How To Fix A Doorbell That Keeps Ringing (Do This!)
Doorbells are a great invention. It seems like you either get the soft-knockers at your door or the overly-loud people who bang on your door. Over time, you’ll either miss people at your door or become annoyed with the people who endeavor to bang loudly. However, what’s even more annoying, is a doorbell that keeps ringing, especially if you can’t seem to turn it off! So, how do you fix it?
To fix your doorbell so that it stops ringing, you’ll have to do a few things to figure out what the problem is. The problem is typically one of two things:
- Your doorbell button is malfunctioning.
- The wiring to your doorbell is frayed or needs to be replaced.
While fixing a doorbell can seem complicated, it’s pretty straightforward. Since there are only really two possible reasons that your doorbell keeps ringing, the process to figure out what’s wrong is simple. This article will walk you through the DIY processes of both possibilities.
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Reasons Why Your Doorbell Keeps Ringing
If your doorbell keeps ringing, your doorbell button may be malfunctioning. The process to check if this is the issue is quite simple, you unhook your doorbell button. On the other hand, you may have frayed wires that need to be taped or replaced. That is a bit more involved, but simple nonetheless.
Below, we’ve included DIY instructions for both scenarios. That way, you aren’t left without a resolution for your very annoying issue.
Trouble Shooting Your Doorbell
Troubleshooting your doorbell isn’t as hard as it may seem. With just a few simple steps, you will find out whether your doorbell button is the issue, or if it’s the wires themselves. The following DIY instructions are meant to help you diagnose the issue, as well as fix it.
Test Your Button
Step 1: Turn Power Off
The very first thing you’ll want to do is turn the power off that goes to the doorbell. You can do this by either unplugging the doorbell or turning the circuit breaker off for that particular circuit your doorbell is on. You must kill the power as you will raise the risk of electrocution if you don’t.
Anytime you’re handling wires, it’s better to turn off the power source. You never know when you’re going to run across a bare wire. Turning off the power decreases the risk of injury or death from electrocution.
Step 2: Disconnect Your Button
After you’ve completely killed the power to your doorbell, you’ll want to disconnect the button. Since you’ll be messing with wires, it’s vital that you ensure the power is completely off. You can disconnect one of the two wires hooked up to the button; you don’t have to remove both.
Step 3: Turn Power Back On
Once your button is disconnected, you’ll want to turn the power back on. If you turn the power back on and the ringing has stopped, it means that your button is malfunctioning. You will need to install a new button if this is the case.
However, if you turn the power back on and the ringing continues, then it means something is wrong in your wiring. You will have to check your wiring to fix the issue.
Fix Your Doorbell Wiring
Step 1: Turn Power Off
To fix your doorbell wiring, you will need to ensure that you turn the power off to it. You don’t want to mess with wiring while power is still actively traveling through the wires. This will increase the risk of shock and accidents.
Step 2: Look For Frayed Wires
With the power off, check for any frayed wires or broken wires along the stretch from the power supply to the button. Make sure you carefully inspect each one, as even the smallest fray can cause your doorbell to set off randomly.
Step 3: Tape Wires Or Replace
Upon finding a frayed wire or two, you need electrical tape to tape the wires. Taping the wires is just a temporary fix until you can get around to replacing the wires. However, this taping job will last at least a year.
Although, if it’s just a small fray, you may not need to replace the wire or wiring fully. If it’s a larger amount of damage, you will need to replace the entire wiring system as a whole.
Step 4: Connect Your Button
After you’ve taped or replaced the wires, it’s time to reconnect the button. Make sure you connect the correct wires to the correct ports. If you don’t, this alone could cause it to malfunction.
Step 5: Turn Power Back On
Turn your power back on and test your doorbell to make sure that it works properly. If it doesn’t, shut off your power, and double-check that you did everything correctly. If you’ve done everything the right way, you may need to contact a professional for additional help.
Related Guide: What To Do If Your Doorbell Wires Are Not Labeled?
What If Troubleshooting Didn’t Help?
If troubleshooting your doorbell didn’t help, you might have to contact a professional to check the issue for you. Sometimes it might not be your doorbell at all, but rather an electrical problem overall or an issue with the transformer. A professional will have the right tools and materials to check for any electrical issues or additional wiring problems.
Cost To Hire A Professional
It will cost between $200 and $350 for you to hire a professional. While it’s rather expensive, this price also guarantees that the job is up to electrical code. Also, it reduces the risk of any fires or other mishaps.
However, the cost will depend on how long the job takes and what needs to be replaced. Electricians usually charge about $50 to $150 per hour, depending on where you live. Also, the cost of materials and transportation is usually included in their quote.
It’s a good idea to check with several contractors before choosing one. Each will include different costs in their quote. Choose the one that’s best for you according to your budget.
What If My Doorbell Doesn’t Have Wires?
If your doorbell is a wireless one, and it connects by Bluetooth, then you’ll need to check the button. If the button seems to be working properly, the issue could be the power box’s connection to the button, or even the power box itself.
Figuring out the issue will take some time as you will need to check each component separately. However, it’s relatively easy to fix a wireless doorbell issue. You will need to replace either the power supply or the button, and then your problem will be fixed.
Related Questions
Can a doorbell go off by itself?
Yes, a doorbell can go off by itself. Usually, the issue is a button malfunction or the wiring. However, it can be the wiring within your house as well that’s the problem.If your doorbell is wireless, it’s the doorbell button. In this case, you will need to replace it to resolve any issues.
Can a faulty doorbell cause a fire?
Doorbell voltage is relatively low and therefore doesn’t pose a significant risk if your doorbell is faulty. However, if wires are exposed, this can be a problem. Wire exposure increases the risk of a fire, as well as electrocution.
How do I know if my doorbell transformer is bad?
To know if your transformer is bad, you will need to test the voltage going through the transformer. If your voltage is 16, then your transformer is running as it should. However, if your voltage is below 16, then that means you will need to replace your transformer.
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Wrapping It Up
It’s inevitable that at some point, some time, your doorbell is going to malfunction. The reasons for this can differ but usually tends to be an issue with your doorbell button or the wiring. If you’re going to fix this yourself, take the necessary precautions, such as turning the power supply off.
On the other hand, whether or not you hire a professional will depend on you. If you are not comfortable with checking the wiring and the button on your own, perhaps your best bet is to hire someone. Regardless of the route you take, one thing is for certain: You’re likely to get rid of that annoying, constant ringing!
Heather is a passionate writer who loves anything DIY. Growing up, she learned everything from home repairs to design, and wants to share her tips with you. When she's not writing, she's usually hiking or searching for her next DIY project.
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