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Sometimes the doorbell rings and I am like "Oh boy people!" Then I open the door and there are people and we all play Charades until the wee hours of the morning. Other times, the door bell rings and there is a fiery bag on the porch, and I am like "Oh no, fiery bag!" Then I sell my house cause it's probably haunted.
Whatever someone's reason for abandoning a house, it might be a good thing to reclaim parts of the house left behind. A doorbell is one of those easy-to-reclaim pieces that is often left behind by a former tenant. As a stalwart salvager, you'll probably want to reclaim the doorbell for your own home.
Here are some things to keep in mind. Installing a doorbell is a time-consuming task. If your house isn't doorbell-ready, you'll probably have to know something about wiring. Here's the instructions for doorbell installation. Also, there are many modern doorbells that run on batteries. You don't have to do any wiring for these models, and they are handily programmable. Finally, a knocker is a pretty sustainable option.
So why bother with an old doorbell? Well, it's going to waste just sitting there. Once you reclaim it, you can sell it. And some houses are already set up for old doorbells.
Removing a doorbell is a snap. Here's how:
- Turn off the electricity.
- Start with the button. Unscrew button plate.
- Pull button away from the door. You'll find wires attached by screws. Loosen these screws and the wires will disconnect.
- Find the chimes. Unscrew and remove wires. Remove chimes.
- If house is live, make sure to cover or cap all wires before you leave.
More on Reclamation:
How to Reclaim a Ceiling Fan
How To Reclaim a Light Fixture
How to Reclaim a Door
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