Step 3
Replace the Doorbell Switch
Connect the wires to the new button, or doorbell switch, just as they were connected to the old one. Screw the button to the wall and you’re done.
If you don’t find a broken wire, remove the doorbell button by unscrewing it or prying it out of its hole with a putty knife. If the bell rings when you bypass the button, replace the button. Buttons are available at home centers and hardware stores. If the bell doesn’t ring, reconnect and reinstall the button.
Step 4
Check the Chime
Remove the chime cover and check for voltage while a helper pushes the button.
Chime Armature
If the tester lights up but the armatures don’t move, clean them with rubbing alcohol.
When a doorbell works properly, small armature rods inside the chime strike metal bars or tubes to create sound. Sometimes the armature sticks or you have a loose wire. To find out, remove the chime cover. Many covers simply lift off. Others are fastened with latches or screws. With the cover off, make sure the wires are firmly connected to the screw terminals.
You’ll need a test light to check the chime itself. Be sure to get a low-voltage tester. Standard voltage testers look just like the one shown here, but they won’t detect low voltage. Touch the common terminal (labeled “com” or “trans”) with one of the tester probes.
With the other probe, touch the front or back door terminal while a helper pushes the button. If the tester lights up, you know the chime is receiving power and there’s something wrong with the chime itself. Sometimes the armatures are too grimy to move. Clean them with rubbing alcohol and move them with your finger. Then try the button again.
If the chime still doesn’t ring, replace it. Label the wires as you remove the old chime and connect them identically to the new chime. Chimes start are sold at home centers and hardware stores. If the tester doesn’t light up when your helper pushes the button, the chime isn’t receiving power because of a broken switch, transformer, or wiring.
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