Technological advancements have taken over our lives, but only to make our lives much easier.
We use smart TVs instead of traditional TVs, smartphones instead of telephones, and now, we have smart and wireless doorbells taking over our old-fashioned ones.
Just like you consider a number of things before buying your new phone, there are certain things to remember when buying a wireless doorbell.
Wireless doorbells are easy to install, requiring no professional help.
Though, before you start looking into different models, it is important to know what to look for.
Every model has its own features, design, and functions; it wouldn’t be fair if you end up buying something you don’t know how to use.
Buying Guide: Things to Remember When Buying a Wireless Doorbell
Here is a list of things to consider before buying a wireless doorbell.
Material and Design
One of the most important things to look for is the material of the doorbell.
Since doorbells are installed outside homes, the material must withstand different weather conditions.
Mostly, the button itself is will be made of plastic while the body varies, based on the product you are buying.
The material and color of the body can be of plastic, glass, metal, or steel.
Make sure you match the color that goes well with the theme of your home.
While glass may look elegant, it might not be the way to go if you live in a busy neighborhood with kids playing outside.
Also, a lot of it depends upon the house itself.
If you’re living in an old house, a brand new, glassy doorbell won’t blend in.
Likewise, if you just shifted into your new home with glossy wooden doors, perhaps a plastic body would look dull.
Range
When it comes to wireless technology, the very first thing you must look for is its range.
How far can the receiver be placed from the transmitter?
A doorbell’s sole purpose is to notify the resident that there’s someone at the door, no matter where the resident is sitting in the house.
If the wireless doorbell does not offer enough range that covers your house area, maybe it’s best to look for an alternative.
Wireless doorbells mostly come with two types of ranges: the full range and the working range.
The full range works best if there aren’t many walls within the house while the working range can be used if there are.
For an averaged sized house, we recommend that you look for doorbells with the range of 200 to 300 feet.
Similarly, if you own a larger house, a doorbell with a 400-foot plus range would be great.
What Features Are You Looking for?
Are you looking for a waterproof doorbell?
Do you want a wireless doorbell that gives you real-time CCTV footage on your phone?
Do you want a variety of chimes?
It is important to answer these questions because this will help you filter your search.
Every smart doorbell available in the market comes with unique features.
While some may find LED lights around the doorbell useful, others may deem them to be unnecessary.
Whether you want a doorbell that is IP rated, has an adjustable volume, provides you with an extended range, or comes with multiple receivers and transmitters, it is better that you narrow down your requirements.
The products come with unlimited features; what you need to do is see what’s useful for you.
Compatibility
A Galaxy Smartwatch wouldn’t be of any use without a Samsung mobile phone.
In the same way, a smart wireless doorbell would be a waste of money if it doesn’t work with your mobile or laptop.
A smart wireless doorbell often comes with a CCTV camera that shows you a live feed on your mobile when connected.
Connecting your device to the doorbell will improve efficiency and of course, safety.
You can see what’s happening at your doorstep in real-time and alert the authorities if you feel something is suspicious.
Moreover, you can see who’s at the door when the bell rings and decide whether it really is worth getting up from your couch at all.
Some doorbells have the ability to recognise and save the faces of people that visit often.
This way, the door automatically opens for regular guests, only sending you a notification that your best friend has arrived.
These features bring you one step closer to the automatic system you’ve always wanted in your house.
Is it Easy to Install?
A very important factor to consider is whether the doorbell is easy to install or not.
Will it be configured through a mobile app, or would it require one or two professionals to come over and set it up?
Wireless doorbells are mostly easy to install once you’ve decided where you’re placing the push button.
With the help of a bracket and some screws, you can install a wireless doorbell within five minutes.
Make sure you place it near an electric socket because that is how the receiver is powered.
Also, it is necessary to dedicate one socket for the doorbell alone.
Although some have a backup battery, it still wouldn’t be nice to find the power cable hanging out every time you come home.
If you’ve got kids at home, the power socket should be out of their reach. Little kids get curious and put their hands in places where they shouldn’t.
Number of Push Buttons
One of the most important things to remember when buying a wireless doorbell is that often with bigger houses, there is more than one entrance.
If your guests have accessibility to more than one entrance, it’s essential that you go for a wireless doorbell that has multiple push buttons.
Some doorbells offer as much as five push buttons, which we believe is more than enough.
At the same time, you need to ensure that the doorbells have enough range.
In case the range is insufficient, you may need to look for signal extenders or boosters.
Conclusion
These are some important factors you need to consider.
Once you narrow down what type of product you’re looking to buy, the next steps are pretty easy.
You can eliminate high-end products in case you’re on a low budget or simply because you don’t need the extra features it has to offer.
In our modern world, installing a wireless doorbell brings you closer to the technological world.
It gives you much-needed relief by taking off the burden from your shoulders and doing some of the basic work all by itself.