Doorbells: To Ring or Not to Ring

Your hands are full; you can’t find the house keys, so you ring the doorbell in hopes that your spouse or child hears you and will come open the door. After about 5 attempts, you drop all your packages and fumble around for your keys. You finally find them, open the door, and to your surprise, spouse and two kids are nicely snuggled on the couch watching TV. When they notice that you are not happy, they find out that you had been standing out there for several minutes ringing the doorbell in despair. What you didn’t know is they never heard the doorbell ring; not once.

Don’t let a faulty doorbell be the source of a miserable evening. Read below for some helpful tips that can keep you from another frustrated moment like this.

The typical doorbell system is made up of a push button, the door bell, chimes or buzzer, and the transformer. It is the transformer that allows the doorbell to operate on low voltage (6 to 24 volts). A junction box is wired into the doorbell circuit which steps down the voltage from the regular 120-volt circuit. If you doorbell does not ring at all or constantly rings, don’t run off and get a new one just yet. This problem may be fixable with a little know how.
The problem may actually lie within one of the parts or within the connecting wires. In order to find out what the problem is, you will need to keep the power source on for the doorbell. BUT, please turn off the power if you are going to work on the transformer itself, because remember, the voltage on the transformer is 120 volts (it is the junction box that reduces the voltage).
If you have a silent doorbell, first take a look at the power source to make sure it is intact. Look to see if a fuse or circuit breaker has blown or tripped. If you are sure that the transformer is receiving the 120 volts that it needs, at this point, shut off the power source and tighten all wire connections. After all connections have been tightened, you can turn the power back on, then check the low-voltage side. Use the steps below, to continue to troubleshoot the doorbell problem.

Testing the Transformer
• Use a volt-ohm meter. If the transformer is working correctly, the meter reading should match the secondary voltage (6 to 24 volts) marked on the transformer or bell.
• Set the voltage range on the meter to 120 volts AC and measure the voltage between the two low-voltage terminals on the transformer.
• If the meter reads significantly higher than the correct secondary voltage, the transformer is defective and should be replaced.
• If the reading is close to the correct secondary voltage, test again by setting the voltage range on the meter to a lower value. If the new reading doesn’t agree with the voltage marked on the transformer or bell, replace the transformer.

Testing the Push Button
• Disconnect the two wires connected to the button and short them by touching their bare ends together.
• If this makes the bell ring, the push button is defective and should be replaced.
• If the bell doesn’t ring, the problem is either in the bell or chime mechanism or in the wiring.

Testing the Bell or Chime Mechanism
• Have a helper push the doorbell button while you listen to the bell. If it makes a buzzing or humming noise, it may be gummed up with dirt.
• Check the mechanism and clean it as necessary using fine-grade sandpaper to remove corrosion from any contacts.
• If the bell still hums or buzzes after cleaning, replace it.
• If the bell doesn’t make any noise at all when the button is pushed, disconnect the bell and, using new wire, hook it up directly to the transformer. If it works, inspect the old wiring. If it doesn’t, replace it.

Repairing the Wiring
• Examine the wiring for breaks or frayed insulation that may be causing the wires to short out.
• Repair any breaks and wrap the repairs with electrician’s tape.

A Constantly Ringing Doorbell
If a doorbell rings constantly, either the button is stuck or the wires going to the button are shorted together. To test follow these steps:
• Test the button by turning off the power to the transformer.
• Remove the button from the door frame and disconnect one of the two wires connected to it.
• Turn the power back on. If the bell doesn’t ring, the button should be replaced. If the bell rings, the problem is a short between the two wires.
• With the power turned off, examine the wires for frayed insulation or bare wires rubbing together.
• Use electrician’s tape to wrap them where necessary.
• If you can’t find the short, replace the wires.

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