| Replacing a Door Chime |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-208 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
Q: My doorbell no longer dings, it just dongs. What's the problem?
A: (Brad Staggs, Ask DIY Home Repair expert): That's a rough problem to have but an easy problem to fix. Try replacing your current bell with a more powerful model. Here's how:
Materials:
New door chime set
Screwdriver
Power drill
Pencil
Two heavy screws
Two wall anchors
Hammer
- Put on safety eyewear, since you'll be working with power tools. Also turn off the power at the breaker box if you'll be replacing an electric door chime. Lots of doorbells are battery-operated, though.
- Access the inner workings of your current chime by removing the cover. It may just snap off, or there may be one set screw to detach.
- Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws that hold the wires on the old doorbell (figure A), then pluck the wires from the screws.
- Remove the mounting plate from the wall by removing the two screws that hold it in place. The doorbell wires will stay on the wall.
- Mount the new set of chimes on the wall. One popular model has two key slots that you hang on screws. To mount it, use a pencil to mark the spots on the wall where the key slots should go (figure B). Then drill holes for the screws and gently tap anchors into the holes with a hammer. Insert the screws into the anchors with their heads about a quarter of an inch from the wall (figure C). Slide the keyholes over the screws, being careful to pull the wires on the wall over the top of the mount before slipping the apparatus into place.
- Following the chime manufacturer's instructions, slip the appropriate wires under the appropriate connections on the unit, and then tighten them down with a screwdriver (figure D).
- Slip the cover over the inner workings of the chimes. All done!
More Questions for Brad:
Q: I can't hear the doorbell when I'm in the back room of the house. Any ideas for an easy fix?
A: Try a wireless doorbell. You stick the unit on the door and the bell, which is entirely separate, somewhere in the house where you'll be able to hear it. It runs off batteries so you can hear it anywhere.
Q: I'd like to install a lighted doorbell. Is this a tough job?
A: Two wires, two screws -- it's very simple. But make sure you turn off the breaker box before you start.
Q: I saw a show where an electrician stood on a piece of wood to turn off the power at a breaker box. Why?
A: It was a safety measure. That's because, one, wood does not conduct electricity. And two, if there's a puddle of water or something on the ground, the electrician would not want to stand in water and touch anything electrical.
Books:
Complete Idiot's Guide to Electrical Repair
By Terry Meany
ISBN: 0028638964
The Alpha Publishing Group
Website: www.alphapub.com
Electrical Basics
by Rick Peters
ISBN: 0806936673
Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
