How to Replace a Doorbell | Ask This Old House

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In this video, This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman helps a homeowner solve an old problem: locating and replacing doorbell components and wiring.

Master electrician Heath Eastman takes us on a house call to solve a homeowner’s doorbell problem. After moving in, the homeowner attempted to fix an old doorbell, only to have it crumble into pieces. Heath uses his expertise to track down the existing wiring and transformer first before running new wiring and installing a new doorbell, chime, and transformer.

Doorbell Replacements Can Be Complicated
On the surface, replacing a doorbell might seem like a simple proposition. However, locating all of the components (inside the wall and out) can be more complicated than that. Here are the components to find:
The transformer: This is a square block typically located near the electrical panel, in a closet near the front door, or in the basement mounted to a joist under the front door.
The chime: This is the box that makes noise when someone presses the doorbell. It’s usually located above the front door.
The doorbell: Mounted outside the front door.

Once you locate these items, the job may move forward quickly. If not, there’s more work to be done. This guide will explain the latter.

Difficulty: ⅖
Time: 3 hours
Cost: Under $150

Where to find it?
Heath installs a doorbell using the old doorbell wiring. The previous homeowners disabled the doorbell and buried the old chime location in the wall.



Materials:

Tools:

About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Replace a Doorbell | Ask This Old House
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The MAJOR issue I have with Heath is that he's always causing me to go out and buy those nifty, cool must-have (want) tools he uses !! Great job, Heath !!

Tractorman-xjgt
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To be honest, I never would of thought there was so much work for a door bell. Very very interesting!

oiboy
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This guy made this look so easy. In actuality there will be many cross studs and the fish tape will never go that easy. But the rest of the video is correct.

fastxsam
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I had the exact same problem. My fix was getting a wireless battery doorbell lol.

wkbeats
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Insane he did that with only one 1inch hole.

TENTHIRTYONE
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Was not expecting a This Old House nostalgia flashback while researching my projects 😳

Evolutional
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Working in old homes isn’t easy. Trust me, this took years of practice to make it look easy.

electricianron_New_Jersey
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That angle drill is really helpful bot only for drilling holes but also unscrewing things

leosolis
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Be honest Heath how long did it take to find that fish in that little hole in the drywall?

RoastBeefSandwich
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I've always cut in a single gang box behind the chime when snaking in an install. Makes it alittle easier.

ericwotton
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As an electrician I appreciated how he pushed the fish tape up to her then suddenly the tape was reversed direction and she was pulling the wire up from downstairs. The magic of the film cut/edit….

aasmith
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He forgot to check the attic for the transformer. My house was built in the 40's as well and the doorbell transformer was in the attic.

BBQSauceman
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When the old wire just snapped from pulling 6:25 (Welp time for plan b) 😂

kainbrah
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Great. Now what causes these chimes to make annoying buzzing noises. Mine just started after a storm so I have it turned off

mugentuner
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@3:00
The look of "You're about to tear up my house huh?"

BoogerDeluxe
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great video on wired chime troubleshooting. Not worth an effort nowadays, buy a wireless one

wasimabbasi
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What are the code restrictions about where to place the transformer? I've seen repair videos where the YouTuber replaced the chime. But, the transformer was behind the chime in a box. I thought that was illegal. Am I right or is this allowed?

mathdreamerpi
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I'm not so lucky. I always seem to find the horizontal fire blocks everywhere I try to work.

-old-Forthischet
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I have exactly the same problem.
I'm convinced they just put a doorbell in to annoy people, because I can't see a chime anywhere!

merinsan
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What kind of wire is he replacing it with?

KaioStryker