An doorbell that doesn't work can cause a lot of problems, and the frustrating part is that you never KNOW it is not working until people start complaining about your not answering the door. But if you are putting off calling the handyman because you are scared at the size of the bill, think again. Doorbell replacement is easily done, and you'll save money when you do it yourself.

Doorbell Installation

Doorbell repair might just be the easiest way DIY project out there. Just a few steps, and you'll have a brand new doorbell (and bragging rights for your home repair skills.) It doesn't require anything as elaborate as an air compressor, but you will need the basic tools.

The easiest doorbell around? The wireless transmitted doorbell. This doorbell works as a transmitter. Your visitor pushed the bell outside, and a signal goes to the receiver, which plays the sound of your bell. And all you have to do is hang the receiver on the wall.

Ease of installation isn't the only thing that makes wireless doorbells ideal. Consider the following:

- You can scatter transmitters around the house, so you hear the bell no matter what room you are in.

- They require little electricity. The receiver must be plugged in, but the outside button needs a small battery (that will last for years).

Installing a Replacement Wired Doorbell

It's not as easy as wireless installation, but you can still replace a wired doorbell in a jiffy. With a flathead screwdriver and new doorbell switch, you're ready to go. Don't sweat turning off the power - the voltage involved in a doorbell won't send you flying across the room.

All you have to do now is take off the old switch and disconnect the wires. Set the screws someplace safe so you can reuse them. Plug in your new wires, trimming as needed. Peel back some of the insulation from the wires as well - around a half inch is about right.

Now, connect those some wires to the new switch. There is no fooling around with which end of the wire goes into which connection - any way you do it will work just fine. Now, using your screws, attach your new doorbell switch. You may have to pull the wires through first. Continue screwing the switch in until it is flat on the wall.

The next step is to test your handy work. If your doorbell doesn't ring now, something may be wrong with the machine that does the actual chiming. You can get a new chime machine from a hardware restore, and repeat the process of changing it almost exactly as you did your doorbell. On fancier chiming machines, the wire matching matters, so follow the directions carefully.