The growing home automation has been leaving homeowners impressed by new levels of convenience and security.
Today’s doorbells come with a multitude of features, giving homeowners extra surveillance and security to safeguard their property.
Doorbells can now do a lot more than sound a chime.
Top-notch video doorbells allow you to identify and talk to anyone at your doorstep from anywhere around the world.
Thankfully, anyone can take advantage of these smart home security options.
If you are in the market looking for a new doorbell, there are many options from which you can choose.
As video doorbells become the first line of defense for homeowners, it is important to ensure you pick a techno-savvy and reliable gadget.
In this post, you will learn more about manufactured home doorbell options.
Read on to discover how you can convert your manufactured home into a security-conscious smart home with doorbells.
Related: Do Doorbells Have Speakers?
Why Do You Need A Doorbell?
Doorbells are compelling tools in your home security system. Despite being small and discreet, they offer an enormous amount of convenience while enhancing security.
Homeowners and renters install doorbells for various reasons.
Some want to see packages being delivered, while others crave the convenience of communicating with guests, even when away from home.
Thanks to video doorbells, working parents can see if their kids arrive safely and who could be accompanying them.
Here are reasons why anyone would want to install a doorbell in their residential property.
1. To remain safe and secure
Many homeowners install doorbells and other security systems to head off crimes before they occur.
The person next to your door could be a friendly door-to-door salesperson or mailman, but it could also be a potential burglar.
A smart doorbell allows you to determine who is at the door, so you stay safe.
If you suspect the person out there is unscrupulous, you can scare them away right from where you are.
2. Speak to visitors without opening the door
Besides cameras, smart doorbells come with microphones to offer two-way communication.
This added layer of security helps you talk to strangers to determine who they are before opening the door.
They also let homeowners have a friendly exchange with mailpersons.
3. Doorbells can interface with other smart home products
The beauty of modern doorbells is that they can be integrated with other smart devices to optimally automate your home.
The integration opens a multitude of possibilities.
For example, a smart doorbell that syncs with a smart lock will let you see who is at your doorstep and unlock it for them.
4. Doorbells can increase the value of your home
As technology continues to advance, potential home buyers are showing more interest in homes enabled with smart technology.
That said, smart features like doorbells may pay off later should you decide to move.
5. Smart doorbells can reduce insurance costs
Having a security system in your manufactured home translates to less crime.
Because your home is partially protected from crime, you are likely to get cheaper premiums.
This means you will lower your insurance premiums on top of adding a layer of security.
Indeed, insurance companies encourage homeowners to use security systems to get discount offers.
Above all, doorbells provide convenience and peace of mind to homeowners.
Premium models bring home security at your fingertips, making doorbells a helpful accessory for how we live our lives.
Interestingly, modern doorbell systems are very easy to install.
The Three Types Of Doorbells
Doorbells promise to provide much more than just a sound of a bell when someone visits your home.
They come in varieties, allowing you to choose the best depending on your personal preferences, budget, and, of course, personal needs.
Here are various types from which you can choose.
1. Wired doorbells
These models usually feature a push-button switch mounted beside the outside door and wired to a chime inside the house.
The system also includes a transformer that controls the voltage; therefore, conserving electricity and reducing fire risks.
Ultimately, wires run from the wish to the transformer, then the chiming unit.
Because they don’t require rechargeable batteries, they are highly dependable and require low maintenance. Wired doorbells tend to last longer.
If you consider this type, you need to install the bell unit centrally where it can be heard from all rooms.
The appeal of these doorbells is that they are available in plenty of styles and plate finishes to suit almost any decor.
2. Wireless doorbells
As the name suggests, wireless doorbell systems don’t require electrical wiring.
They are battery-powered and rely on radio waves to connect a push-button transmitter to the chime inside.
They use an operating principle much like that of a TV remote.
For a wireless doorbell system to function, the chiming units must be within range of the transmitter.
With these models, you can install multiple receivers to enhance sound range.
Wireless doorbells are portable, extremely easy and safer to install, plus offer various transmitter styles.
3. Smart doorbells
They are premium doorbell systems with a range of capabilities per model, including the ability to capture and send live video to your smartphone.
Because they transmit information via Wi-Fi, they allow you to monitor your home from thousands of miles away.
Video doorbells tend to be wireless but have smart features that allow you to convert your current doorbell to an intelligent system.
With these high-end models, you can enjoy added security and peace of mind from just about anywhere.
Before buying this type of doorbell, it is good to ensure the model will configure with your current doorbell properly.
How to choose the right doorbell for your manufactured home
One of the easy ways to safeguard your property against invasion and crime is by identifying who is at your doorstep.
Whether you’re indoors or away from home, a premium doorbell system allows you to enhance the security level around your property.
With safety and security in mind, here are some things to consider when choosing a doorbell system.
1. Range
Before investing in a doorbell system, you need to know if the range it offers is sufficient for your home.
Essentially, range refers to the distance between your transmitter and the receiver or chiming unit.
When determining the coverage you need, it is noteworthy that you won’t get the range printed on the device package.
Doorbells are tested in ideal conditions that your home can hardly afford so, remember to account for walls and barriers.
