"Ding
dong." If your doorbell is
sounding a little sick these days
... or, worse, not sounding at all
... the simplest solution may be to
install an entirely new unit. Here's
how to install it.
SKILL SCALE Easy
TIME
REQUIRED
A new
doorbell unit will take you only a
half-day or less to install.
TOOLS
Screwdriver
MATERIALS
Doorbell
button and chime unit
Masking tape
STEPS
Turn
off the power to the doorbell system
at the main service panel. Remove
the doorbell-button mounting screws,
and carefully pull the button switch
away from the wall.
Disconnect
the wires from the button switch,
and be sure to tape them to the wall
to keep them from slipping into the
wall cavity. Connect the wires to
the screw terminals of the new
switch.
Remove
the cover plate of your old chime
unit. Unscrew the mounting screws,
and remove the old unit. Disconnect
the wires, and label them to
identify their screw-terminal
location, again taping them to the
wall to keep them from slipping into
the wall cavity. (You'll hate it if
that happens.) Thread the wires
through the base of the new chime
unit.
Attach
the new chime unit to the wall using
the mounting screws thoughtfully
included in your installation kit.
Connect
the wires to the appropriate screw
terminals on the new chime unit (now
aren't you glad you labeled them?).
You're
almost done. Now just attach the new
cover plate and restore power at the
main service panel.