How to Wire a Doorbell

Whether you’re an avid do-it-yourselfer or simply want to change how it sounds when a guest is at your front or rear door, knowing how to wire a doorbell will come in handy. If you’re tired of your current chime, want to create a different chime from backdoor to front door, or simply need to fix a burned out bell due, these steps will help you get this chore off the honey-do list.

Deciding Where to Hang Doorbell Receivers and Buttons Inside and Outside the Home

If you’ve remodeled your home or if you’ve noticed your bell isn’t entirely noticeable from all areas of the house, you may want to consider wiring the chime box (doorbell receiver) to a different area from the existing box. Likewise, if you’re reworking or installing a new chime for the backdoor of your home or office, having the chime sound from a different place than the front door’s chime can be helpful, too. Choose a new home for the doorbell button unless you already have one and feel that the existing spot suits you and your guests. If you happen to be applying the doorbell button for the first time in a new home, follow two simple rules: make it visible, make it easily reachable for any guest of any size.

Learning How to Wire a Doorbell: Mounting Doorbell Receivers and Buttons

By and large, you should be able to quickly and easily use the instructions on the doorbell receiver and button packaging, but a few helpful hints never hurt.

• Just as you want the doorbell button and receiver to be easy to spot visually, you also want them to be well within reach so guests can tap the doorbell and so you can reach the receiver without too much fuss as needed.