Needless to say, the size of your home is the ultimate determinant of the range you need.
2. Power source
When it comes to power choice, you have two options from which you can choose.
You can opt for hardwired doorbells or go for battery-powered models, which can have superior batteries lasting for up to three years.
Whatever your choice, all models have pros and cons.
3. Ease of installation
Generally, wired doorbells are more involving than wireless options because of the possibly hefty wiring.
On the other side, wireless doorbells are easy to install but have hypersensitive and complicated circuitry.
When installing, you need to take proper care not to damage essential components.
4. Waterproof and heat resistance
First off, your transmitter is mounted beside the outside door, meaning it will be exposed to elements all year round.
Rainwater and heat from the sun are major concerns when it comes to safety and durability.
To ensure that your doorbell lasts throughout the seasons, check how it stands up to inclement weather.
A quality gadget will continue to function during rain, snow, or even when temperatures fluctuate drastically.
5. Technology
Technology has become an integral part of our lives.
Of course, everyone wants to test and taste the new technology in home security devices.
Some options use radio waves, others use Wi-Fi, and some latest models can use telephone signals.
All you need is to pick the right technology for you and your environment.
6. Integration with other home security accessories
Doorbells are a single component of overall home security and home automation.
To get the most out of your doorbell, you want it to integrate and communicate with other security components.
7. Audio and sound options
Most doorbells allow you to choose different sounds and raise or lower the volume to suit personal needs.
Other than the chime, you will need a doorbell that allows you to talk to people at your doorstep.
Whether it is a friendly exchange with guests or scaring away would-be burglars, you will find doorbells with microphones worth it.
8. Connectivity and smartphone integrations
Most modern video doorbells connect to a mobile app via Wi-Fi.
This feature allows homeowners to receive notifications, get live video, and control their doorbell remotely.
With technology advancements, you can use Alexa and Google Assistant to control your smart video doorbell.
9. Storage
Besides notifying you, your video doorbell should store the footage should anything go wrong.
That said, you will be better with a video doorbell having cloud and local storage.
If you’re limited by budget, you can still get a quality gadget with local storage.
10. Style and design
Time is gone when doorbells used to look bulky and ugly.
Today’s doorbells are designed with home decor in mind, making them an attractive addition to your home.
All you need is to look for a style that satisfies your personal taste and complements your home decor.
11. Warranty
Before buying, check the warranty to ensure you are covered should the gadget fail to work correctly.
In most cases, you will get a warranty ranging from 0\one to three years.
The market is flooded with different doorbells with a ton of features, styles, and chimes.
If you live in a town where people traffic is high, you will need to consider models featuring artificial intelligence.
This will help cut down the number of annoying notifications you get.
When buying, you may also want to keep an eye and extra visual alert indicators.
This feature is very handy, particularly if you have individuals with hearing impairment in your home.
Ultimately, your choice will depend on your preference, budget, and features you want to get.
Conclusion
A doorbell is a visible deterrent that homeowners and renters cannot afford to ignore installing.
Premium models come with two-way audio and other smart features, which allow for conversation with someone at the door.
Whether you’re installing a doorbell to keep an eye on packages or bring next-level security at your door, it is worth it.
Even with so many options out there, the right doorbell is the one that fits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do smart doorbells require a subscription?
Yes, most smart doorbells require you to subscribe to a cloud service to access some features.
Although you will be able to access a number of features without a subscription, some premium features require subscriptions.
For most models, you need a subscription to access your video history and missed notifications.
If you want to avoid storage costs and other possible subscriptions, you can buy a model that records to internal storage.
Q: Is it safe to touch doorbell wires?
Because most of the doorbell components are low voltage, it is safe to touch the wires, even when current is flowing through them.
However, this does not apply to the transformer of a wired doorbell.
Although doorbell wires are regarded as safe, do not touch the wiring until you have tested the strength of the current.
It is not worth the risk, so make sure to turn off the breaker before handling electricity.
Q: Is it normal for doorbell transformers to be warm?
Yes, it is perfectly normal for doorbell transformers to be warm.
They produce some heat in the process of stepping down the electricity.
All the same, it should only be warm, not crazy hot.
If the transformer of your doorbell gets too hot, then there is something wrong.
Q: Are wired doorbells better than wireless?
Each type of video doorbell has its specific pros and cons.
Wired options are cheaper, have a much more stable internet connection, and are less hackable. On the other side, wireless doorbells are easy to install and highly portable.
Considering that there are other factors that come into the mix, it doesn’t give wired an edge or vice versa.
Whether wired doorbells are better than wireless will depend on personal needs.
Q: Do you need wifi for wireless doorbells?
NO. Wireless doorbells do not necessarily need Wi-Fi to function.
This is because they use radio waves to transmit the signal from the push-button switch to the receiver.
Although Wi-Fi is a preferred method of connectivity for doorbell cameras, it is not the only option.
Q: Do doorbell chimes go bad?
Although it hardly ever happens, doorbell chimes can go bad.
After all, nothing lasts forever.
If your doorbell system is not working, you could have a bad transformer, bad doorbell chime, or faulty push-button.
