it seemed like things were still having trouble. I began going through and thinking carefully about how to identify and resolve the challenges, and it occurred to me that working with an electrician could be helpful. I turned to the professional for help, and it was a good thing I did. Read more about electricians on this blog.